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Published June 18, 2008 06:00 pm - It’s important for parents and teens alike to realize that factors like driving in bad weather, driving while talking on the phone or texting, driving at night and driving with friends can put even the most responsible young person in danger. Mat Anderson: Parents can help protect teen drivers Just like all young people, my teen years were characterized by a desire for independence. I wanted to be free to do anything and go anywhere. For myself, and most teens today, that freedom comes in the form of a driver’s license. Immediately after I passed my driving test I felt cooler, more mature, and ultimately more free.
But what I soon came to realize is that freedom comes with a price. After witnessing accidents involving my peers, I began to understand that driving a car involves some serious risks and important responsibilities. Sadly, many young people are forced to learn this lesson the hard way. This is evidenced by the fact that one in three teens are in a car accident within their first year of driving and motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of teen deaths. While some of these accidents are related to substance abuse, others are caused by situations that many teens and parents may not view as being very risky. Because of this, it’s important for parents and teens alike to realize that factors like driving in bad weather, driving while talking on the phone or texting, driving at night and driving with friends can put even the most responsible young person in danger. Fortunately, there are a number of things that parents can do to better prepare teens and reduce these risks. Here are some tips from the Department of Motor Vehicles: • Set a good example. Drive the way you’d like your teen to drive. If your teen sees you speeding, driving without a seat belt or talking on the phone while driving, it is likely your teen will do the same. • Provide as much adult-supervised driving time as possible. Even after your teen gets his or her permanent license, parents should spend time riding with their teen in order to observe his or her driving habits and give tips. • Expose teens to different driving conditions. Supervise your teen driving in the city, on rural roads, on the interstate and in various weather conditions and times of day. • Prohibit cell-phone use while driving. Today’s teens are very prone to multi-tasking. Because of this, many teens will text or talk on the phone while driving. This is extremely dangerous to both them and everyone they share the road with. • Restrict the number of passengers in the car. Statistics show that teen driver death rates increase with each additional passenger in the car. This is because more passengers mean more distractions, and distractions increase the chance of a crash. n Require that teen drivers and passengers wear safety belts at all times. • Choose a safe vehicle for your teen. Mid- to full-size sedans and station wagons with small engines and airbags are safest for teen drivers. • Remind teen drivers that speed is the No. 1 cause of fatal crashes involving teens. Tell them to obey the speed limit at all times, and allow enough time to get to their destination. • Talk to your teen about safe driving. By having conversations about the consequences of risky driving, you can help your teen overcome the “it won’t happen to me” mindset. Ask teens how they would feel if they were involved in a serious car accident in which they, their passengers or innocent people were hurt or killed. • Another great way to make your expectations known to your teen is through signing a parent-teen driving contract with them that outlines responsibilities for both teens and parents through the first year of driving. A link to this free document, provided by AAA, can be found on futureparadigm.org. 
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