A smart tool for parents and teens:
phased-in driving privileges
There's no
substitute for experience
Teenagers consider
their driver's license as their ticket to independence. It's a big moment for parents, too.
Though they know about 16-year-olds' high crash risks, they're
relieved not to have to drive their children around anymore. But the
price is steep. Crashes are the leading cause of death among American teens,
accounting for more than one-third of all deaths of 16- to 18-year-olds.
An effective way to reduce this toll is by
adopting phased-in driving
privileges in your household. This is done on a voluntary basis by parents.
Driving privileges are phased in to restrict beginners' initial experience
to lower-risk situations. The restrictions gradually are lifted, so
teenagers are more experienced and mature when they get their full,
unrestricted privileges.
Phased-in privileges that are well designed restrict night driving, limit
teen passengers, establish zero tolerance for alcohol and require a
specified amount of supervised practice during the initial phase. Programs
that apply graduated privileges have reduced teenagers' crash rates in the
Canada, New Zealand and the United States, but not all states have such laws.
There are no graduated licensing laws in Indiana. But with or without a
state law, parents can establish rules based on the graduated model.
What parents of
teenagers can do
When parents understand the risk factors involved in letting teens get
behind the wheel, they can act to improve the situation for their own
children.
Don't rely solely on driver education: High school driver education may be the most convenient way to learn driving skills, but it doesn't produce safer drivers. Poor skills aren't always to blame for teens' crashes. Their attitudes and decision-making skills matter more. They often think they're immune to harm, which is why they don't use safety belts as much and why they deliberately seek thrills like speeding. Training and education don't change these tendencies.
Restrict night driving: Most nighttime fatal crashes among young
drivers occur between 9 p.m. and midnight, so teenagers shouldn't be driving
much later than 9 p.m. The problem isn't just that late-night driving
requires more skill. Outings late at night tend to be recreational. In these
circumstances, even teens who usually follow all the rules can be easily
distracted or encouraged to take risks.
Restrict passengers: Teen passengers in a vehicle can
distract a beginning driver and/or lead to greater
risk-taking. Because young drivers often transport their
friends, there's a teen passenger problem as well as a teen
driver problem. Almost two of every three teen passenger
deaths (62 percent) occur in crashes with a teen driver.
While night driving with passengers is particularly lethal,
many fatal crashes with teen passengers occur during the
day. The best policy is to restrict teen passengers,
especially multiple teens, all the time.
Supervise practice driving: Take an active role in helping your teenager learn how to drive. Plan a series of practice sessions in a wide variety of situations, including night driving. Give beginners time to work up to challenges like driving in heavy traffic or on the freeway. Supervised practice should be spread over at least six months and continue even after a teenager graduates from a learner's permit to a restricted or full license.
Remember you are a role model: New drivers learn a lot by example, so
practice safe driving. Teens with crashes and violations often have parents
with poor driving records.
Require safety belt use: Don't assume that seatbelt use when you're in the car with your 16-year-old means seatbelts will be used all the time, especially when your child is out with peers. Remember that seatbelt use is lower among teenagers than older people. Insist on seatbelts all the time.
Prohibit driving after drinking: Make it clear that it's illegal and highly dangerous for a teenager to drive after drinking alcohol or using any other drug. Even small amounts of alcohol are impairing for teens. And NEVER host or condone a party where teens drink at home. It's illegal for the host parents and for the underage drinkers and wrong-headed in every way. Prosecutors will go hard on parents who host such parties, and it's a jailable offense.
Choose vehicles for safety, not image:
Teenagers should drive vehicles that reduce their chances of a crash and
offer protection in case they do crash. For example, small cars don't offer
the best protection in a crash. Avoid cars with performance images that
might encourage speeding. Avoid vehicles that are prone to rollover. For
more information on the safest vehicles for teens and what to check for when
buying a used car read
What's
your teen driving?
Source: Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute
Click here for More Tips
Teens drivers using a cellphone or texting will be breaking the law as of July 1
As of July 1, teens will be
breaking Indiana Law if they use their cell phone for
talking or texting while driving. Governor Daniels recently
signed Senate Bill 16 to reduce the high traffic fatality
rate for teen drivers. Several provisions that take effect
July 1 are aimed at reducing
distractions
in vehicles. They include banning drivers younger than 18
from talking on cell phones or texting while driving;
extending the period in which new teen drivers’ passengers
are restricted from three months to six months; and
expanding nighttime driving restrictions for the first 180
days.
Teens will get their license a few months later under new law in effect as of July 2010
A new law that will take effect in July 2010 will mean teens will be eligible to get their license on a new timeframe. Currently, teenagers who take driver’s education can get a license at 16 years and 1 month. That will be extended to 16 years and six months. Teens who don’t take driver’s education now can get a license at 16 years and 6 months. They also would have to have 50 hours of driving supervised by someone age 25 or older to get a license. The new law will extend that wait to 16 years and 9 months.
Check out
RookieDriver.Net
Rookie Driver Car Magnets Identify Teen Driving.
Finally, a 'New Driver' Magnet and sticker your Teen Driver will Agree to Use. Rookie Driver Car Magnets developed by teens as a ‘cooler’ alternative to those embarrassing "Student Driver" and "New Driver" decals that used to be the only choice available to new teen drivers.
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A
program of the Allen County Coroner's Task Force on Youth-Death
Reduction to prevent youth vehicle deaths. In partnership with Fort
Wayne Healthy Cities Committee, Inc.
(260) 494-0728
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