Understand the Facts & Risks
Source: NHTSA Center for Statistics and Analysis, October 2009, Top 10 Leading Causes of Death in the United States for 2006, by Age Group.
The single most important step you can take to protect the life of your teen is to be actively involved in the learning-to-drive experience. Supervised driving – driving with you in the passenger seat to coach your teen – is actually some of the safest driving your teen will do and helps ease your teen into driving. By teaching under low-risk conditions and then gradually introducing new roads and traffic conditions, you help your teen gain needed experience. Supervised driving will also help you gauge your teen’s progress toward solo driving. Even though your teen might be old enough to get a license, you ultimately decide when your teen is ready.
Be the solution. Understanding the risks and knowing the facts will prepare both you and your teen for the road ahead.
Additional resources:
- StartSmart: Practice Driving - AAA's tips for parents and teens about practice driving.
- StartSmart: Always Use Seat Belts - 63 percent of 16- to 20-year-olds who die in car crashes aren't buckled up. Find out more...
- StartSmart: Distractions and Driving - Read about the most common distractions, and get helpful advice for teens and parents.
