Any parent will tell you -- raising kids is scary. And it doesn’t get any easier
once they start driving.
Teens make mistakes, unfortunately, mistakes made on the
road (something teen drivers are prone to do) can lead to accidents resulting
in severe injuries or worse, to themselves and/or others. But, your teen’s level of experience behind
the wheel isn’t the only cause for concern. In 2016, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 60% of teen related crashes are due to some
form of distraction while driving.
Those distractions include:
●
Passenger related distractions
●
Operating a cell phone while driving
●
Looking at something inside the vehicle
Scared yet? That’s a good
thing. Being aware of the potential dangers your teen may face on the road
is the best way to help prevent them. To help you keep your kids safe, we’ve
outlined a game plan to teach kids to avoid distracted driving. From the years
before your child can drive, through the early driving stages, and what to do
if you feel your child has picked up some dangerous habits -- it’s all covered
below.
Here’s what to do at each stage:
Stage 1: Before
your teen starts driving.
The best way to teach teens safe practices behind the wheel
is to follow the rules yourself. Set the bar high, but also be aware that you
will lower it just slightly every time you do something you shouldn’t do when
you’re behind the wheel. It’s okay to point out your own mistakes as well – in
fact, you should! Doing so will reinforce the importance of safe driving with
your teen. There’s a lesson to be learned from making small mistakes on the
road. Things like changing the radio station while you’re driving are habit,
but make sure if you do this, that you point it out and correct yourself to
teach your child the dangers of distracted driving.
Set a good example
for your teen by NEVER:
●
Texting and
driving – Or, operating your
phone for any reason once the car is
in motion. This is easier said than done, but these days most cars come
equipped with Bluetooth technology for streaming music, voice activated
dialing, and reading text messages for you. It can all wait until you reach
your destination.
●
Operating your
in-car tech – Distractions come standard in our vehicles. There are buttons
that control the music, others that control the temperature and the list goes
on and on. Be sure to make any adjustments to your car’s technology settings before getting on the road. Make sure
that you ask front seat passengers to control the music or any other tech while
you drive.
●
Eating while you
drive – Fast food places are everywhere; drive-thrus make it easy to get
what you want and get back on the road when you’re in a hurry. Remember that
eating and driving can make it difficult to focus on the road. Stopping for a
few minutes in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant is a better option
than risking your safety for a quick bite.
Setting some ground
rules.
Set realistic expectations for your teen. Avoid being
unreasonably strict. Being too strict may cause teens to rebel OR be too afraid
to drive! When you discuss driving with your teen, instead of threatening to
punish them if they do something wrong, set rules that reward good behavior
while on the road.
For example:
●
Create an
agreement. Some parents offer a contract that clearly states the rules
their teen is required to abide by to ensure there is no confusion. Make sure
that your contract works both ways; include rules for yourself as well as rules
for your teen.
●
Set goals and
offer rewards. A great way to promote safe driving is to come up with
attainable goals for your teen. If they can go without any traffic tickets and
promise to drive safely on a regular basis, you can reward them with a bonus to
their allowance, a movie night with friends, or offer to pay for gas.
Stage 2: During
the early driving years.
It’s time – you’ve prepared for this moment and now it’s
here. Your kid is ready to get behind the wheel and you’re hopeful the lessons
you’ve instilled in them will stick. You’re probably feeling some initial
anxiety and are beginning to worry. However, try to remember that you’ve done
everything you can.
Prepare yourself for the following:
Best-case scenario
– Your teen is an exemplary driver and respects the rules of the road. However,
not all teen driving accidents are their own fault. Other drivers may not be as
aware of the potential dangers of distracted driving, or may have a blatant
disregard for them. Once you’ve taught your teen basic safety and driving
rules, teach them to remain cautious of other drivers at all times.
Worst-case scenario
– Your teen is prone to driving distractions. This is common among teen
drivers, and though it is a cause for concern, it doesn’t have to be a deal
breaker between your child and the road.
Enter stage three – the distracted teen driver.
Stage 3: After
your teen breaks the rules.
Traffic violations, fender benders, and close-calls can
shake your confidence in your teenage driver (as well as the confidence of your
teen!). While it’s easy to overreact in a situation where your child’s safety
is at risk, be patient and go back to educating your child on safe driving
habits.
Next Steps
Take corrective action. Teach your teen to take
responsibility for his or her mistakes. Remember to reiterate the dangers of
distractions on the road. While some parents may result to extreme measures
such as revoking driving privileges or grounding for long periods of time,
creative discipline can be an encouraging way to teach right from wrong.
These tips can prove effective for disciplining a distracted
teen driver:
●
Completion of a defensive driving course and/or online
safety videos
●
Mandatory community service to reinstate driving
privileges
●
Limit driving to fewer hours with increased
stipulations
Your teen driver will require continued reinforcement of
driving guidelines to prevent distraction. Remember to lead by example whenever
you are driving with your teen.
If you find that your methods are ineffective in preventing
distractions, intervention through alternative disciplinary methods will be
required. In severe cases where a teen has been involved in repeated instances
of distracted driving, consider monitoring behaviors using GPS
in-car technology.
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