Having your teen get their license is a fun, yet scary thing. It's great to see them blossoming into a young adult, but you now have to worry about their driving skills, as well as others on the road.
Here are some tips to help make their transition easier and for your peace of mind!
First, make sure they take a driving class with their high school, online or DMV. Then enroll them in a defensive driving class; it's great to learn and goes toward a discount on their insurance.
Then, set the rules for the vehicle:
Express that there should be no cell phone use in the car, even at red lights. Roughly half of teens, randomly surveyed, have admitted to texting and driving.
Make sure they know how to check their fluids and other important wear and tear parts on their cars. This includes avoiding driving their cars on E, having enough fluids and properly working wiper blades.
Try to limit their driving on the weekends and after 10 pm. More crashes happen Friday, Saturday and Sunday (more cars are on the roadways on the weekends) and at night, when they will be tired, distracted or drunk. Also, it;s a good idea to know if they have a lot going on with school, work and extra curricular activities...you will know if they might be too tired or distracted to drive. Remember: drowsy driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving.
Also, you want to keep them from being broken down on the side of the road, so detail how to find a safe place to pull over and what to do in emergency situations. Here's a link to show them how to check and fill fluids, jump a battery and so on.
Of course, be mindful of bad weather too. Try not to let your teens drive in inclement weather; they may not know how fast they should be going or how to react in an icy or slippery incident yet. If you do want to teach them so they get practice, go with them and give them tips.
Things to think about:
Get them out there are driving, with supervision, as much as you can. The more experience they have, the better/quicker they will be able to react in dangerous situations.
Teens, especially college age, are at a serious risk for drinking and driving. Have a plan for them if they are too intoxicated to drive and/or are not in a safe place to stay the night. It can be a business card of a 24/7 cab service, they can call a parent or other trusted adult for a ride or whatever works for your family. Just make sure their safe actions don't come with punishment. If they are punished for drinking and making a responsible decision, they will probably be less likely to call again if they need a ride.- Try to get them into a reliable car, this doesn't have to be a brand new car, but something that will keep them safe and from being broken down on the side of the road. It can also be helpful to go over costs of maintenance and gas with them; this way they will be fully aware, ahead of time, how much it can cost them if they don't take care of their car.
Must haves for teens in the car:
SEAT-BELT
Radio on low
Keep their passengers to a minimum, especially with other teens
Know the laws for driving curfews
Get them a safety kit, like this one
SET A GOOD EXAMPLE WHEN DRIVING WITH THEM!
Don't start yelling at other drivers, speeding or zipping through lanes...they learn from watching.
Car accidents are the number one killer of American teens.
State Driver Distraction Laws
Not only could using a cell phone or texting while driving cause your teen driver to crash, it could also lead to a traffic ticket. In New Jersey, special learner’s permit, examination permit, and probationary license holders are banned from using any kind of wireless communication device while driving, including all handheld and hands-free cell phones and text messaging devices. Adults may not text and drive or use a handheld cell phone while behind the wheel.Key Tips for Parents
Parents play a critical role in preventing distracted driving. Here are tips you can use related to this key part of driving safety.- Start by setting a good example with your own driving. As your teen pays more attention to your behavior behind the wheel, you don’t want to pass on bad habits. Keep your mobile devices stowed and focus on driving.
- As you begin to practice driving with your teen, do not allow a cell phone to be used in the vehicle by your or your teen, make an effort to block out other distractions. Also, before your teen starts driving solo, adopt a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement that lays out strict rules related to distraction.
- Explain to your teen driver how to minimize various potential distractions, such as eating, drinking, chatting with a passenger, reading a map, personal grooming, reaching for things in the car or looking at people or objects unrelated to the driving task.
- When you are supervising your teen’s practice driving, stay off the phone and help your teen pay attention to the road. Don’t make electronic distractions an acceptable part of driving.
- Prohibit your teen from riding with teen drivers or transporting other teens during the learning-to-drive process. One of the most dangerous sources of distraction for teen drivers, whether due to horseplay, loud music, rowdy behavior or peer pressure, is teen passengers. A AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study found that carrying passengers, particularly other teens, greatly increases crash risk for drivers under age 18. New Jersey driver licensing rules allow probationary license holders no more than one non-family passenger unless supervised by a parent or guardian.
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