A recent national survey conducted by The Allstate Foundation shows that while parents know the No. 1 killer of teens is teen car crashes, the majority of parents do not understand the main causes of these crashes and the majority of parents may not be aware of the laws that are intended to protect their teens. The survey also found that although parents agree they must play a significant role in preparing their teens to drive, many parents still: delay safe driving conversations with their teens until shortly before licensure, think their teens are immune to the risk of car crashes, allow their teens to drive or ride in dangerous conditions, and model unsafe behavior behind the wheel.
According to the survey, nearly 50 percent of parents polled think crashes involving teens result from drunk driving. In reality, the majority of crashes are caused by driver error, speeding, and driving with distractions. Additionally, while most parents surveyed feel prepared to teach their teens the rules of the road, 60 percent say they have never heard of or are only vaguely aware of Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws. GDL laws are intended to protect novice drivers. Typical GDL provisions include an extended supervised driving period and restrictions on late-night driving and driving with teen passengers during the initial months of licensure.
“As parents, we need to show our teens from an early age the importance of safe driving by modeling good behavior and treating driving as a privilege,” said parenting expert Laurence Steinberg, Ph.D., professor of Psychology at Temple University, author of “The 10 Basic Principles of Good Parenting” and “Your Adolescent: A Parent`s Guide for Ages 10 to 20,” and an Allstate Foundation Teen Driving Program Advisory Board member.
“Practicing what we preach, discussing the issue regularly with our teens and talking with our peers are simple actions parents can take that will go a long way in keeping teens safer on the road,” Steinberg said.
Below are five tips for parents to help protect their teen drivers:
- Talk with your child early and often: Talk to your teens about safe driving well before they receive a permit and before they form attitudes on driving.
- Shake the “not my teen” syndrome: This issue affects everyday teens in everyday situations.
- Restrict dangerous driving situations: Reduce the chances for your teen to be in a crash: limit driving after dark, driving with friends and driving in bad weather.
- Practice what you preach: Model good behavior behind the wheel when your children are in the car. Don’t use your cell phone, run a red light or stop sign, etc.
- Exert positive adult peer pressure: Talk with other parents of teens and especially your teens’ friends’ parents about your teen driving rules.
To learn about GDL laws in your state, other tips for talking to teens, further details on the survey results and safe driving information, visit www.ProtectTeenDrivers.com.