Safety Tips: Teen Drivers
Posted on September 4, 2014
Welcome back!!! It is back to school week and we have reached my favorite topic! As a parent and a doctor, my biggest fear about my children and high school was my older daughter starting to drive to school. I actually made her start drinking coffee in the morning because she was never really awake at 7 am! (Okay it was half hot chocolate.) Giving your teenager their first set of car keys can feel like one or both of you just went skydiving without a parachute. As a parent, you’re relinquishing a certain amount of control when your child climbs behind the wheel. And that can be terrifying.
According to the CDC, car accidents are the number-one cause of death among teens in the U.S., accounting for about half the deaths, all of which are preventable. The traffic accident rates for 16- to 19-year old drivers are higher than those for any other age group. Inexperienced drivers lack hazard perception, take more risks, and have not had time to master vehicle handling skills. So when it comes to driving, parental caution is warranted. It’s important to communicate that with the freedom comes the seriousness of the sudden responsibility. Even if you enroll your child in a driver’s education course, there is no substitue for strong parental guidance.
To help make those conversations a little easier to navigate, here’s a road map of important points:
Seatbelt – Teens are more likely to shuffle through their iPod in search of a suitable playlist before they think about putting on their seatbelt. Be clear that fastening their seatbelt should be the very first thing they do before keys are even in the ignition. The driver is also responsible to make sure everyone else is wearing their seatbelt.
Texting – There are enough distractions outside of the vehicle, so explain the importance of paying strict attention to the road at all times. Cell phones, music and passengers can be huge distractions, especially texting. Every second a teen takes their eyes of the road could be an opportunity for a terrible accident. I would encourage you to watch the Volkwagen “Eyes on the Road” Texting and Driving Stunt on You tube with your teen as a way of starting a conversation.
Drinking and driving – Be clear that no one under the age of 21 should be drinking. But teens will be teens, so emphasize the necessity of always having a designated driver. Make sure they understand they can always call for a ride home. This is an important conversation to have and model more than once. Peer pressure makes teens do crazy things, but I tell my teens and all their friends that if they are not comfortable that the driver is sober, don’t get into the car. I encouraged my teens to sleep over rather than drive if they are out late and made sure they had cab money. Be a good role model as well – drinking and driving don’t mix well at any age!
Defensive driving – New drivers should be hyper-sensitive to all surroundings, since they’re still developing basic skills and habits. Teach teenagers to watch out for other drivers and be aware of their reactions to avoid collisions. Make sure they know about the blind spots.
Penalties – Discuss the fines associated with tickets, share a personal experience you had getting a ticket and sitting in traffic court. Let them know they will be responsible for any monetary repercussions or other consequences.
Roadside emergencies and maintenance – Go over what to do and whom to call in an emergency. Do they have roadside assistance and insurance information readily available? I gave my daughters AAA cards for their 16th birthdays. Make sure they know not to lose that information—it’s best to always keep it in the car. Introduce them to basic car maintenance, too, by taking them along for regular oil changes, tire rotations and inspections. That way, they can start scheduling their own appointments when necessary.
My daughters will probably roll their eyes if they read this – but they have followed the family rules about safe driving because they know how serious I am about this topic. I wonder how they would do on the weekly quiz? How will you? Take my weekly quiz to see how much you have learned!
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