A long awaited spring has
arrived. It is the time of year when many high school students drive around
with their windows down, while loudly playing their favorite CDs. This is a
great time of year for most people. But for others it is the time of year when
you get the morning paper and the first article reads, “Local Teen Dies, Others
Injured in Car Wreck”. You as a parent of a teenager just close your eyes and
shake you head while looking at the picture taken of what once was a car and now
appears to be crushed metal and broken glass. You say to yourself, “these kids
were too young to die.”
“A drivers license is one of
the biggest status symbols among high school students. Getting a drivers
license is not only a social asset but it makes the adolescent feel more
independent than ever before (Helping your Teen Become a Safe Driver,
2004).” According to the American Automobile Association, traffic crashes are
the #1 cause of death and injury for people ages 15-19. In 1998, it was
reported that more than 6,300 teens dies in motor vehicle collisions (Helping
your Teen Become a Safe Driver, 2004).
Problems that contribute to the high
crash rate of young drivers include:
- Driving inexperience
- Lack of adequate driving skills
- Risk taking
- Poor driving judgment and decision
making
- Alcohol consumption
- Excessive driving during high-risk
hours (11pm-5am).
Here are a few suggested rules from, The
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, for parents to consider
when their teens begin driving independently:
- Parents should not allow young
drivers unrestricted driving privileges until they have gained sufficient
experience.
- Parents should limit their teen’s
driving alone in adverse weather conditions (rain, snow, ice, fog, etc.) and
at night until the teen has sufficient skills and experience.
- Driving under the influence of
alcohol or drugs is illegal and dangerous and should be strictly prohibited.
- Parents should decide when and where
the teen is allowed to drive the car (e.g. to and from part-time job, etc.).
- Everyone in the car must wear
seatbelts at all times.
- Parents should determine whether and
when their teen can drive passengers.
- Parents should determine what
behavior or circumstances would result in loss of the teen’s driving
privileges.
- Teens should not drive when fatigued
or tired.
- Headphones should never be worn when
driving.
- Teens should be encouraged to take an
annual defensive driving course after obtaining their license.
“SUPERVISED
BEHIND-THE-WHEEL DRIVING EXPEREINCE IS THE KEY TO DEVELOPING NECESSARY HABITS
AND SKILLS FOR SAFE DRIVING. PARENTS NEED TO WORK WITH THEIR TEENS TO HELP THEM
GAIN THE NEEDED EXPEREINCE AND JUDGEMENT (Helping your Teen Become a Safe
Driver, 2004).”
For further information about teen
driving and parent/teen driving contracts:
Beraradi, Phil. Safe Young
Drivers: A Guide for Parents and Teens
Drive Home Safe. Available:
[Online] www.drivehomesafe.com
Students Against Destructive
Decisions. Available: [Online]
www.saddonline.com/
References:
The American Academy of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry (2004). Helping your Teen
Become a Safe Driver. Available:
[Online] www.aacap.prg/publications/facts/fam/76.htm