Milwaukee Auto Defect Attorneys Blog
Price, safety record important considerations for teen cars
On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, June 14, 2011.
Purchasing a vehicle is never easy. Deciding what to get can be the hardest part. Money is always a consideration when it comes to buying a car for your teen driver. But with the risk of young, inexperienced drivers being killed in car accidents, the safety record of a vehicle should be a top consideration when purchasing a car for a teenager.
According to an Associated Press article, cars that are safe to drive probably won’t stop teens from talking on their cell phones or violating speed laws, but it may help them survive a crash should one occur. A large car may seem safer because of its sheer size, but it can be hard to handle for the inexperienced teen that may lose control of it while driving.
A senior director at Consumer Reports advises parents to choose cars with small, four-cylinder engines. Other features to look for include front-wheel drive, electronic stability controls and anti-lock braking systems. All-wheel drive cars may make teens feel overly secure, prompting them to drive faster than is safe for road and weather conditions.
Given price and safety as primary concerns, the Consumer Reports senior director also recommends parents consider choosing among several new midsize cars including the Volkswagen Jetta, the Kia Optima and the Hyundai Sonata. All three car models are priced under $20,000 and all three are on the 2011 Insurance Institute list of safe cars.
It may put your mind at ease knowing your child is driving a safe, highly-rated car. As a plus, buying a newer model car with many safety features and a good safety record may cause insurance premiums to be lower as well.
Source: Boston.com, “Safety, price key ingredients in choosing a car for teen drivers,” Dee-Ann Durbin, 4 June 2011
If you need legal representation for an injury lawsuit, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.