Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Teen driver lands car on family home

In most instances, driver’s negligence is the primary cause of vehicle accidents.

In Placentia, a 16 year-old boy was seriously injured when the Ford Mustang he was driving landed into a family home after it crashed into a retaining wall and jumped over a pool.

The boy suffered leg, ankle and back injuries as he was extricated from the car. The family living in the home was unhurt although their house was substantially damaged.

Placentia police Sgt. Ken Alexander said that the boy was driving his father’s car without any license. A witness narrated that a huge impact like an explosion preceded a revving sound.

The California Office of Traffic Safety revealed that a 16-year-old is 20 times more likely to be killed in a crash than an adult. Unsurprisingly, studies show that the younger the driver is, the more reckless he gets.

In this particular accident, the boy was negligent in manipulating the wheel. The fact that he had no license should have warned him that he was unfit to drive.

Despite various law, rules and regulations on teen driving, the fact remains that reckless driving continues to pose significant risks on teens.

Keeping teenage drivers safe has always been a challenge to authorities. However, this battle against reckless teen driving should not be left solely on the authorities.

Teenagers should also realize that driving is a responsibility. Parents, on the other hand, should also be involved in determining whether their children are fit to drive or not.