Safety First

It’s hard for parents not to worry when handing their teens the keys to the family car. A myriad of questions run through their minds. Are they ready? Did I teach them the right things? Will they buckle up? Will they make good choices on their own?

While motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of death for teens aged 15 to 19-years-old according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fortunately, there are resources available for parents to properly prepare their teens for life behind the wheel. The best formula parents can follow is to stay informed, educate their teen and lead by example. Here are a few points to discuss with young drivers.

Speed kills.

Speeding is a big issue for teen drivers who are prone to taking more risks behind the wheel than adults. Driving too fast for road conditions increases stopping distance and reduces a driver’s reaction time, leading to higher collision and injury risk.

Talk to your children about the dangers of speeding and cover speed management during supervised drives. Establish a set of driving rules and enforce them – if your teen doesn’t obey posted speed limits, let them know there will be consequences. Parents can monitor their teens’ driving habits through apps and this parent-teen driving contract will help reinforce what is expected of them while they’re driving.

Seat belts can help save lives.

The click of a seat belt might not prevent a car-crash from happening, but it can help save a life. Remind your teens to always wear a seat belt when riding in a vehicle, regardless of whether they’re the driver or a passenger. Be a positive role model and make sure you’re buckling up, too!

Focus … distractions cause car collisions.

Distracted driving is defined as anything that takes a driver’s eyes off the road – texting, eating, posting on social media and even programming a GPS device while driving are all forms of distracted driving. It takes an average of 4.6 seconds to read a text message and a driver going 55 mph can travel the length of an entire football field in that time!

Educate your kids on the dangers of distracted driving and have them use the parent-teen driving contract to pledge not to engage in those behaviors. Also, be sure that both you and your teen driver are aware of the passenger restrictions in your state, because passengers are potentially another form of distraction.

Practice makes perfect.

Graduated Driving Laws (GDL) in many states require teen drivers to complete a minimum number of supervised driving hours before they’re issued a license. The requirements vary from state to state, so familiarize yourself and your teen driver on your state’s specific GDL requirements. Parents also need to make sure that teens are getting the proper amount of training and practice. Don’t cut corners on the hours required. Teens need to practice and they need your guidance, because driving is serious business – both for them and other drivers on the road.

Mercury Insurance Drive Safe Challenge.

Mercury Insurance recently held two driving events in collaboration with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks and Tampa Bay Lightning in an effort to help prepare teen drivers for life behind the wheel. The Drive Safe Challenge website was created to support the company’s initiative to help keep teen drivers safe on the road, as well as help parents to maintain an open dialogue with teens about this important rite of passage. This interactive and informative website includes vehicle and driving tips, instructional videos, a driving contract and other helpful information.

Teens are the most inexperienced drivers on the road and, while they have to make the decision to drive safely for themselves, parents can lead by example and take the time to reinforce good driving habits.

Randy Petro

Mercury Insurance