Five Safety Tips for Your Teen Driver
Ask any parent about his or her most anxiety provoking moments, and handing over his or her keys to the new driver in the family will almost certainly be near the top of the list. And it's no wonder; teenagers are more at risk behind the wheel than any other group. But, there are some things parents can do to reduce the risks.
Perhaps the best thing a parent can do for a teen driver is to establish a no second chances rule about driving after drinking. The last thing a teen wants to lose is his or her driving privileges, so a drink once and it's over policy may well achieve the desired result. It worked for my father, and my kids tell me it worked for me.
And, set a good example. I never...not once...saw my father drive after having more than one drink.
Make sure your teen driver knows that following too closely is the cause of hundreds of thousands of avoidable accidents every year. And, teach him or her that following the two second rule...passing landmarks no sooner than two seconds after the car you are following, will virtually eliminate the possibility of rear ending another automobile.
Studies have proven that the more teenagers there are in a car, the higher the risk of accident. Limiting your teen to one or two passengers, especially when he or she first starts to drive, can reduce risk.
Parents should not assume that passing a driver education course is a guarantee of competency. In fact, very few students fail driver education courses, however unskilled they may be. Ride with your teenager, assess his or her skills, and provide instruction as necessary.
Driving while speaking on the telephone has proven to be so dangerous that it is illegal in several states and legislation to make it illegal is pending in many others. Make staying off the phone while driving a no exceptions rule.
Let your teen know that one of the best ways he or she can demonstrate the responsibility and maturity necessary to drive is to protect everyone in the car he or she is driving by being certain that everyone wears a seat belt.
Remember that learning comes through repetition. Don't stop preaching about the need to drive defensively and the potentially life changing results of even a second of carelessness or inattention while driving. With vigilance and persistence, you can make your teen a better driver.
Daniel Z. Kane is an educator and a parent. He has created websites on online colleges and online degrees.
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