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4Teens
and driving
Parent Spot for Parents of High School StudentsThough it may seem only
yesterday that your son or daughter was taking a first wobbly
bike ride, your soon-to-be 16-year-old is now itching to get
behind the wheel of the family car. While you can't stop your
teens from growing up, you can make sure that once they are
driving or riding with friends, they know the risks and
responsibilities of the open road.
For many teens, driving
represents freedom. No longer are they beholden to mom or dad to
get to the mall or visit a friend. Driving and owning a car can
also give them status among their peers. And for parents who are
scheduled to the hilt, having a teen driver can be a real
timesaver.
Yet teens are at greater
risk for accidents and fatalities than any other group of drivers
due to inexperience and such behaviors as speeding, aggressive
driving and tailgating. Becoming a teen driver also carries hefty
legal and financial responsibilities. Consider this:
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At age 16, a teen is legally culpable, meaning if stopped for
DUI or DWI or involved in a crash that injures or kills someone,
he or she will be tried in adult court and could be sent to
prison.
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The average fine for speeding just 10 miles over the limit is
$60 to $200. That's a lot of hours spent slinging burgers to pay
the fine.
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Teens who work to buy and maintain a car have less time to focus
on school work or extracurricular activities.
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Adding a 16-year-old driver to your auto insurance policy can
increase your annual premium by as much as 50 to 100 percent.
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Helping your
teens hit the road safely
Helping your teen grow into a safe and responsible driver takes
understanding, involvement and firm limits. Here are some
suggestions: |
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Take an active role in helping your
teenager learn to drive.
Supplement driver education with practice sessions in a wide
variety of situations, such as driving at night, in heavy
traffic or on the highway. Supervised practice should be spread
over at least six months and continue even after a teen
graduates from a learner's permit to a restricted or full
license. One family agonized when their teen received her
learner permit in the dead of winter. Eventually they came to
believe that all the supervised practice of driving on ice and
parallel parking next to snow banks put her in better stead over
the long run.
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Remember, you are a role model.
New drivers learn a lot by example, so
practice safe driving.
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Emphasize the importance of safety
belts. Though you can't
buckle your teenagers in or be sure they'll keep them on once
they leave the driveway, you can require seat belt use when you
are riding together in the car. Make sure you wear yours, too.
Hopefully it will become a habit that sticks.
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Prohibit driving and drinking.
While alcohol isn't a factor in most
crashes of 16-year-old drivers, even small amounts of alcohol
can impair teens. Many families adopt an "anytime, anyplace"
policy, which means that regardless of time or distance, a teen
who feels he or she shouldn't drive can call home for a ride.
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Limit night driving.
The problem isn't just that night driving
requires more skill. Outings at night tend to be recreational.
In these circumstances, even teens who usually follow the rules
can be easily distracted or encouraged to take risks.
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Restrict passengers.
Teen passengers in a vehicle can distract
a beginning driver and may lead to greater risk-taking. Almost
two of every three teen passenger deaths occur in crashes when
another teen is driving. The best policy is to restrict teen
passengers to no more than one.
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Help your teen choose and maintain a
safe vehicle. Small cars do
not offer the best crash protection, sporty cars may encourage
speeding, and trucks and small SUVs are more prone to roll over.
When it comes to cars, teens often focus on appearance-the
kickin' sound system, chrome hubs and tinted windows-but neglect
to make sure their windshield wipers work or their brakes are
safe.
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Start 'em out young.
Even before your child is eligible for a
learner's permit, you can teach about safe driving every time
you ride together. Talk about what traffic signs mean, describe
why you are slowing down for a bridge (i.e. bridge surfaces
freeze before road surfaces), or explain why you are stopping
for a school bus or emergency vehicle. They're a captive
audience when you're the driver-take the opportunity to teach.
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Web links:
New drivers-How to apply for
a license under current laws:
http://www.nysdmv.com/license.htm#newdrivers
Learner permits and junior
licenses-Restrictions and other information:
http://www.nysdmv.com/license.htm#drivingage
Reading:
Sixteen is Too Young To
Drive: Taking Control When Your Teen's Behind-the-Wheel by Donna
R. and Richard M. Crossman
Driver education:
The New York State Police
offers comprehensive defensive driving courses for new drivers.
For more information, contact the traffic section of your local
state police headquarters.
For permission to reprint
this article, please contact the Capital Region BOCES
Communications Service by e-mailing
dbushsuf@gw.neric.org.
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