Seeing your teen learn to drive is one of the most nerve-racking parental rights of passage. There’s no way to keep your teen completely safe on the road. However, there are two very important steps you can take — teaching them safe driving habits (and modeling those habits when you drive yourself) and making sure they’re driving the safest vehicles possible.
There’s no singular best vehicle for teen drivers. However, there are some potential features you can look for to ensure the car you choose will keep your new driver safe on the road. If you need the help of a car accident lawyer contact us today.
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Size
Many people believe that larger cars are always safer than smaller cars, but that’s not always the case. Slightly larger than average cars can offer more protection for a driver and passengers in the event of an accident. However, trucks and SUVs are more likely than smaller cars to be involved in rollover crashes, which are highly likely to result in serious injury or death.
Mid-size cars offer you the best of both worlds. They protect your teen more than smaller vehicles, but they aren’t so large that they increase the risk of a serious rollover crash. In many cases, mid-size vehicles are also easier for new drivers to handle.
Lane Departure Warnings Or Lane-Keep Assist
For teen drivers, it’s easy to get so caught up in other aspects of driving that they have trouble staying in their lane. Fortunately, there are newer technologies that can help with that.
Some cars have lane-departure warnings, and these warnings sometimes come with haptic feedback — meaning they make the steering wheel vibrate if the car starts to move out of the lane. Other cars have a lane-keep assist feature that monitors the position of the car on the road and then physically helps keep the vehicle in the lane.
Automatic Emergency Braking
Many teen drivers follow other cars too closely. That can increase their chances of a collision, particularly on high-speed roads. Some vehicles will automatically slam on the brakes when the car moves toward the vehicle in front at dangerously high speeds.
Many also have emergency reverse braking. Inexperienced drivers may have trouble avoiding collisions when backing up, and this system will usually sound an alarm if the car comes too close to hitting a person, an object, or another vehicle. If the driver continues backing up, the car will automatically brake.
Blind Spot Monitoring
New drivers may struggle to remember to check their blind spots — especially when changing lanes. While it’s wise to encourage your teen to always check blind spots themselves, a blind spot monitoring system can help prevent accidents in the event that they forget (or don’t check thoroughly enough).
Some systems will even alert the driver if they turn on a turn signal with a car immediately next to them.
Low Horsepower
Many teenagers like the idea of driving an ultra-fast sports car. But teens already tend to speed while driving, and giving a teenager a car capable of going faster than your average sedan is a recipe for disaster.
Stick to vehicles with lower horsepower — your teenager can always graduate to a faster, more powerful car once they have some more experience behind the wheel.
Front and Side Airbags
Front driver and passenger airbags are standard equipment in all vehicles. While these airbags have saved countless lives, they leave car occupants more vulnerable in the event of side-impact crashes. Some newer cars include side airbags so the driver and passengers will be protected from any kind of impact.
Anti Lock Brakes
Speeding and following too closely are common teen-driver mistakes. Anti-lock braking systems can reduce the car’s stopping distance if your teen has to slam on the brakes, and that may reduce their risk of getting in a crash.
Anti lock brakes effectively “pump” the brakes, but they do so more efficiently than a driver can. Without this feature, the brakes may lock in place and cause the car to skid. Skidding lengthens the stopping distance, and it also makes it harder to control the vehicle.
Backup Cameras
Even for experienced drivers, backing up can be challenging in some circumstances. A backup camera makes it easier for your teen to get a clearer view of what’s behind them. Some cameras also include green, yellow, and red lines to show the driver when they’re getting too close to nearby cars.
Looking for Specific Models?
Each year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Consumer Reports publish a list of the safest cars for teen drivers. The list includes both new and used cars.
Here are some of the specific models that made the list of best choices:
- Hyundai Sonata (2021)
- Toyota Camry (2018 or newer)
- Subaru Legacy (2019)
- Volvo S60 (2017 or 2021)
- Volvo V60 (2017 or 2021)
- Mazda CX-5 (2021-2023)
- Nissan Rogue (2021)
- Toyota RAV4 (2017 or newer)
- Kia Sportage (2020 or newer)
- Subaru Forester (2021 or newer)
The IIHS/Consumer Reports also publishes a list of “good choices.” These vehicles aren’t quite as safe as those on the “best choices” list, but they’re still excellent options for keeping your teen safe on the road.
Here are some examples:
- Mazda 6 (2015-2017)
- Honda Accord (2015-2017)
- Toyota Camry (2014-2017, but only cars built after December 2013)
- Subaru Legacy (2017-2018)
- BMW 3 series (2018)
- Subaru Legacy (2017-2018)
- Honda Civic (2014)
- Honda CR-V (2015-2019)
- Chevrolet Equinox (2018-2019)
- Mazda CX-5 (2016)
Choosing a safe vehicle for your teenager is an important part of being a responsible parent, but it comes with a caveat — make sure your teen understands that a safe vehicle is not a substitute for safe driving. It’s the combination of safe driving habits and a safe vehicle — and not the vehicle alone — that helps protect them on the road.
If Your Teen Is Injured, We’re Here For You
Sometimes, despite their best efforts to drive safely, teenagers get involved in car accidents. And if your teenager is badly injured in an accident they didn’t cause, they might be facing a long road to recovery and ever-increasing medical bills.
If this is the case, you and your teenager deserve financial help as your teen works toward getting their life back. At WGK Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re dedicated to fighting for justice for injured drivers. We can’t go back in time and undo your accident, but we may be able to help you secure compensation.
If you or your teen have suffered injuries in an accident caused by someone else, please get in touch with our office at (410) 837-2144 for a free consultation right away.
