Few milestones are more nerve-wracking for parents than a teenager getting behind the wheel. While learning to drive has long been one of the first steps into adulthood, it is also a very dangerous one. Statistically, young drivers are more at risk on the road than almost anyone else.
Car crashes are one of the top causes of both death and injury to teenagers and young adults. Parents do not want to deny their teens the same opportunities as their peers, but they also don’t want the family to experience a tragedy. The five safety tips below can help limit the likelihood of a teen driver ending up involved in a major motor vehicle collision.
1. Prioritize practice
The teen licensing program requires quite a bit of drive time from young adults. However, 44 hours of driving practice isn’t enough for mastery. Inexperience with driving is one of the leading reasons that teen drivers cause crashes. The more time they spend at the wheel with a skilled adult supervising them, the better their chances of responding appropriately to dangerous traffic conditions.
2. Prohibit phone use
Ensuring that young adults understand that they cannot use a phone to call people or text while driving is of the utmost importance. Younger drivers tend to be more flexible about mobile phone use when driving, in part because they have grown up with digital technology. Having a zero-tolerance policy for digital distractions could save a young driver’s life.
3. Limit nighttime driving
Statistically, driving after dark is one of the most dangerous choices a teen can make. Factors including a lack of visibility, fatigue and the increased presence of drunk drivers can all add to the risk of a major wreck occurring late at night.
4. Have rules about passengers
Phones aren’t the only source of distractions for teen drivers. Their peers can also be a dangerous distraction on the road. Limiting young adults to only one or two passengers at a time or not allowing them to drive with passengers at all when they first begin driving by themselves can help them improve their skills before they add distracting conversations into the mix.
5. Maintain zero tolerance for impaired driving
Young adults may want to experiment with drugs or alcohol, but driving after doing so could cost them their lives. Teen drivers may need in-home consequences to deter experimentation, as the abstract idea of a crash or arrest may seem too unlikely to affect their behavior.
Parents can also make a point of setting good examples with their own behavior. Teens learn from how their parents drive, so better personal habits may help protect a young adult from a serious car crash. Establishing the right rules and expectations for a teen driver can potentially save their life.