10 tips for ensuring your teen drives safely…
It’s a sobering thought that nine states grant drivers’ learning permits to 14 year olds and at least 30 more give them to 15 year olds. Research shows that car crashes are the leading cause of death for kids aged 12 and up – and more than half of those who die are being driven by under-20s. What can you do to ensure that your teenager isn’t taking risks that could kill her and her friends?
1 Drive safely yourself
Practice what you preach and drive safely long before your teen gets her learner's permit. If you don't want her talking on a cellphone, texting or eating while she’s driving, don't do those things while you’re driving. Always wear your seat belt, don’t speed and don’t tailgate. Any time you’re tempted to aggressively overtake the truck that just did the same to you, ask yourself: “Is this really worth getting killed over?”
2 Make perfect with practice
Devote at least 50 hours to teaching your teen to drive. It's the single most important factor in developing a safe driver. Vary the routes, time of day, and driving conditions to give her confidence in a wide range of driving situations.
3 Set ground rules
Don’t assume she can drive like a pro just because she’s gotten her license. Research shows that night driving, driving with passengers, and driving without a destination are all factors that contribute to high crash rates. Remember to set ground rules before she gets her license.
4 Ban passengers
Your teen’s risk of being involved in a crash increases exponentially with each adolescent passenger she has in the car without adult supervision. Until you’re sure she can manage passengers and other distractions responsibly, don’t allow them unless an adult is along for the ride. When you think she’s ready, start by allowing only one passenger and gradually increase the number allowed. Make it clear she can’t carry more kids than there are seat belts for and teach her that it's OK to tell passengers, “Please don't distract me while I'm driving.”
5 Know where she’s going
Discuss the route she’s using before she heads out alone and try to plan it so she avoids busy, high-speed roads.
6 Nix the night driving
Teens’ crash risk increases at night, so don’t allow your teen to drive after 9pm for at least six months. Once she’s had her license and been driving safely for six months you can gradually allow your child to drive later.
7 Put the brakes on a car of her own
It’s not recommended to buy a teen driver a car immediately – let her share your family car for at least a year after she gets her license. This makes it easier for you to have a say in the conditions of use (wearing a seat belt, no passengers, no cell phone, and responsibility for gas/repairs, etc). Once you feel your child is ready for her own car, bear in mind that a mid-sized to large sedan is safest (avoid SUVs, sports cars and pickup trucks), and look for safety technology (front and side air bags, anti-lock brakes and stability control systems).
8 Hone her hazard awareness skills
Scanning surroundings for potential hazards is particularly difficult for a young driver, especially a teen who’s likely to keep late nights and get up early for school. Remind your teen to keep an eye on the traffic several cars ahead, and stress the importance of looking to the sides for brake lights and traffic signals, as well as hazards such as roadblocks, pedestrians, or emergency vehicles. She should make a habit of using her directional indicator lights to signal any maneuver she intends making (set a good example by doing this yourself – it’s a safety habit that’s sadly lacking in many adult drivers!) and check her blind spot before changing lanes.
9 Keep her safe when other kids are driving
Emphasize to your teen that your road safety rules apply to any car journey, even if she isn’t driving. She should always buckle up in a friend’s car and should never get into a car if she suspects the driver has consumed alcohol or there are several other kids along for the ride. Let her know she can call you at any time to come pick her up if she thinks her ride home might not be safe.
10 Create a parent-teen driving agreement
Having rules, conditions, restrictions and consequences of teens’ driving written down in advance establishes driving as a privilege, and not something to be taken lightly or for granted. Look to your state’s graduated driver licensing programs as the minimum you should be enforcing, and establish rules and consequences that extend beyond state laws. If your teen breaks a family driving rule, restrict her car driving privileges and use it as an opportunity for learning and discussion. Conversely, proper driving behavior should be encouraged and rewarded with additional liberties.