Tips for Teen Drivers
It’s very important to prepare your teen driver for getting their driver’s license. A study conducted by the National Highway Safety Administration showed that 16-24 year olds account for 25% of overall traffic deaths. This is a scary statistic. However, as a parent there are many things you can do to teach your teen driver how to be safe and responsible on the road.Many teens feel empowered when they receive their license and do not realize the responsibility that comes along with it. Often teen drivers look at driving as a social event. This type of attitude can lead to bad driving habits and ultimately lead to traffic accidents.
Here are some tips to help educate your teen driver and make their driving experience safer for everyone.
-Limit Distractions. Nowadays there are too many distractions for drivers. These include making a call, sending text messages, listening and changing songs on your iPod, talking to friends, eating, applying makeup and much more. Create a driving environment for your teen that excludes anything that can be a potential distraction.-Is your teen driver mature? Just because they reach the state minimum age required to obtain a drivers license, doesn’t mean they should automatically get one. If your teenager is not mature enough to handle the responsibilities of driving; then it is best to wait until they are.-Lead by example. Most teen drivers inherit their driving skills from their parents. —–They’ve spent the first 16 or 17 years of their life being a passenger in your car. It is very likely they will pick up your driving habits, good or bad.
-Stay involved. Just because your teen driver has passed the test and received their drivers license does not mean they are expert drivers. They still have a lot of learning to do. Stay actively involved in teaching and monitoring their driving skills.
-Make them earn it. Involving your teen driver in the finances of owning and driving a car is a great way to teach them the responsibility of driving. If they did not get a car, or pay for it if they did, have them contribute to car insurance payments and gas money.
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