Teen driver facts prove that teenagers are the highest-risk driving group on the roads. Reasons for those statistics include teen drivers’ lack of experience, easy distractability, and misplaced belief in their invincibility.
As we head into a holiday break, one of the deadliest times of the year for teen drivers (drivers between the ages of 15 and 18 years old), we wanted to share some of the teen driving facts worth paying attention to, as well as tips for how to increase your teen driver’s safety.
Remember that in addition to inexperience, distractability, and feelings of invincibility, teenagers are also:
The more we hold compassion for our teenagers, educate and inform them, and set/maintain healthy boundaries, the better our chance of keeping these dangerous teen driving statistics on the decline.
Here are some of the basic teen driving facts, courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
Another interesting fact reported by the DMV is that teenagers who have their own car, rather than sharing a parent/family vehicle, are more likely to participate in risky driving behaviors and have higher rates of being involved in car accidents.
Reviewing these stats can help you, your child’s friends, and their families create safer understandings, agreements, and boundaries around driving expectations.
As a parent, guardian, or adult mentor of teenagers, there are several things you can do to help keep the teens in your life safe.
Driving is not a right; it is a privilege that comes with great responsibility. So keep the lines of communication about driving, teen driving facts, and your household expectations and boundaries around driving as open and clear as possible. And, of course, wearing a seatbelt is a must.
Use these statistics to discuss driving with your teenager and the risks associated with driving to support your family's rules about driving. Stress the importance of not speeding and defensive driving - both of which go a long way toward preventing accidents and minimizing accident injury/risks when they do happen.
Many parents find the minimal expense of installing a dash cam is well worth the safety benefits as the cam must be operating when children are behind the wheel. As consumerreports.org states, “Dash cams can be silent witnesses…” Companies use them worldwide to increase driver awareness and prove whether or not drivers were at fault in an accident. They’re also used to help drivers to make better decisions. You’re the boss; your child is driving your car; ergo, a Dash Cam seems like a reasonable intervention to promote driver and traffic safety.
As you know, it doesn’t matter what other parents do or let their children do. What matters is that you create rules for your inexperienced teen driver and stick to them.
Also, don’t forget that the number one rule of parenting is that “Parenting is inconvenient.” So, while your teen’s driver’s license may have freed you up, it’s still worth a little extra inconvenient chauffeuring if it helps keep your child safe.
Examples of driving rules include:
Having a child who feels your unfairness far outweighs having that same child kill themselves or someone else because they weren’t paying attention, were participating in risky driving (racing, speeding, dares, etc), or driving under the influence.
Once you’ve established the core expectations, rules around driving, the stated consequences for offenses, and other relevant information, turn it into a bonafide contract and have them sign it. That way, when/if they violate it, you have a document to return to - no need for arguing or debating.
Contact their parents and guardians if your child has roughly the same group of friends that drive or hang out together. Ask if they’re interested in establishing similar guidelines and then have a group “family meeting” about it.
Setting community-wide ground rules is a great way to know everyone is on the same page. It also helps teenagers understand they are part of a village - and the village “elders” are watching out for one another’s children.
Finally, make sure you’re practicing what you preach. Teenagers are keen to do what you do more than listen to what you say. So make sure you’re living up to the expectations you’re teaching them about limiting distractions, not using the cell phone while driving, never driving after drinking, etc.
The team at J&T Towing is dedicated to keeping our roads safe for teenage drivers and the rest of us. Make sure your teen driver has our contact number, (707) 356-4613, if they ever need roadside assistance, no matter the time of day or night.
