When a teen gets their drivers license it is a huge rite of passage in their lives, and a new source of concern for their parents. As a mom of a 16yo boy, I know this all too well. My son doesn’t have his license yet but he has had his learner’s permit for over a year. He can’t get his license until he has a job and can pay for his insurance. Aaron has had 3 driving instructors, myself, my father and my mother-in-law and I believe he is a very responsible driver.
Aaron driving the Beemer.
With summer revving its engine, classes ending and summer jobs starting, it’s a great time of year for teenagers.
However, between driving to work, taking road trips and joyriding without care, teens are on the road a lot more in the summer months. It is no surprise, then, that data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows an annual spike in traffic accidents, injuries and deaths among young people in the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
As teens start cruising around this summer, it is important for parents to remind them how to stay safe behind the wheel. Below are a few quick tips for parents of teen drivers from http://www.thinkbeforeyoudrive.org.
Create a driving contract for your teen, and be prepared to stick to it. A driving contract is a great way to let teens know that driving is both a privilege and a serious responsibility. It also establishes clear expectations about driving for your teen: always wear a seat belt, never get into a vehicle with someone who’s been drinking, etc. A customizable contract template is available at http://www.thinkbeforeyoudrive.org .
Choose an ICE contact. All drivers should designate an emergency contact in the address book of their cell phones under the name “ICE” – In Case of Emergency. Emergency workers in many towns check for an ICE contact in cell phones.
Set a good example. Practice what you preach. When parents run red and yellow lights, speed down the highway at 75 miles per hour, weave in and out of traffic, ride the bumper of the car in front of them and exhibit signs of road rage, they are telling teens that rules don’t count – and this can be fatal. Be a role model for your teen.
ThinkBeforeYouDrive.org has some great videos in their Driving 101 area and an online Road Test too. Aaron and I checked out the site and it was interesting and informative.
A few teen driver tasks from The Mom Maven’s Homeschool Driver’s Education files. In addition to safety and driving evaluations:
- Teen driver must demonstrate how to check tire pressure and inflate tire
- Teen driver must demonstrate how to change a tire
- Teen driver must demonstrate how to check the oil
- Teen driver and parents must create a driving contract
Driving is a privilege, not a right. Anyone who cannot follow the rules of the road should have their driving privileges suspended until they are mature enough to handle the responsibility.
Check out ThinkBeforeYouDrive.org and Drive safe!
What rules have you set up for your teen driver? Please share them in the comments so we can all learn together.
Leave a Reply