6 Tips to Keep Teenage Drivers Safe as They Celebrate Prom and Graduation

Spring has sprung, and that means it’s just about time for Central Massachusetts and Metro West area high schools to hold their proms and graduations. It sure is a great time of year for teenagers looking to celebrate by getting together with friends at their formal dances and high school graduation parties! But, time of celebration should also mean time for reflection.

Tragically, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of teenage deaths and teenage drivers are three times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than other drivers. Westboro Toyota wants all of our young people to stay safe as they travel to and from prom and graduation parties—and any other time they’re driving or riding on the roads for that matter!

We’ve put together a few safety tips we hope parents and educators will share with the teenage drivers and passengers in their lives:

Wear your seat belt at all times—this goes for all drivers and passengers of all ages! The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2012 of the 5,000 victims of motor vehicle accidents between the ages of 16 and 20, nearly 60 percent were not wearing their seatbelts at the time of impact. Please, we cannot stress this enough: Buckle up, everyone!

Restrict nighttime driving if possible because most car crashes involving teenagers occur three hours before and up until midnight.

Urge teen drivers to cut back on the number of passengers in their vehicle to help scale back any unnecessary distractions those passengers could cause for the driver.

Drive as you would want your teenage to drive! In other words, set the example for your youngster to follow. Obey the rules of the road; drive defensively; and be courteous to fellow drivers on the roadways.

Remind teens that not only is underage drinking illegal but it could have devastating consequences on the roadways. NHTSA statistics reveal that 64 percent of teen drivers killed in motor vehicle accidents had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 (the legal limit here in Massachusetts) or higher.

Select a vehicle for your teenager to drive based on safety. And there’s good news for teens looking for a sporty ride! Toyota’s fleet of new and pre-owned vehicles offer a wide array of safety features that can help keep drivers and passengers of all ages safe on the roadways. In fact, Toyota is the first automaker to make its Star Safety System™ features standard in all of its vehicles. These include:

• vehicle stability control;

• traction control;

• anti-lock brake system;

• electronic brake-force distribution; and

• brake assist.

Westboro Toyota urges all parents to schedule maintenance on the vehicles their teens will be driving this celebratory season. Use our 24/7 online scheduler to book your express maintenance appointment.
Express maintenance is an economical and fast way to ensure that your vehicle is performing efficiently and safely. Using a pit-crew approach, our experienced service team will provide you with accurate, rapid and superior service, which includes:

• oil and filter change;

• brake inspection;

• tire rotation;

• fluids inspection and replenishment; and

• multipoint vehicle inspection.

Drive and ride safe everyone!