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Heading Back to School Behind the Wheel
Tips and Tools for Keeping Teen Drivers Safe
For some high school students, the new school year means the ultimate in teen freedom- abandoning the school bus and driving to school. That freedom, however, comes with weighty responsibilities that some teens may not be taking seriously enough. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for American teens.
Young people between the ages of 16 and 20 years old have the highest rate of fatal crashes, relative to other age groups, as per the Insurance Information Institute. And, statistics from the NHTSA reveal that six out of 10 young people in the same age group who died in accidents were not wearing seat belts. Perhaps even more frightening to parents, 65 percent of teen passenger deaths occur when another teenager is behind the wheel and, even though drivers 15 to 20 only make up about 6.7 percent of the driving population, they represent nearly 15 percent of drivers in fatal crashes.
For those parents who want to share safe-driving tips with their teens immediately, Allstate Insurance is offering the below conversation-starter points to help:
-Buckle up. Air bags are made to work with safety belts. Remind your teen to keep the car parked until all passengers are strapped in. It's cool to click it.
-Take a defensive driving class. Yes, it saves money (a 10% discount on certain private passenger auto coverage), but, more importantly, your child can learn valuable tactics and lessons on how to watch out for the other guy.
-Slick isn't necessarily safe. Your teen may want a fast car or sports car, but what is priority is getting them in a safe car. If they challenge you, then you might try offering to buy them new walking shoes instead.
-Do they really know the car they're driving? It is cool for them to use and check out their car's features, such as door locks, sun visors, parking brakes, and mirrors. But, it is not so cool if they aren't sure what each feature does, how to work them, and when to use them.
-And the winner is…. It's important to explain to your teen that it doesn't really matter. Driving a car is not racing a car. Help your teens realize the critical importance of keeping four seconds of space between them and the vehicle in front of them.
-Distractions are dangerous. Distractions, especially if the teen is talking on the cell phone without a hands-free system, take the new driver's attention away from the road. So, advise them to change that CD at the next red light and help set them up with a hands-free accessory system before they pull away.
-Count. Seat belts should be a requirement for everyone who is driving in the car, which means it is the responsibility of the driver not to take more passengers than belts.
-Drive straight. Alcohol and drugs will slow your reaction time. Plus, it's a crime to drive under the influence. Driving straight will help your teen driver drive straight.
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