How can I as a parent keep my teen drivers safe?
As parents we are concerned about our teen drivers and their ability to be safe drivers and what situations might affect their ability to drive Nothing can fully protect any of us from all dangers on the road, but here are some tips to help you help your teen to be a focused on the road:
1) Set the boundaries: It’s likely your car, your gas and your insurance and it’s also likely your permission that allows them the opportunity to drive as well. That being said, as parents you decide when it’s appropriate to drive, what time they come home and what your expectations are about passengers, interstate use, electronics usage and curfew. You are also the one who must enforce consequences if those rules are violated. So set clear expectations before your teen drives and follow through on your rules.
2) Drive regularly with teens: Continuing to provide instruction is essential for your teen’s development. It takes an average of 5-6 years to gain enough experience with road conditions, other drivers in traffic, environmental factors, etc to become an experienced driver. So until your child has moved from your residence, continue to adjust what you see as poor driving habits.
3) Set the right example: This is not the time to say, “do as I say not as I do” because it will influence your teen. If you say don’t ever use your cell phone while you drive, but you yourself do it, then what you are really saying is, “I ignore safety, you need to be just like me.” Likewise, don’t speed, drive aggressively or take risks when you drive with your teen. Showing them respect for the road and for the safety of other drivers will translate to the right message.
What is the C.A.R. Alliance?
We are an alliance of concerned teens and adults who wish to see an end to the highly preventable incidence of distracted driving crashes. We educate, work with other safety, law enforcement agencies and legislative entities towards that end.
In 2007 Cady Anne Reynolds (C.A.R.) lost her life when a distracted driver ran through a red light and collided with her vehicle. She left behind 3 sisters, a brother, a large extended family and many friends. Her love of service and respect for all human life are what inspires C.A.R. to continue make a difference in our community.
How can I get involved?
There are a few ways everyone can get involved. First and foremost: stop using your cell phone for any reason while driving. Cell phones are ubiquitous in that nearly all drivers possess one and many consider them more important to tend to than the act of driving alone. Laws will not catch up quickly enough, so we need to make this practice as socially unacceptable as smoking indoors has become. When YOU change, others see you driving without this distraction; and when you become and advocate for it by telling all of your acquaintances and family why you are making this change, it begins to send a message to all that we are tired of the danger that cell phone distracted drivers pose to everyone on the roads.
Other ways? Call your congressperson and ask for stronger laws for distracted drivers. Contact your school administration and request that no parent or teen be allowed to use their cell phone on campus (declare it a no cell phone zone). Support our annual walk for safer teen driving, the last Saturday in May, each year. And be educated. Goto: www.distraction.gov, www.nsc.org and other websites and search for distracted driver information.
