Risk Management Tip
Teaching teens to drive safely
After spending years protecting your children from all sorts of dangers, it’s time for them to get behind the wheel. So how do you make sure you’re steering them in the right direction? Follow these tips to help your teens make smart and safe decisions that could ultimately help save lives.
- Don’t rely solely on high school driver education. While it may be convenient, one-on-one driving and guidance by parents is irreplaceable.
- Know the law. Familiarize yourself with your state’s restrictions on young drivers and feel free to set tougher rules.
- Restrict nighttime driving. 2 out of 5 young drivers’ fatal crashes occur after 9pm. Consider setting an early curfew for your teen.
- Consider a monitoring device. Various types of in-vehicle devices are available to you that can flag risky behaviors such as speeding, sudden braking, abrupt acceleration and non-use of safety belts.
- Choose a safe vehicle. Look for vehicles that earn good crash test ratings and have the latest safety technology, like side airbags, rear cameras and electronic stability control.
- Create a parent-teen driving agreement. Having your teen sign an agreement similar to this one will establish clear rules that are easy for your teen to follow.
- Be a role model. New drivers learn by example, so practice safe driving yourself.
For more information on teen driving, visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or email us at info@bks-partners.com
