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If your teenage driver has lived up to the responsibilities agreed upon months ago, use this checklist to determine if they’re ready to drive solo:
Is your son or daughter paying attention? Are they driving or just steering the car?
Do they still look for controls or can they turn on the headlights without looking away?
Do they use turn signals regularly?
Do they...
Too often, kids get a learners permit and never get to drive. Start your young driver in the neighborhood, in parking lots or other low traffic areas. After several weeks, let them drive in more traffic. Don’t expect too much at first, but don’t lower standards. Remember, what your children know about driving they have learned from watching you.
For the first few...
While the state says you must obey traffic laws to keep your driver’s license, it’s even more important for parents to establish "in-house" rules that must be followed for the teen to keep their license. Most states require that a parent or guardian sign for anyone under the age of 18. The state also allows you to revoke the license by withdrawing your signature....
Teenagers face a different reality than the rest of us the instant they get behind the wheel: car crashes are the number one cause of death among their peers.
If you’re a young driver you can decrease the risk by limiting your night driving and observing speed limits. There are many such safe driving strategies.
For instance, you might also work to gain a better...
Statistics you should know...
14% of all deaths due to motor vehicle accidents are a teen driver.
Most teen driver deaths due to motor vehicle accidents occur on weekends 53% of the time.
Teen drivers killed in motor vehicle accidents had a youth passenger in automobile 45% of the time. More facts below.
Of teen drivers fatally injured in automobiles, more than 1/3...
Step 1
First you must attain a Provisional Driver's Permit.
Be at least 15, but under 18 years of age.
Obtain your parents' or guardians' signatures on the application form.
If under 15 1/2, be enrolled in driver education and driver training during the same semester -- simultaneous enrollment.
If teenager is at least 17 1/2 he or she may obtain a permit without...
Do you know:
* Of teen drivers fatally injured in automobiles, more than 1/3 were speed related accidents.
* Teen lifestyle of staying up late make teen drivers a high risk to have an automobile accident due to drowsiness.
* More than any age group, teens are likely to be involved in a single vehicle crash.
The main causes for automobile accidents among...
Limit nighttime and weekend driving.
Many teens drive at night for the first time in summer, with the night driving privilege often extended all at once. Treat night driving like the new experience it is and allow independent night driving only after significant supervised night driving. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 42 percent of fatal...
Parents leading hectic, complicated lives and accustomed to the demands of multi-tasking lifestyles can find themselves distracted, tired and emotionally jangled. That’s not good – no matter what our age – if we’re also sitting behind the wheel and traveling at 55 mph. Safe driving demands concentration and attention at all times. The risk of making mistakes and...
A Budget Analysis
Here are the first year costs for putting a 16 year old teen behind the wheel of a 2000 Ford Focus SE 4-door sedan, based on AAA figures for maintenance, depreciation and tires:
License fees
$200
Financing charges
$ 2,400
Maintenance costs (incl. tires)
$ 580
Gas costs
$ 1,160
Insurance
$ 2,537
TOTAL
$ 6,697
Assumes a...
Putting a teenager on the road is more expensive that you probably realize. Along with the cost of a car, gasoline and upkeep, consider these facts:
Insurance rates for teenage drivers are always higher than for other drivers because they pose a higher risk for vehicle crashes. Adding a teenager to the insurance policy means a 50 to 100 percent increase in the...
Do you find that you are driving under pressure lately? It’s worse for your tires. Potholes, speed bumps, overloaded vehicles, searing summer pavement and traveling long distances all take a toll on your vehicle’s tires. Tires that are properly inflated to their specified pounds-per-square-inch (PSI) save lives, reduce tire wear and increase fuel economy.
Tires play...
For Babies:
Pack soft toys that are age appropriate. All play objects are potential missiles; therefore, take care to find toys that are soft and will not cause harm if airborne.
Bring along tapes or CDs that have baby’s favorite tunes.
Have a parent or older child sit in the back seat and read, talk or play with the infant.
A hungry baby is often an unhappy baby....
Among the strategies parents can use to improve their children’s chances of staying safe on the road this summer are these:
Sign a summer contract with their young driver.
Parents must make it clear that driving is a privilege, not a right. Experts urge parents to clearly define the expectations and requirements associated with being allowed to drive, and the...
Teenage drivers are up to 20 times more likely to have an accident than adult drivers. Parents must make clear to teens that driving is a privilege, not a right. Experts urge parents to clearly define the expectations and requirements associated with being allowed to drive, and the consequences for violating them.
Require young drivers to sign a contract accepting...
