| for parents of
teen drivers
Teen
driving, yikes!
We
understand that is a frightening thought to have your
teenager out on the road behind the wheel of a car. That
is why Teen drivers Ed Online has put together a
training guide just for parents, full of statistics and
helpful hints.
The
California State DMV offices carry a very informative
teen training guide that is a must-have for parents and
teenagers preparing to drive. We recommend obtaining a
copy for yourself. Some of the following information has
been taken directly from The California State DMV's
"Teen Training Guide."
We
encourage all of our parents to take an active role in
their child's driving responsibilities. Knowledge is
power, so talking to your child about traffic laws and
safety is key. Many children are visual learners, so use
the time when you are in the car together to talk about
proper judgment and mistakes that drivers often make.
The time you spend now can only make your child a safer
and more defensive driver.
Only
instruction and hours of practice will make your child a
good driver
One of
the most important classes your child will attend is a
California Drivers Education course. Having this course
online allows you to take part in your child's learning
experience.
Here are a
few stats and helpful hints to guide your journey:
|
Problem: |
Teenage drivers get more tickets, and are also
hurt and killed in greater numbers than other
drivers. |
|
CA Law Solution: |
To decrease these accidents, a special
provisional type of license and instruction
permit is issued to drivers under the age of 18.
Minors may keep their license as long as they
obey certain provisions. They must obey the
traffic laws and drive without an accident. They
must hold their permit longer (six months) and
practice driving skills before the come to the
DMV for their driving test. |
|
Problem: |
Failing the Written Law and/or Driving test.
|
|
CA Law Solution: |
If your teenager fails the law test, there is a
one-week waiting period before they are able to
retake the test. If the driving test is failed,
he or she must wait two weeks before retaking
it. |
|
Problem: |
Teen drivers are statistically more careless
within their first year of driving. |
|
CA Law Solution: |
Teenage drivers are given certain new
restrictions for the first year after they are
licensed. During the first twelve months, the
teenager must be accompanied by a parent or
guardian, a driver 25 years of age or older, or
a licensed or certified driving instructor when
driving between eleven and 5:00 a.m., or if
transporting people under the age of 20. |
Helpful Hints:
Driver
training in school is crucial, but the hours you spend
with your teenager behind the wheel will give them very
important additional experience.
 During
the summer months, daylight hours sometimes extend until
9:30PM. Therefore, schedule your practice sessions so
that your student driver will have enough experience
driving when it is dark and in different weather
conditions. (The student should have at least 10 hours
of night driving practice before taking a driving test.)
One way
to help your child pass their test is to take time
familiarizing yourself with everything in the California
Driver Handbook before you begin your sessions. Your
student has been studying that book during their
driver's education course, and the DMV conducts driving
tests based on this handbook.
As
parents, we are constantly made aware of how our
children imitate our behavior. This is especially true
with our driving. Be careful to set a good example
whenever you drive. Drive the way you want your kids to
drive; use a safety belt, obey traffic signals and speed
limits, and do not mix drugs or alcohol with driving.
Educate your teen about the fatal dangers and legal
consequences of driving while under the influence of
drugs or alcohol.
Rules:
The
following are some rules for parent to consider once
their teenager begins to drive:
 |
Until your teen has gained sufficient driving
experience, they should not be allowed to drive
freely without restrictions. Work out when and
where you're child is allowed to drive the car.
(store, work, school) as well as when it is ok
to drive with passengers. |
|
|
For safety sake, keep your newly licensed teen
driver off the road during adverse weather
conditions; such as fog, rain, snow and ice). |
|
|
Limit night driving to a minimum, until you're
teen has had a good amount of supervised night
driving skills. |
|
|
Inform your teen of the strict punishment you
will enforce if they are to drive while under
the influence of drugs or alcohol. As well as
what types of other wrongdoings will result in
the lose of driving privileges. |
|
|
Enforce safety laws; such as everyone in the car
must wear a safety belts, as well as the use of
helmets for motorcycles driving. |
|
|
Instruct you teen on proper driving etiquette,
no headphones, no driving while fatigued or
tired and no cell phone usage while driving. |
|
|
Place your teen in an annual defensive driving
course to keep them aware and fresh at the
wheel. |
Facts and Statistics:
|
FACT: |
On average one in three fatal traffic accidents
involving teen drivers are alcohol related.
|
|
STATISTICS: |
46.8 percent of all vehicle occupants killed in
crashes were unbelted. in 2004. NHTSA estimates
that 671 of 1,443 unbelted vehicle occupants
killed would have survived, had they simply
chosen to buckle up. |
|
FACT: |
The leading cause of death for children and
young people are motor vehicle crashes.
|
|
STATISTICS: |
Young drivers are involved in fatal traffic
crashes at twice the rate as the rest of the
population. |
|
FACT: |
Exceeding the speed limit or driving at an
unsafe speed is the most common error in fatal
accidents. |
|
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