Paula F. Downey, President & CEO
President's Message: Teen Drivers
Paula F. Downey shares ways that parents can help teens be safer drivers.
Mom, Dad, can I borrow the car?” Hearing these words from your teenager for the first time can send you into a panic—and rightfully so. There is no place deadlier for a teenager than a car. Out of all drivers on the road, teens have the highest crash risk, and in their age group crashes are the leading cause of death.
So what do you say?
The short answer: a whole lot. Research by the National Institutes of Health shows that when parents stay actively involved in their teen’s driver education their child is much safer on the road. No one knows your teen the way you do, and although he or she may have already received a driver’s license, it’s ultimately up to you to evaluate his or her road readiness. That means talking with your teen about your expectations.
AAA can help frame the conversation. In our long history of leadership on automotive safety, we’ve sponsored graduated drivers licensing (GDL) laws, which limit young drivers’ exposure to dangerous situations until they’ve gained the experience needed to be safer drivers. Good news—GDL laws work. They have reduced traffic deaths for 16-year-olds by as much as 38 percent.
Go to AAA.com/teensdrive, where you’ll find guidance, tips, and tools for all stages of teen driving. Review and complete the AAA Parent-Teen Driving Agreement with your teen. The four-page contract lays out a set of rules and commitments for both parent and teen. Visit AAA.com to order a free copy of Driver-ZED, an interactive DVD that puts young drivers in simulated risky situations. Or get TeenSmart, a safety course that can qualify your teen for the AAA Auto Insurance New Driver Discount.
None of this will keep you from being nervous the first time your young driver backs out of the driveway. But knowing that you’ve given your teen the tools to be a safe driver will make it easier to hand over the keys.
This article was first published in September 2010. Some facts may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.
