October 15-21, 2023 is National Teen Driver Safety Week, and for families with a teenager at home, it's never too early to start talking about safe driving behaviors.
Want a fun way to get started with that conversation?
Check out the interactive simulations and games at Ford's Driving Skills for Life.
Here are some tips to offer your new drivers:
- Always wear your seat belt – and make sure everyone else in the vehicle does, too.
- Avoid all distractions including cell phones, eating, applying makeup, and changing the music.
- Never drink and drive and never get in a vehicle with a driver who has been drinking.
- Obey the speed limit. Plan to leave a few minutes earlier to avoid having to rush.
- Exercise extra caution in work zones and when driving near tractor-trailers.
Here are some tips for parents of new drivers:
- As a parent/caregiver, you set the best example for your kids. Even teens will repeat what they see, so brush up on your own driving habits.
- Limit the number of passengers in your teen's vehicle since more passengers can lead to increased distraction and a greater risk of an accident. In fact, Colorado already has passenger and curfew laws for new drivers.
- Make sure your teens receive plenty of supervised practice in all types of driving conditions. This can either be at home with you, as part of driver education at school, or at a private driver training center.
- Create a Parent-Teen driving contract that sets explicit driving rules and behaviors. Write down the consequences for breaking those rules and stick to your contract.
Want even more resources? AAA has developed an online course called StartSmart... Online Parent Session for parents of teens who are – or soon will be – learning to drive. The two-hour webinar costs $24.95 and explains both the licensing process and the parents’ role in helping teens safely implement driving techniques on the road.
