Teen Driving Tips for Parents
Proms, Parties and Teen DrivingÂ
If you have a teenager who has reached driving age, remember back when you learned to drive. Really think about your own experiences and how you eventually became a mature, responsible driver, now think of your teen. Think about their ability to make good decisions behind the wheel of a car. Driving is the single biggest responsibility they will face thus far in their young lives, as their immediate actions and reactions could cause their own injury and the injury of others. Â
Remember when you got your first driver's license? It was a big deal. In fact, getting a driver's license used to be sort of a rite of passage into adulthood. That license was the key to growing independence and stepping out into the world. However, today's teens are less interested in rushing out and getting their license. Factor in the high cost of insurance for teens, fuel, the cost of the car itself, along with traffic jams, and you can see why a lot of our kids would rather have mom or dad drive them places. Plus, when we were first getting out into the world, there was no such thing as Rideshare, Uber or Lyft.  Â
So, as a parent, what can you do to make sure your teen is ready for the road? Here are Lithia.com's tips for parents of teen drivers. It's all about preparation, practice, and common sense:
A Department of Transportation study in 2016 examined the percentage of persons with a driver's license as a function of age. In 1983, 46.2% of 16-year-olds had a license. By 2014, only 24.5% of 16-year-olds had a license, that's a 47% drop! According to recent numbers from the Federal Highway Administration, only 61% of 18-year-olds have a driver's license today, compared to 80.4% in 1983. It is clear that many of today's teens are waiting a few years before stepping up to get behind the wheel. Eventually, however, you'll be faced with making sure your teen is a safe and responsible driver. Â
According to the Institute for Highway Safety, teen drivers between the age of 16 and 19 are nearly three times more likely than drivers aged 20 or older to be involved in a fatal car crash. The number one reason for this poor safety record comes down to lack of experience in handling a car and reacting appropriately to hazardous circumstances. We're talking about such things as merging onto a highway, making a left-hand turn at a crowded intersection, or driving in poor weather conditions. Plus, teens are more likely to miscalculate a traffic situation and are more easily distracted than more seasoned drivers.Â
