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The ongoing number of auto fatalities involving teen drivers has many parents of new and up-and-coming drivers terrified. And they have every right to be frightened motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for those ages 16-20. Driver fatalities for this age group continue to increase with the rate of involvement of 16-year-olds nearly five times that of drivers ages 20 and older. Whether you blame these trends on poor driver education, heavier traffic conditions or riskier teen behavior, the fact remains that in a place like Southern California, driving is not only a rite of passage for teenagers, it’s a necessity for getting around, whether to sports events or SAT prep classes. To help their teens become safe drivers, parents need to take an active role through the entire driving education process: before their children actually have a driver’s permit, during the driver’s education classes, and even after they are granted licenses. Researchers from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development have shown that when parents set limits and spend time teaching their child to drive, the risky behavior that leads to accidents is substantially reduced. Safety experts agree that teens should focus on driving safely before they have a learner’s permit. “The best thing a parent can do during this stage is to model safe driving practices while they’re driving,” stresses Kathy Downing, manager of the Driving School at the Automobile Club of Southern California. “They should be open to having their teen critique their driving, and they shouldn’t become defensive if an error is pointed out during the drive.” After your teen turns 15 and receives a driver’s permit, parents need to commit time as well as planning to ensure their child is adequately trained behind the wheel. “It really should be a three-way partnership among the parent, the teen and the driving school,” says Downing. In California, teens are required to receive 50 hours of supervised practice driving, including 10 hours of night driving prior to earning their driver’s licenses. Driving schools vary on how much behind-the-wheel driving they offer, but most will provide additional driving time for an extra charge. As a parent of a 17-year-old, I strongly recommend paying more for extended in-car training. The majority of schools offer only six hours of behind-the-wheel training as their basic package, and this barely covers the fundamentals on steering, accelerating and braking. Additional time should be spent focusing on lane changes, freeway driving and other more complex driving skills. The best thing a parent can do during this period is to supplement their child’s formal driver’s education program by supervising their driving. “This does not mean just logging hours, it means planning on where the teen will drive during the practice sessions, allowing enough time for them to develop specific skills, and providing repetitions for reinforcement,” says Downing. She adds that many parents make the mistake of exposing their new driver in early outings to situations that are too challenging. “It’s very important to ensure that the basic skills are established before exposing the teen to more demanding routes or environments.” Teens who have completed a training program and supervised practice but want additional feedback before taking the DMV road test can sign up for formal evaluations such as one offered by the Automobile Club of Southern California, which helps identify deficiencies in skill and habits. This evaluation is also effective for young licensed drivers who are struggling with tickets or collisions. Prior to their teen’s driver’s test, parents may find that signing a written contract with their child helps lay out the expectations and responsibilities required in ensuring safe driving. Some of the topics that can be covered in the agreement include: communicating information about destination and time of return; establishing consequences for tickets or at-fault collisions; and making clear the rules concerning passengers and curfew. You might want to consider adding a clause requiring your teen to maintain good grades during the first year or so of driving. After enduring the arduous task of practicing driving with a 15-year-old, it’s no wonder most parents are relieved when they pass the DMV test. At this point, most parents rarely drive as passengers with their teens. But Downing stresses that it’s especially critical for parents to stay involved after the license is granted. “Since the first year of driving is the riskiest, parents need to renew their commitment in being involved with their teen driver and not focus on the fact that the teen passed the DMV road test.”Parents must also be sure that their teens abide by the rules of California’s provisional driver’s license, which for six months prohibits them from transporting passengers who are under 20 years of age and restricts them from driving between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. Even after a teen’s provisional driver’s license expires, parents should set limits on how many friends can drive with their teenager, since the risk of an accident increases significantly with each additional passenger. There’s no doubt that teaching a teen to drive is one of the most challenging tasks for parents: It requires time as well as extraordinary patience. Driving together in the early days of their training is exhausting and nerve-racking, but if you devote the necessary time, you can rest assured knowing that your teen is a safe and smart driver. For information about the Auto Club Driving School for Teens and its driving evaluation program, call 877.428.2272 (choose #2 for automotive). Carol Daus is a freelance writer who lives in Huntington Beach with her husband and three children. Tips For Parents 1. Be patient and maintain a positive attitude in the car. 2. Use positive reinforcement. 3. Accept that they will make mistakes; refrain from being overly critical and never yell. 4. Once the teen has mastered daylight driving, drive with them during darkness and rain. 5. Keep reinforcing the fact that distractions (i.e. music, cell phones, friends) can accidents. |
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