That dreaded day has finally arrived: your teen has come home with his or her learner’s permit, and now you have a whole new set of worries. How do you keep your child safe once he or she gets behind the steering wheel?
One of the first things you should do is understand exactly what risks are involved in letting your teen drive. Then you can set some guidelines that will help.
Most vehicle crashes involving teens have been related to one or more of the following risk factors:
Fatal crashes involving teens are related to one or more of the factors above, as well as not wearing seatbelts.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recommends the following tips for keeping your teen safe:
Driver education and training is certainly important, but it doesn’t mean that your teen is going to be a safe driver. Teen crashes often relate to the teen’s attitudes and decision-making skills. Teens tend to be more influenced by peer pressure and rebellion than advice from adults. Seeing themselves as immune to harm, they may speed or fail to use safety belts, regardless of training.
Actively help your teen learn to drive by planning driving sessions for at least six months. Start slowly, helping your teen to master driving in a variety of settings. Point out safety rules, signs, and potential hazards on the road. Emphasize the importance of paying attention at all times. You should help your teen work up to driving in heavy traffic, on the freeway, and at night. Supervised sessions should continue even after your teen gets his or her license.
Fatal crashes involving teens tend to occur between 9 pm and midnight. There are several reasons for this:
Therefore, you would be wise to restrict your teens driving to no later than 9 pm, when possible.
It’s not possible to know what your teen is doing when he or she is off somewhere in the car. However, you can make it a rule that no more than two passengers are allowed in the vehicle at one time. Teens are more easily distracted and susceptible to peer pressure when there are more than two passengers in the car (something that greatly increases the risk of having a crash). Many states have graduated licensing rules that prohibit teens from driving with persons other than family members and restrict night driving. Enforce your own rules on these matters even if your state hasn’t made them law.
Think about what vehicle would provide the most protection for your teen. Cars that are sporty or have performance images are likely to encourage speeding. Small cars don’t offer as much protection as larger cars. Trucks and sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are likely to tip over, especially those that are smaller. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that a truck or SUV, just because it is bigger, is safer. In addition to tippiness, SUVs and trucks are not held to the same federal safety standards governing automobiles; their driver and passenger areas may be less likely to offer protection in the event of a crash. Minivans offer the same size and weight benefits as do trucks and SUVs and are required to meet federal safety standards. Minivans may represent a particularly good choice for many teens.
Consistent seatbelt use among teens is low. Therefore, encourage your teen to develop a habit of wearing a seatbelt. Every time your teen leaves the house in a vehicle, insist that he or she wear a seatbelt.
Make it clear to your teen that it is illegal and very dangerous to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Stress that even small amounts of alcohol or drugs can impair driving, even if he or she feels competent to drive. Tell your child to call you for a ride if he or she has been drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
If you personally speed, tailgate, or have other reckless driving habits, your teen is likely to imitate these habits. Road rage—even if it stays inside your own car—sets a very bad precedent for the future driving habits of your children. Set a good example of how you want your teen to drive. Think of your teen’s safety and practice what you preach.
The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages the use of “safe ride” agreements with teens, an example of which can be found on the AAP website.
RESOURCES:
American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
http://www.hwysafety.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
About Kids Health
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index_e.html
References:
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website. Available at: http://www.hwysafety.org .
Last reviewed July 2008 by Kari Kassir, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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