Florida Child Injury Law Blog

Archive for February, 2011

What can we do to prepare teen drivers to improve their safety on the road? This is a subject most parents lose sleep over. So now that your teen has a license and are eager for the keys to the car – just how prepared do you feel they are for this huge responsibility?

We are all aware car accidents are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. Yet research suggests the number of teen driver car accidents are largely preventable with adequate preparation. Florida State Senator Thad Altman, Melbourne, is on the right track. He is proposing a bill for this legislation session. The sole purpose is to strengthen the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL.) GDL in Florida puts us on the right path, but by adding some improvements – we can make teens safer on the road.

Here’s a brief run-down of suggested enhancements to GDL:

• Improve Teen passenger restrictions
• Restrict the use of cell phones for talking & texting
• Requirement to take and pass an advanced driver’s ed course (incl. classroom and behind the wheel education)

Teen driver safety – let’s each do our part to ensure young drivers are ready for the challenges of the road.

A school bus and an SUV crashed in Holiday near Sweetbriar Drive and Anclote Blvd. The deadly bus accident sent 17 students and the bus driver to the hospital and claimed the life of the driver of the sport utility van.  News reports state the 41 year old driver crossed the center line and crashed head-on into the bus. She was taken to Bayfront Medical Center but died later of her injuries.

The students, who were on their way to Paul R. Smith Middle School in Holiday, reportedly suffered injuries such as neck pain, minor scrapes and bruises. It is unclear at this time whether any of the 38  students on the bus were wearing seat belts – although the bus was equipped with them. Crisis counselors were made available to students at the school.

The accident is under investigation.  It is not known if speeding was a factor.