In the US, car crashes are the number one cause of death for teens 16-17 years old. If your child is about to become a teen driver, the most significant thing you want is for them to stay safe.
Teen driver education always teaches the importance of safety, but here are a few additional ways for you to keep your teen safe when driving.
You may also check: Tips to Learn Driving Quickly
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Consider the Type of Car Your Teen Is Driving
The kind of car your teen is driving is a big factor when it comes to keeping them safe. You’ll want them driving something reliable with excellent and consistent performance. Staying away from older cars is also a good idea as the latest ones are better designed for crash protection.
It’s also best not to get them a car that promotes reckless driving and requires more experience. Cars with high-performance features, like sports cars, need drivers that are more capable and have been driving for a long time. When choosing a car for them, try and find mid-sized to full-sized vehicles with plenty of safety features.
Some companies like Ford have built-in teen-focused systems that have set restrictions. They also set several automated precautions when on the road.
Set a Good Example for Them
Even after learning the essentials from their driving instructors, many teens still take after how their parents act. This means that it’s your job to lead by example and show them the proper way to behave when driving. Teach them to make safety tips a habit whenever they’re behind the wheel.
Teens have the lowest rate of seatbelt use in the US. Make sure that they always buckle up, even when they’re not the ones driving. You have to stress the importance of wearing seat belts and informing them of your state’s seatbelt laws.
Another vital thing to remember is to avoid using your phone. Teach them to put down their phone whenever they’re driving and have someone else in the car make calls or texts.
Establish Their Limits
As soon as your teen gets the car, you’ll want to establish their limits right away. The first thing is to limit how many passengers they can have to keep them safer. While they might want to drive around their friends everywhere, this could cause distractions that might lead to an accident.
You’ll also want to determine a driving curfew for them. Driving at night is significantly more complicated and poses several risks. It also increases the chances of falling asleep at the wheel or being under the influence.
This is how a lot of cases of wrongful death come about. You can always learn more here about wrongful death to keep you and your teen safe.
Limit the headcounts in your teen’s car
The number of passengers, especially if they’re male, is directly associated with the danger of getting a crash. Your state Graduated Driver Licensing law often limits the number of passengers allowed within the inexperienced teen’s car. Learn your law at www.ghsa.org. Make your own “law” if your state doesn’t address this issue.
Buckle up, everyone, front, and back, every ride
One of the simplest ways to stay teens safe is by employing a safety belt – albeit they’re within the back seat. If you wear a safety belt, your kids are more likely to wear one also. So if you never did it before, use your safety belt. Whenever, every ride.
Zero tolerance for drinking or impaired driving
There should be zero tolerance in case if the teenager wants to drink alcohol before driving a vehicle. A couple of any impairment (it starts with one drink) with their inexperience in driving behind the wheel and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. It’s against the law. Confirm you are not drinking and drive either. Teens that have seen their parents drink and drive are 3 times more likely to follow in their footsteps.
Ways to Keep Your Teen Driver Safe
Owning and driving a car is a big responsibility, especially for a teen. As a parent, you want to make sure that they’re always as safe as possible. We hope that this article gave you a better idea of how you can keep your teen driver safe when they’re on the road.
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