In January, a blindfolded teen crashed into another passenger vehicle while attempting the Bird Box challenge in Layton, Utah.  Inspired by the Sandra Bullock movie “Bird Box”, the teen was behind the wheel wearing a blind fold  on Layton Parkway.

Bird Box Challenge Car Accident

May we state the obvious that this is not a good idea.  The teen was lucky that no one was injured in the crash.  Motor vehicle crashes have been on the rise across the country – and fatal crashes were up sharply in Utah.

If you have a teen or other young driver, it’s important to stress just how important it is to drive defensively and…ahem… not wear a blindfold while you drive.

10 Safe Driving Tips for Teens

  1. Wear your seatbelt.  Nearly 60 percent of teens killed in car accidents were unrestrained.  Buckle up, it might save your life.
  2. Mind the speed limit. Study after study have shown that speed kills and maims.  The speed limits are there for a reason.
  3. Put down the phone.  Don’t text, don’t surf, don’t call.  Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of teen driver accidents.
  4. Get your directions before you go.  If you are using navigation, put the address in before you take the car out of park.
  5. Use your turn signals.  It’s obvious, but too many drivers fail to do so.
  6. Don’t eat or drink while driving.  While you are at it, don’t do you make up or hair either.  These are manual and visual distractions.
  7. Don’t drink and drive.  Alcohol can severely impair judgement and reaction time.
  8. Make sure your vehicle is well maintained.  This is important for parents, especially.  Don’t send your teen out on the road with bald tires, worn breaks or other vehicle maintenance issues.
  9. Watch the weather.  If it’s foggy, raining heavily, snowing or the roads are icy, don’t drive unless you have too. If you have to drive, make sure you understand how your vehicle (and other vehicles) will perform in the adverse weather conditions.
  10. Limit the number of passengers.  The more people in your car, the more likely it is that you will take unnecessary risks or be distracted. Studies have shown that fatal crash risk doubles with each additional passenger.
  11. BONUS – Don’t attempt the bird box challenge while driving.