So your son or daughter got their license, a can-do attitude, and the ceremonial monologue most parents give after their child has been handed the car keys. But before you allow the kids to go off into the wild yonder there are a few more things about driving you need to know.
1. Driving under the influence isn’t just driving drunk
Driving under the influence is one of the worst and most dangerous things a teen can do. 41 percent of all teen drivers who died in car crashes were legally intoxicated. While this might make it seem like those that died were exclusively drinking, in reality they were also taking drugs. Driving under the influence means driving under the influence of alcohol or any drugs.
2. When in Doubt Stop or slow down
We all have important things to do, and when you’re driving obviously you have somewhere you have or want to be – your kids have seen this. Never let yourself get to impulsive with your driving because of this. Additionally, tell your child “If you’re lost or get a call DON’T USE YOUR PHONE. Driving while using a cellphone is responsible for over a quarter of driving accidents. Instead try slowing down or even stopping to use a GPS or just stop driving altogether in order to use your phone.”
3. Make sure other drivers are safe
If someone is giving your son or daughter a ride somewhere, you need to make sure they’re not impaired or acting irresponsibly. This might be awkward if they are your kid’s friend or a sibling or cousin. But if you see someone driving recklessly and you don’t say something, then you aren’t helping them. And if you’re worried about ruining or hurting the relationship by speaking up, remember a fatal car crash will do the same.
4. It’s not just your child’s safety
A car is mode of transportation that many people use, and because of that many people forget that a car is literally a two-ton piece of metal that can go high speeds while containing highly flammable gasoline. With all of that said it is important to acknowledge the danger it presents to your kid as well as others. About 60 percent of those that die in fatal crashes with teens aren’t the teen drivers. Your child has the ability to really hurt people and they need to be aware of that. With great power comes great responsibility.
5. The repercussions of accidents
Driving is relatively expensive. Between gas, insurance, and maintenance the average driver spends $9000 a year on a car. Teenagers MUST understand this. A car crash doesn’t just end after the accident. There are a multitude of repercussions. A car crash can result in: a child losing your license, loss of vehicles, increased insurance rates, repairs costs to the car and/or repair costs for another car, towing fees, and etc. So make sure you have an agreement with your teenager about the financial responsibilities of owning or driving a car – this may motivate them to drive safer!
So now you know what to discuss with your son or daughter regarding their driving and safety. But, before you let them jump off with engines revved, remember that the first 1,000 miles a teen drives are the most dangerous. Remind your child to take their time, be cautious, and be responsible. There are many big responsibilities to driving and they must be completely aware.
Bio –
This guest post was contributed by Atlantic Training, a Delaware company specializing in compliance, training and OSHA videos such as driver safety videos and drug and alcohol awareness training videos.
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2 Comments
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Never been a drinker however it is so important to teach our young teen drivers the consequences of driving while impaired. I have been hit by a drunk driver at 8am in the morning and she was still drunk! Our young drivers need to understand that this stays in your system and the devastation that it causes is real. It isn’t just the cost of the fines, etc. It disrupts people’s lives and can effect them the rest of their lives. Same goes for driving tired, texting while driving and driving under the influence of prescription medications. Just wait and see how the meds are going to affect you before destroying everyone’s life.
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We lost my cousin Mandi to a crash. Her and two of her friends were involved. She died just before her 17th birthday, after a week in a coma. Her 18 year old friend died on the scene. It’s not just the costs of towing away the car, the cost for rentals, and the increase to your car insurance rates. You can’t put a price on survivor’s guilt (the driver survived because he was wearing a seatbelt), and there’s nothing you can pay to a grieving parent to repair the pain of burying their child. Remind your teens about the permanent pain of losing their best friends if they don’t wear their seat belts!
