Part 1: New Jersey Car Accident Lawyers at Console & Hollawell Warn of Teen Drinking & Driving in Recognition of National Teen Driver Safety Week - WBOC-TV 16, Delmarvas News Leader, FOX 21 -

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SOURCE: Console & Hollawell P.C.

October 14 through the 20th marks National Teen Driver Safety Week and in observance of this, the Toms River car accident attorneys at Console & Hollawell want all parents and teens to be aware of safe driving practices that could save your life.

Marlton, New Jersey (PRWEB) October 15, 2012

October 14 through the 20th marks National Teen Driver Safety Week and in observance of this, the Toms River car accident attorneys at Console & Hollawell want all parents and teens to be aware of safe driving practices that could save your life. Console & Hollawell is doing a five-part series in honor of this national service:

•     Part 1: Teen Drinking and Driving
•     Part 2: Teen Distracted Driving
•     Part 3: Teen Seatbelt Usage
•     Part 4: Teen Speeding
•     Part 5: Teen Drivers and the Distraction of Passengers

National Teen Driver Safety Week is sponsored by Allstate Insurance and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and it was founded in 2007, according to Teen Driver Source (sponsored by CHOP).*

Every year in the United States, more than 5,000 teenaged drivers are killed in crashes, according to Teen Driver Source.** In 2007, after seeing a slew of serious accidents involving teenaged drivers, Representative Charlie Dent (R-PA) and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced a resolution to create this annual observance—the bill had more than 50 co-sponsors, according to Teen Driver Source.** Congress now recognizes National Teen Driver Safety Week the third week of October each year with the aim of promoting safe driving practices to reduce accidents involving teen drivers.

Richard P. Console, Jr., a car accident lawyer in Ocean County, has seen many terrible accidents involving teen drivers over the last two decades and is a strong believer in employing preventative measures to keep our children and all motorists safe.

“The CDC reported that in 2011 there were more than 1,000,000 high school drivers that got behind the wheel after consuming alcohol,”*** Console said. “In order to reduce this frequency teens and parents alike must be proactive when it comes to safe driving practices.”

In all 50 states it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to consume alcohol, and it is illegal for an underage driver to get behind the wheel if they have consumed any alcohol. They are not afforded the same regards to blood alcohol concentration as adults of legal drinking age—it is a crime for teens to drive with any amount of alcohol in their system, according to the CDC.***

The following tips for parents and teens come from Console’s years of experience with auto accidents:

•     Parents need to be diligent with discouraging and keeping their child from consuming alcohol. There can be no exceptions to the rule, as one ‘slide’ could have dire consequences. This all starts with setting the right example for your children by never driving drunk. Also, if you are unable to prevent your child from drinking you at least need to keep them out of a car. To that effect have open communication with your child about driving under the influence. Explain to them that they can always call you for a ride or should get a cab if they have consumed any alcohol.
•     Teens must play an active role in their safety as well. In addition to never getting behind the wheel after drinking, they must also never get into a car with a driver who has. The National Highway Traffic Administration reported that in 2010, one in five teenage drivers who were involved in a fatal car accident had a BAC of .08 or higher.****
•     By working together and obeying the laws that are in place for the protection of all motorists, teen drunk driving accidents could become a thing of the past. Open communication, adherence to laws, and self-discipline are the best ways to prevent these terrible tragedies this National Teen Driver Safety Week and throughout the year.

If you or someone you love was injured in a South Jersey car accident, or to learn more about safe driving practices, contact the attorneys at Console & Hollawell today.

Be on the lookout for part two of the Teen Driver Safety Series tomorrow, October 16, on distracted driving from the lawyers at Console & Hollawell, P.C.

• http://www.teendriversource.org/more_pages/page/get_behind_national_teen_driver_safety_week_ntdsw_/teen

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