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Keep Your Teen Driver Safe This Summer
May 06 2009 by Jennifer Newman
As the school year winds down, it’s time for parents to start giving safe-driving lessons to teens before they hit the road this summer. Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2005, 4,544 teens ages 16 to 19 died of injuries caused by car crashes, according to the CDC.
Parents, you can help your teen drivers stay safe all year by following these suggestions:
• Anyone in your teen’s car must wear a seat belt at all times.
• No driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs. This is a no-brainer, but it never hurts to make sure your teen driver is clear on even the most basic expectations.
• Limit your teen’s driving, especially at night, on weekends and during inclement weather. Remember, driving is a privilege, not a right for your teen.
• Establish rules that will help limit distractions — no cell phone use, including text messaging; no eating while driving; no fussing with an MP3 player or CDs when the car is moving.
• Set a limit on the number of teens allowed in the car when your son or daughter is driving. This will be difficult to enforce, but your teen might surprise you and follow this rule.
• Use a driving contract to outline your family’s rules of the road. Contracts are available here and here.
• Have a code word that your teen can use if he or she is out with friends and uncomfortable with those friends’ behavior in the car. Your teen can call to check in and slip the code word into the conversation, and you can act accordingly. If teens can’t call, they could text the code word and a place where you can meet.
• Sign your teen up for a safe-driving program that’s targeted at teens. There’s plenty of programs out there, including Driver’s Edge, Toyota Driving Expectations and Tire Rack Street Survival.
The most important thing you can do is set a good example: Buckle up, put your cell phone away and keep your eyes on the road when you’re behind the wheel. Talk to your teens about the importance of safe driving. They just might surprise you and take this lesson to heart.
What are your rules of the road for your teen driver? Tell us in the comment section below.
Please list our SuperSafety Street Course as a high quality driver education program.
Michael Pettiford, President
GO 4 IT Services, Inc.
303-666-4113