Reduce Risk of Teen Driver Crashes, Injury & Deaths; Strategies Available

Parents! Self-Impose House Rules. Use These Guidelines That Work.

Clear and concise house rules about safety and use of the automobile are important. Graduated Driver License guidelines provide an effective outline of rules to lay down. States in the U.S. are implementing these rules in growing numbers to save teen lives from automobile accidents.

However, sometimes house rules aren't enough.

Oftentimes it is necessary to monitor your teenager's driving. Teenagers tend to drive one way when parents are watching and another when parents aren't present. To learn how to detect when your teen driver is driving the automobile in a way you do not approve.

You're certain to keep your teenager on the straight and narrow when he or she is out on the road.

In addition to driving safely, house rules should help your teen driver gradually accumulate hours of driving experience. You will want to make sure your teenager is "truly" ready to drive on his or her own when you grant unrestricted driving privileges.

If your state doesn't have a Graduated Driver License program in place, you can impose its guidelines on your teenager as "house rules". To find out if your State has a Graduated Driver License Program.

House Rules To Put In Place.

1. Make sure your Teenager has his/her Learner's Permit 6 or 12 months before obtaining an Operator's Driving License.
2. During the period your teenager has a Learner's Permit, have your teen driver complete 50, 75 or100 hours of driving (adult supervised) before taking his or her road test. One more point, make sure 10-25 of those hours are practiced in the evening. (I'm going to say what's obvious, but be sure your teen driver is alert and not drowsy when you're night driving together).
3. Immediately after your teenager passes his or her road test, "NO" teen passengers should be permitted in automobile for 3 to 6 months unless an adult is present.
4. One more important consideration after your Teen Driver passes his or her road test, "NO" driving between the hours 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. for the next 3 to 6 months unless an adult is present. (Exception is driving to and from work).

Strategies Available To Parents Coaching A Teenager To Be A Safe Driver.

Parents supervising and training teenagers to drive is an approach growing in popularity. It allows parents to blend two important considerations, keep cost reasonably limited and make sure teenagers really know how to drive before letting them out on the road by themselves. A "Training Chart" you can follow to develop your teen driver into a safe driver is outlined for you.

Enrolling your teenager in a professional driver training school is an option. Skilled Instructors can noticeably improve your teenager's driving abilities. Unfortunately, cost is sometimes an issue. Most families cannot afford 35 to 100 hours of professional driving instruction.

More and more states are recommending teenagers gain 35 hours or more road experience before driving solo. What you may want to do instead is have your teenager receive 2-4 hours of driving instruction from a professional instructor. From that point forward, you take over and coach and supervise your teen to be a safe driver.

Directly Supervise Your Teen's Driving A Minimum of 50-100 Hours.

Many states recommend 25 to 50 hours of adult supervised driving before a teen is permitted to drive solo. However, on-the-road experience beyond 50 hours better prepares your teenager to handle the complex nature of today's daytime and night driving.

Here are some basics you may want to cover when coaching or training your teenager to drive.

• Repeat over and over, driving fundamentals.
• Complete at least 10-20 hours Night Driving.

Poor Teen Automobile Maintenance, it's Expensive and Dangerous.

Teens sometimes think as long as the automobile has gasoline, it's in good shape. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Help your teenager understand there are 2 reasons to keep the automobile in tip top shape. The first reason is safety, the second reason is expense. Poorly operating vehicles are death traps. Poorly maintained vehicles are costly bottomless money pits.

Safety Belts! Teens Don't Like Them. Here's How To Get Yours To Strap In.

Make sure your teenager wears his or her seat belts. More than any other group, teens were not wearing safety belts in automobile crashes that resulted in fatalities.

You're going to have to stay on top of your teenager about it. There's something about safety belts and young drivers that doesn't click. Sometimes it will feel like you are talking to a brick wall. But don't stop being a pest about wearing safety belts. Seatbelts help save lives.

Check for signs that your teenager is wearing his or her seat belts.

Ways to know if your teenager is wearing his or her safety belts...

• When your teenager is about to drive away, look out your window to see if he or she automatically straps in.
• When your teenager gets in the automobile with you, observe if he or she automatically straps in without you prompting him or her.
• When you hear your teenager returning home in his or her automobile, greet your teenager. Watch to see if he or she is strapped in.

If you observe that your teenager is not wearing safety belts, it is likely your teenager drives unprotected.