Tips for parents with teens taking to the road
Any weekday afternoon after 3 p.m. in any town, teens can be seen driving around town. Teen driving is considered one of the rites of passage from childhood to adulthood.
Driving teaches responsibility, hones decision-making skills, and makes parents nervous wrecks.
Sobering statistics indicate that unnecessary deaths occur as a result of poor decisions made by teens when behind the wheel of vehicles.
Two out of five deaths among U.S. teens are the result of motor vehicle crashes.
In 2002, more than 5,000 teens ages 16 to 19 died of injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes. Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash.
In 2003, teens accounted for 10 percent of the U.S. population and 13 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths.
The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk of unsupervised teen drivers. The risk increases with the number of teen passengers.
Teens are more likely than older drivers to speed, run red lights, make illegal turns, ride with an intoxicated driver, and drive after using alcohol or drugs.
So, what's a parent to do?
How to safely train teens
www.drivehomesafe.com, offers advice to parents of teens.
Expect committing numerous hours of training with the teen. Forty hours of instruction, most of it on the road in an automobile, should be a minimum amount of time committed.
Here are recommended guidelines for parents:
— Put safety above everything else when driving. Try not to do too much too soon.
— Don't rush the training process. It might put the teen in a situation beyond their abilities.
— Know what you want to do before a practice session. Tell the teen what will be practiced.
— Encourage the teen to give feedback. Make sure the teen feels comfortable trying what is planned.
— Use a calm tone when giving instructions.
— Never wait until the last minute to tell the teen what is expected.
— Be specific. Never point with a finger and say "Go over there." Instead, say "When you reach the traffic light, turn right." Don't expect the teen to be a mind reader.
— Practice safety habits such as fastening seat belts, removing keys, and locking doors. When the teen is driving alone, instill the importance of following those safety habits with consequences if not followed.
