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There have been a string of car wrecks involving young drivers in and around North Carolina (NC) and South Carolina (SC). For example, an accident occurred when a 20-year-old driver fell asleep at the wheel on Greenville Boulevard. Another recent example was a 17-year-old driver who was involved in a wreck while speeding on Thomas Langston Road. Finally, an 18-year-old crossed the center line on Cemetery Road resulting in a crash.

All of these Carolina car accidents featured teen drivers who had more than two people in the car at the time of the wreck, according to wnct.com.

"There’s a lot of distractions in the backseat. They want to talk and the driver wants to pay attention to what’s going on inside the vehicle," said NC State Trooper Megan Kongs, according to the wnct.com article.

Kongs also mentioned cell phones, GPS, and radio as contributing factors to teenaged drivers being more distracted than the previous generation of young drivers. If you are a parent with a teenager who is gearing up to get behind the wheel of a car, truck, or SUV take the time to emphasize how important it is to remain focused and vigilant while driving.

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group. In 2007, eleven teens ages 16 to 19 died every day from injuries in accidents involving cars, trucks, and SUVs. We have to change this trend. I fear these numbers may get worse as more young drivers join the driving world with electronic devices buzzing in their ears along with the apparently limitless desire to text.

We need to return to the fundamentals and stress that driving is a privilege that must be respected by everyone who possesses a license, especially individuals with a newly minted license who are still figuring out how to properly operate a vehicle.

To learn more, download our free safety checklist geared towards parents with teenaged children.

PA

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm (VA-NC law offices ) edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as pro bono services.

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