Prom and Graduation Increase Risk of Teen Car Accidents in Southeast Missouri

With spring upon us and summer waiting in the wings, teens are at increased risk of car crashes in Southeast Missouri.

Our car accident attorneys see an increase in local car wrecks in Cape Girardeau, Perryville , New Madrid, Charleston and elsewhere in Southeast Missouri through the prom and graduation season. Parents are encouraged to stay proactive when it comes to talking to their teenager about the risk. May is National Youth Traffic Safety Month and safety advocates nationwide will be pushing programs aimed at teaching teens about the dangers of making poor driving decisions.

Car wrecks are the leading cause of death for teens in Missouri's Bootheel and throughout the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Those ages 15 to 19 are at the highest risk of being involved in a fatal accident with the exception of the nation's most elderly drivers -- those over the age of 75.

Each year, more than 5,000 teenagers are killed in traffic accidents. Teens are at high risk for every poor driving decision in the book, including speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving, failure to wear a seat belt and driving with too many passengers in the vehicle.

Safety advocates encourage you to get involved by:

-Encourage others to take action to increase awareness, including car dealers, mechanic shops, local law enforcement agencies and places frequently by teens, including fast food restaurants, schools and churches.

-Select a specific issue -- such as drunk driving -- to emphasize with your efforts in your community.

-Request proclamations from the mayor or other leaders in your community.

"For a lot of teens, this time of year is about kicking back, relaxing, and forgetting about responsibilities. But we all have a full-time responsibility when we get behind the wheel," said Elliot Johnson with the National Organizations for Youth Safety. "These programs are a great opportunity to put the focus back on safety while kids are still in school so that everybody can have a fun, safe summer."