Family Forum: Steering Your Teen Driver Toward Safety

Getting a driver’s license represents a dream come true for most teenagers. But for many parents, it can be a nightmare.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group. And per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash.

Despite the grim statistics, there are many things parents can do to help teens make better choices while learning to drive and after getting their license.

Keys to safety

Jim Bove, the community outreach facilitator for the , says the No. 1 issue that causes crashes among teen drivers, and many adult drivers, is distracted driving caused by texting, talking to passengers, eating and other activities.

"Speeding (is) another concern just because many kids don't understand the potential consequences to drivers and other pedestrians,” Bove said.

Parents can be the best role models when it comes to setting a good example of driving without distractions, said  Officer Rob Wood, manager of the Bellevue Police  Community Station. Parents must make the time to drive with their kids, both during driving instruction and once they get a driver’s license, he said.

“Every time you drive with them, you are going to teach them something valuable,”  Wood said.

One of the skills Wood taught his kids was how to drive in adverse weather. On a snowy winter day, he said, he took them out to a fair ground parking lot to learn how to control a car safely while driving on snow and ice.

Phil Goodman, the Redmond-based service delivery manager for , agrees with Wood that parents should take their teens out to drive in adverse weather to gain the skills they will need to be safe drivers.

“The most important thing parents can do to prepare their students for bad weather is instill good driving habits," Goodman said. "In emergencies, we fall back on habits. If students have created safe driving habits during good conditions, they will be much more prepared to handle whatever weather comes their way.”

Working toward independence

Having your teen take responsibility for his or her own driving safety from day one is crucial, Goodman said.

“If you're doing a visual check, get them to do it with you. When you see it's safe to lane change, get them to identify that and say it," he said. "If your teen never builds independence during supervised practice, their risk of a crash increases when they're driving on their own."

Goodman says that one of the basic challenges teen drivers face is a lack of experience and judgement. Even teens that have consistently made good choices can make mistakes while driving, he said.

“Lack of judgment means that teens do not have the same depth of experience on which to base their risk assessment. As such they may make a less than adequate decision," he said. "This lack of experience and lesser judgment tends not to be recognized by teens. They cannot see what they never had or are yet to develop."

When your teen starts driving, Wood advises parents purchase a safety kit, along with making sure he or she has a cell phone in the car in case of an emergency. The kit should include a flash light, a jumper cable and basic tools including wrench and screwdriver. You can put one together or purchase kits at  at the  and area auto supply stores.

It's also important, Wood said, to make sure your teen knows what to do if he or she gets into a collision, especially the need to call 911, exchange information with the other driver, and take photos or notes of the damage.

An ongoing education process

Goodman cautions parents about considering their job coaching a teen about safe driving practices done when a teen gets his or her driver’s license. In fact, the first year a teen has a license may be the most dangerous time for him or her, he said.

“Insurance companies do not consider young persons experienced until about age 25 because their crash statistics show that this is the age when crashes start to significantly decline," he said. "Insurers also know that the first year of driving remains the most risk-filled point in a young person's life."

Parents can help reduce their teen's risk by setting limits and expectations ahead of time, Goodman said.

SWERVE provides parents with a “safe driving contract” that both the parent and student sign that makes it clear what the expectations are for both the teen and parent and that driving is a privilege that can be taken away if the teen breaks the contract. 

Wood said parents should also make an agreement with a teen that he or she can call the parent anytime to be picked up and safely driven home, without worrying about immediate consequences, when the teen or a friend is impaired by alcohol, a controlled substance or lack of sleep.