Is your teenager taking Driver’s Ed, and soon will be asking for your car keys?  Or maybe your teen already has a Drivers License, but you are afraid if he/she will be able to drive safely and responsibly?  Unfortunately, your concerns are justified.   Teen drivers are at significant risk on the road, and parents need to be aware of these alarming statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

• 14% of all deaths due to motor vehicle accidents are teen drivers.
• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 13-19-year-old males and females in the United States.
• Teen lifestyle of staying up late make teen drivers a high risk to have an automobile accident due to drowsiness.
• The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk for unsupervised teen drivers: the risk increased with the number of teen passengers.
• Crash risk is particularly high during the first years that teenagers are eligible to drive
• Approximately 30% of teen drivers who die in motor vehicle crashes have been drinking alcohol

So, what can you as a parent do to keep your children safe?  The first thing you should do is select a safe vehicle for your teen to drive.  We all want our kid to drive the newest and coolest car out there, but that “image” can come with a cost.  As I drive around town, I see these young and inexperienced drivers in Mustangs, BMW’s and large SUVs.  These automobiles are big, powerful and difficult to control for even experienced drivers.  In the hands of a new driver, they can be deadly weapons.  Small cars can also be dangerous, however, as they do not protect passengers as well in a front end crash.  Your teen is safest in a midsized sedan with a four cylinder engine, airbags and a good crash test rating.  You’ll also save on gas and insurance costs!  (For crash test ratings, visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website at www.iihs.org.)

Another step you can take to keep your teen driver safe is to monitor his or her driving behavior.  You ask your kids who they are going to be with when they go out and where they are going.  You call the parents of a friend who is having a party to make sure the kids will be properly supervised.  You make rules, set limits, and check up on them.  So, why not do the same thing when it comes to their driving behaviors? 

The NHTSA encourages parents to closely monitor and strictly limit their teen’s driving in the first 12 - 18 months after obtaining a license.  Limit where and when your teen is allowed to drive without you in the car, such as at night or in adverse weather.   Require the use of seat belts, and do not permit the use of cell phones or MP3 players while driving.  Limit the number of passengers your teen may have in the car when he or she is driving.  My parents wouldn’t let me have any passengers (except them) for the first 6 months.  At the time, it made me angry that I couldn’t cruise around with my friends, but now I understand their wisdom.
 
You may choose to invest in an Event Data Recorder or GPS device to monitor your child’s vehicle location and speed.  When your teen driver speeds or does something with the car you don’t approve, you will know.  You may balk at such monitoring as an invasion of privacy, but it could save your child’s life or the life of someone else.  Just be honest with your teen about the existence of the device and that it is for their safety (and your peace of mind).

Finally, be aware of your own driving behaviors when your child is in the car with you – even years before he or she is eligible to drive.  For better or worse, our children learn by watching us.  If you speed, tailgate or yell at other drivers, your teen will too.  The best thing you can do to teach your teen to be a responsible driver is to set a good example and be a safe and courteous driver yourself.