Letting your teenager loose on the road can be a scary thing.
Let’s face it, as much as you want to trust your teen to be a safe driver, they are inexperienced and infamous for having that “I’m invincible” mentality. With all of the scary statistics we hear about the way teenagers drive (especially boys), it’s no wonder that many parents worry about their sons driving on their own. Last week, four teens were killed just miles from where I live after the 18 year old driver blew through a stop sign at 90 miles an hour and crashed into another car. Yes, you read that right – 90 miles an hour. That’s scary – and even scarier is the fact that there was no evidence that drugs or alcohol were involved.
It’s difficult not to be apprehensive about allowing your son the privilege of driving a car when the statistics show that the danger is real:
- In 2003, 2 out of every 3 teens killed in car accidents were males.
- Teenagers have the lowest rate of seatbelt use out of all other age groups. (Allstate.com)
-Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens – in 2007, 11 teens from the ages of 16 to 19 died each day as a result of motor vehicle injuries.
-Among male drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 who were involved in fatal crashes in 2005, 38% were speeding and 24% had been drinking. (CDC.gov)
That said, driving is a necessary part of growing up and something that many boys look forward to until the day they turn 16. Here are some tips from Edmunds.com to help your son become a safe driver while he is learning and to continue practicing good habits after he passes his road test:
1. Pay for extra driver training (if your budget allows).
2. Give your child as much experience behind the wheel as you possibly can.
3. When your child is in the passenger’s seat, talk through the situations you encounter on the way to your destination and what to do in those situations.
4. Don’t yell – if your child does something wrong, make a note of it and wait until you are home to discuss the issue.
5. Review your child’s driving with them.
6. Meet your child’s traveling companions. Limit the number of companions with your son when he’s driving to no more than 1. Likewise, try to limit who he drives with as a companion and how many kids are in the car.
7. Remind your teen about risks of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
8. Choose a safe car for your teen.
9. Ride periodically with your teen.
10. Have your child share in driving expenses, such as insurance and gas.
Regarding the local fatalities, another frightening piece of evidence – the driver of the car (18 year-old boy) had several previous arrests for speeding, missed court dates and possibly had his license revoked a year or so prior. These were very telling signs of how responsible he was as a driver. Be aware of who your son drives with, his life could depend on it.
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