Parent Teenager Driving Contract
Teens and Parents Combine Efforts to Promote Safe Driving.
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. But before we dive into what both teen drivers and parents should do when it comes to driving contracts, let’s first look at some startling teen driving statistics.
Scary Teenage Driving Statistics Every Parent Must Know!
Did you know the number one cause of teenager deaths are car accidents?
In 2000, 6,495 people between the ages of 15 and 20 were killed in motor vehicle crashes – the leading cause of death for this age group.
GPS tracking systems have given parents a convenient, cost-effective and easy-to-use tool to keep their teenagers safe. GPS tracking systems helps parents keep their teenagers accountable while still giving them privacy. Passengers affect the way teenagers drive, they drive differently depending who is in the vehicle with them. However, with a gps tracking system, parents are able to monitor teenager’s driving habits without having to be in the vehicle with them. Here are facts that every parent need know from the National Security Council (NSC):
- More than 3,800 young drivers age 15-20 are killed every year in traffic crashes. More than 326,000 young drivers are injured.
- Young drivers are involved in fatal traffic crashes at over twice the rate as the rest of the population.
- Exceeding the posted speed limit or driving at an unsafe speed is the most common error in fatal accidents.
It is very important for parents familiarize themselves with their teenager’s driving habits. Without proper monitoring and guidance, the risk of young and inexperienced drivers can be fatal.
Teen GPS trackers are able to monitor speed, location, and everywhere your teen driver goes 24/7. In addition to tracking driving habits, GPS devices also keeps teenagers accountable of where they went. With real time GPS trackers, parents will never have worry about where their teenager has been or how fast they were driving.
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 or watching Tik Tok videos. 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.
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.