GPS Tracking

A speeding carload of teenagers…a rainy night…a slippery road…a couple of beers. 

A parent’s worst nightmare. 

The much anticipated driver’s license is the symbolic rite of passage for teens throughout the industrialized world.  Yet automobile accidents continue to top the list of injuries and fatalities among teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19.

Because the first year of driving is generally the most stressful for both teens and their parents, many sources have devised solutions to help alleviate that stress.  By following some simple guidelines, parents can enjoy some much needed peace of mind while their teens achieve a certain measure of that independence so crucial to their development.

Concerned parents should:

• Choose a quality driving school.  Before enrolling your son or daughter in a driver education class, make sure you research the driving school.  Is the curricula up-to-date?  Are the classes being taught by professionally trained instructors? 
• Set a positive example.  Remember those “rules of the road”.  Adhere to speedlimits, obey traffic signals, wear a seatbelt.  Remain calm and patient.  Rude words and gestures are very likely to be duplicated by your teen.
• Eliminate distractions.  There’s a time and place for texting messages, talking on the cell phone and adjusting the volume on the MP3 player.  You need to stress with your teen that it’s not in the car and certainly not while driving!

• Choose an appropriate vehicle.  Put your 16 year-old son behind the wheel of a  race car equivalent and you might as well arrange for his funeral while you’re at it.  A larger vehicle with current safety features such as a sedan, is most preferable. The family car is also a good choice for a beginning driver, as it’s more likely to be better maintained and thereby more reliable.

• Limit night time driving.  Whether on a congested city street or an open country lane, driving takes on a whole different perspective at night.  Don’t hesitate to impose curfews and set restrictions for night time driving during the first six months of licensure.

Responsible teens should:

• Follow the basic precautions.   Buckle that seatbelt, obey traffic signals and do not  exceed the posted speed limit.
• Avoid distractions.  Talking on a cell phone, texting messages, eating and drinking or applying make-up are obviously hazardous to safe driving. 
• Stay alert.  The slightest bit of drowsiness can impair judgment and cause accidents.

• Do not drink alcohol before driving.  Drinking and driving is a good way to get your license revoked; it’s an even better way to destroy or end your life.

• Limit the number of teen passengers.  In your first six months of driving, it is safest to have only one friend in the car with you.  Trying to engage in several different conversations while driving is equally as hazardous as talking on a cell phone or sending a text message.

In conclusion:

There are no guaranteed life saving products and strategies available to teenage drivers and their families.  By exercising prudence, caution, responsibility and concern, both teens and parents can help reduce the unacceptably high rate of injuries and fatalities that litter our roadways today. 

_{»crosslinked«}

Tags: Safety, Teen Driving

No related posts.

This entry was posted on Monday, September 8th, 2008 at 11:46 am and is filed under All Articles, Teen Driving. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.