Teen Driving

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Unfortunately, most teens no longer learn to drive from their parents.Instead, most parents rely on "driver’s education" courses to teach their kids the single most important lesson in the safety of their child’s life. Although these courses can be very helpful, they are by no means a substitute for a concerned parent’s instruction.

With teen accidents and fatalities on the rise, teaching your teen how to be safe on the road has never been more important. The following statistics may surprise you.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) National Center for Statistics & Analysis (NCSA), “speeding is the most prevalent factor contributing to traffic crashes”.

The NCSA also notes that teen drivers exceed the speed limit more than any other group. This puts teen drivers at the highest risk level to be involved in a vehicle crash. Additionally, according to the NCSA, “On a per population basis, drivers under the age of 25 had the highest rate of involvement in fatal crashes than any other group.” Moreover, “Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15-20 year olds.” With these facts in mind, it’s easy to see just how important it is to involve yourself in your teen’s driving instruction.

Along with teaching your child how to safely operate a vehicle comes other responsibilities; including items such as vehicle selection, monthly inspection, repair and maintenance, to name a few.

Vehicle selection

So, what is the best vehicle to have your teen driver operate? Although this can depend on the region/climate you live in, most agree the safest vehicle is the typical family sedan. The reasons for this: most sports cars are inherently quick, and require experience to operate correctly. SUV’s are large and cumbersome. Small compact cars typically have less safety features than their large, sedan counterparts.

Also, although popular, SUV’s and teen drivers can be a dangerous mix. According to American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) “ Most safety experts caution against SUVs for teens. Young drivers tend to overcorrect when steering out of trouble, which makes them more prone to roll their vehicles”. Obviously, sedans have a much lower center of gravity, which makes them less prone to roll-over accidents.

Monthly inspection

Teach your child to regularly inspect safety items such as headlights, taillights, turn signals, etc. Also, instruct them in the proper inspection and maintenance of the tires (including the spare!), fluids (oil, antifreeze, windshield washer, etc.).

Vehicle repair

Show your child how to safely change a flat tire. Explain the importance of a cell phone in case of emergency. If you’re mechanically inclined, show your child other repairs such as: temporarily repairing a leaky hose with duct tape, drive belt replacement, how to safely add coolant, use of road flares, etc. Teaching your teen how to be a safe driver will not help if they don’t know how to keep the vehicle itself safe.

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