The passage from childhood to adult life has always been a difficult period, for teenagers and for their parents. Most Wisconsin parents have trouble understanding the scope of the changes their teens have to go through. When it comes to their children driving, parents can get scared. Just thinking about their young ones being involved in a serious car accident in Wisconsin is nightmarish.
Should Wisconsin parents be afraid?
Milwaukee teen driving accident statistics are not encouraging. Teen drivers in Wisconsin are involved in more single-vehicle crashes than any other age-group. Teens are also more likely than experienced drivers to crash if there are passengers in the car, if they have drunk alcohol, or when they are driving at night. Teenagers often fail to wear a seatbelt, which increases the extent of accident injuries.
Stop being afraid, because you can do a lot to help.
Some teenagers react poorly to lessons. They like being talked to and treated like adults, or equals, even if they have a lot to learn. During the crucial time when a 16-year-old starts driving, parents should not rely on the driver’s license learning process to change their teen driver’s attitude and maturity. This is something only parents can change if they become involved, take interest and focus on teaching their children. More particularly, parents will have to:

• Know the law: Look up what Wisconsin law says about minimum age, mandatory holding period, nighttime restrictions, and passenger restrictions.
• Set their own rules: Give your teen driver precise and consistent instructions about what he or she can and cannot do when using the car. Prohibit the use of handheld phones while driving, and require the use of safety belts at all times.
• Practice driving with their teen: Plan a number of training sessions in different traffic situations and locations. Ask your teen driver to get behind the wheel as often as possible. Practice braking on a wet pavement. Talk about blind spots, tires and spare tires, ABS, oil and fluid checks, emergency kits, etc.

If you have been injured in a Wisconsin or Illinois automobile accident, call 800-800-5676 (toll-free) or 414-223-4800 (local) today, the attorneys at Hupy & Abraham will provide you with a free evaluation of your case, or send us an e-mail with your questions. Hupy & Abraham have lawyer offices in Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton in Wisconsin, and Gurnee and Bloomington in Illinois.