According to research studies from established auto safety groups, American teenagers drive a lot more during the summer months than they do during the school year. This raises the risk of accidents and can also have an effect on a family’s auto insurance policy. Parents should stay involved in plans involving the use of family cars and keep looking at how the summer season might require changes to a policy.
Seasonal Changes to Insurance
One of the biggest issues with seasonal auto insurance involves younger drivers who may move out of state for college, but come home in the summer. In these kinds of cases, or when a teen driver works away from home part of the year, coverage requirements can change. Some insurance policies will allow for a student to be removed from a family policy if they won’t be driving family cars, but if they come home, their vehicle use may not be effectively covered. Even teens who live at home all year may drive more in the summer and need better coverage during these months. The summer season is a chance to speak to auto insurance reps about whether a policy is up-to-date and whether it reflects the best value for a family.
Teen Drivers and Risks
Many parents will be surprised to see how much even occasional teen driving can raise premiums. Part of this is related to in-depth auto safety studies that have found younger drivers to be much more vulnerable to accidents on the road for several reasons, including:
- Peer pressure: Chances of accidents go up significantly with each additional teen passenger in a vehicle.
- Inexperience: Younger drivers don’t know as much about the rules of the road and how to handle vehicles physically.
- Mobile device use: As a whole, younger drivers are more susceptible to cell phone or smartphone distraction, which is one of the main safety risks on American roads today.
Tips for Teens
Some insurers offer comprehensive checklists of safety tips for younger drivers. These include the following:
- Have an emergency kit in the vehicle.
- Keep the vehicle well-maintained, especially with proper tire inflation to prevent some types of accidents.
- Install a hands-free, safe-to-use GPS to help teens know where they’re going.
- Educate young drivers about inclement weather and how to share the road.
All of this can help families lower their insurance premiums and keep younger drivers safer on the road. For more on the details of a Weatherford auto insurance policy, call 800-878-7105.