Teen Drivers: A Parent’s Guide To Promoting Safe Driving Habits
As parents, our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our children. When they were little, it was easier to control their environments and monitor their safety. However, that becomes harder to manage once they become teenagers. This causes us significant anxiety and worry, especially when we begin to drive!
Teen drivers face unique challenges and risks on the road due to their lack of experience and susceptibility to distractions. Fortunately, we have the power to promote safe driving habits and instill responsible behaviors in our teens.
In this guide, we will explore effective strategies and practical tips to help you navigate the journey of raising safe teen drivers.
What Are The Challenges Faced By Teen Drivers?
Teen drivers lack experience and tend to engage in risk-taking behavior more than adult drivers. However, unlike other generations, our teens today face a whole new onslaught of distractions caused by their phones.
Growing up with constant access to information and technology has led to decreased attention spans and trouble focusing. This is one of the reasons why parenting teens is so difficult!
Distracted driving statistics show that cell phone use while driving is highest among ages 16–24, and teenagers are four times more likely than adults to get into a car accident due to being on their phones. According to the Department of Transportation, drivers are 23 times more likely to be involved in a safety-critical event while sending text messages.
When you combine impulsivity, the lack of experience, and the overuse of cell phones, teenage driving can be hazardous. Yet, there’s a lot we can do as parents to promote safe driving habits and set our minds at ease.
How To Promote Safe Driving Habits In Teens
Here are effective tips and strategies to help parents promote safe driving habits in their teens:
Set a Positive Example
While this seems obvious, it’s worth discussing the example we are setting for our new teenage drivers. Are you on your phone while driving? Do you respond to text messages at a stoplight?
It’s pretty safe to say that most of us have used our phones while driving. It’s important to remember that our teens are watching us and learning by example. They are observing how we react to driving situations, how we handle distractions, and how often we use our phones while driving.
If your teen driver notices you are texting and driving, they will also notice if you wait to check your phone until you get home. Make sure that you are setting a good example and practicing patience and courtesy on the road!
Establish Clear Expectations And Rules
Set clear expectations and rules around driving, such as strict curfews and passenger limits. Most parents prohibit the use of electronic devices while driving, though until recently, it has been hard to monitor this for compliance (more on this in the next section!).
A great best practice with new teenage drivers is to create a parent-teen-driving contract. This contract should outline the rules around safe driving, curfews, passengers, electronic devices, and risky behaviors. It should also highlight clear consequences if the contract is broken, such as financial ramifications, grounding, or loss of driving privileges for a period of time.
Take Advantage Of Driver Safety Technology
One solution that can give parents more control (and peace of mind) with their new drivers is the advent of driver safety technology. Products like OtoZen are now available to assist new drivers in learning safe driving skills.
OtoZen is an app that connects the whole family and provides a variety of tools designed to help instill safe driving habits. Parents always know where their teen is with location sharing, while alerts inform parents when their teen starts driving, their ETA, and how fast they are going at any given moment.
For the driver, speed alerts automatically start beeping through the car speakers if they are driving over the posted speed limit. The phone also vibrates when used or picked up to remind drivers to put their phones down while driving.
Audio messages can be sent through the app and read aloud through the car speakers. This allows parents to send quick messages or reminders to their children without distracting them by calling or texting.
With OtoZen, parents will receive comprehensive driving reports and be equipped with statistics to monitor their teen’s driving behavior. Knowing that you can access this information, your teenage driver is more likely to engage in safe driving behavior from the get-go.
If you have a child with anxiety, they will appreciate the accident-alert technology and the ability to maintain essential connectivity while driving. These features definitely give parents peace of mind as well.
Discuss How To Handle Distractions
While staying connected is essential, it should not be at the cost of their own safety or the safety of others on the road. It’s important to discuss various methods to limit distractions and phone use while driving.
A common solution is to ask your teen to place their phone out of reach, such as in the glove compartment or backseat. This helps reduce the temptation to grab the phone and use it while on the road.
You can advise your teen to enable the “Do Not Disturb” or “Driving Mode” feature on their phone before getting behind the wheel. These features automatically mute notifications and prevent incoming calls while driving.
Most cars have Bluetooth capabilities where text messages can be read and sent directly through the car without accessing the phone. Ensure these systems are set up and ready to go before your teen takes the wheel. This way, you meet your teenager’s need for connectivity while minimizing distractions.
Conclusion
It can be scary to send your teenager out on the road! As parents, we are responsible for setting positive examples for our new drivers and instilling safe driving habits in our teens.
New technologies like OtoZen can equip parents with the information they need to closely monitor their teen’s driving habits and make informed decisions. They can also provide anxious parents peace of mind when their teen is behind the wheel!
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