What Parents Can Do…
Give 16 year-olds as much supervised driving time with a responsible adult as possible.
Allow them the opportunity to experience driving under various road and weather conditions before they get their license. Your child will encounter a limited number of adverse driving situations during the drivers permit period. Driver’s training should not end when teenagers get their licenses, but continue for at least six to eighteen months after that special day.
Be aware of the higher risk when 16 year olds and peers travel together without supervision.
Don’t assume that your 16-year-old drives the same way with their friends in the car as when they’re driving with you. Younger children (14 and 15 years old) may be passengers as well. Although not licensed themselves, these passengers face the same risks as young drivers recently licensed.
Restrict or prohibit late night unsupervised driving.
Teen outings late at night tend to be recreational in nature and pose more risk to children.
Insist that seat belts always be used.
Don’t assume that because your child wears a seat belt when you’re in the car that this behavior continues with their friends. As a condition to using the vehicle, you can require that they and their friends always wear their seat belts. It is the law in most states. By the way, seat belt use is increased exponentially when parents set a good example by always wearing seat belts themselves.
Choose safe cars.
Large vehicles are safer than smaller ones. Air bags improve safety. Avoid performance vehicles and “attitude” cars - the combination of young drivers and high performance can be deadly.
“Turn off/down that music!”
While we all enjoy listening to a good tune while driving, this can be a distraction to a youthful operator just learning the rules of the road. What’s more important — finding that perfect song on a CD or protecting their life and the lives of those for whom they assume responsibility when they’re behind the wheel?
No Cell Phone or Text Messaging!
Along the same lines of deemphasizing the “entertainment” value of listening to the radio, cell phones are another distraction. Insist that your child put down that cell while they’re behind the wheel.
Prohibit driving after drinking any alcohol or taking medications.
No, I’m not endorsing teenage drinking. But kids will be kids, and peer-pressure can be intense. The statistics I’ve seen for drinking and driving among 16 year olds are encouraging (very limited), it does become problematic among older teens.
Similarly, if your child requires medication which may cause drowsiness (antihistamines, cold remedies, etc.), they should not be driving at the same time. Inexperience and drowsiness are not a good combination. Many states laws for DUI (driving under the influence) include over-the-counter and prescription medications.
