My younger teen just turned 14 earlier this month. He can get his learner’s permit as soon as he passes the test. I haven’t taken him to the Department of Transportation for his test yet because I’m not sure my heart can take it. Two teen drivers? It makes me hyperventilate just thinking about it.

Teenagers are a mixture of inexperience and immaturity, which is a bad combination when it comes to trusting them behind the wheel of a 3,000 pound car. According to Readers Digest Special Report: The Dangers of Teen Driving, more than 5,000 teenagers die in car crashes each year. That’s a lot. But Readers Digest also has some tips to help make sure you teen doesn’t become part of that statistic.

1. Teach your teens about safe driving. We may think our teens are fully aware of the dangers, but many teens need a refresher course. Set rules for your teen and follow through with the consequences. And make sure you’re being a good role model and following the rules yourself.
   • No cell phone. There should be no telephone calls and no texting while your teen is behind the wheel of a car.
   • Always wear your seat belt. Whether they are a passenger or the driver, your teen should always have their seat belt on.
   • No speeding. It’s harder to control the car at high speeds. Plus it’s more difficult and takes longer to stop at higher speeds. So they need to watch their speed and follow the posted signs.
   • Never drive after even one alcoholic drink. Teens tend to think they are immune from such things as drinking and driving. It’s not something that pertains to them. Until they go to a party, get talked in to a beer and then drive themselves home so they don’t have to tell their parents they had a drink. They’d rather risk the drive instead of letting their parents know they were drinking. Unfortunately that drive may be too big a risk to take.
2. Fight for stricter state laws or make your own family laws. Some states are moving to a graduated driver’s license system. They have stricter rules to phase teens in to driving. A Johns Hopkins University study for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that tougher phase-in laws could decrease 16-year-old teen driver’s deaths by 38 percent. What’s a tough phase-in law? A law that requires a teen to be 16 before he can get his permit and 18 before he can get a full license, as well as limiting passengers to just one other person, banning cell phone use and prohibiting teens from driving between the hours of 10pm and 5am. If your state doesn’t have a phase-in law (and many don’t) then set your own rules for your teen.

   Also fight for stricter penalties. The Department of Transportation is quick to tell you driving is a privilege, not a right. If teens aren’t willing to follow the rules there should be stiff penalties, including losing their license for a lengthy period of time if they are caught speeding, driving recklessly or breaking other laws.

3. Be tough. When it comes to your teen driving you need to be firm. It can be the difference between life or death. It’s not the time to be their friend. You’re in control. You get to decide when he gets his license, you have the car and you have the keys. He needs to follow your rules or he can take the bus. Stay firm on your rules and make him follow them if he wants to drive the car.

Post from: Blisstree

Keep Your Teen Driver Safe