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Practice makes safer teen drivers
Is your newly licensed teen driver ready to take on the world? According to a AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study, almost half of parents say no.
Despite drivers training classes and a lengthy learner period before licensing, they are not completely comfortable letting their children drive unsupervised in all traffic situations.
The study tracked parental attitudes during the learner stage of graduated licensing, as in-car cameras monitored what happened when parents and teens went out on the road to practice. By assessing this information, foundation researchers were able to make recommendations about how parents and teens can make the best use of supervised driving practice.
One of the key findings is that kids aren't getting enough practice managing a variety of challenging road conditions, such as driving at rush hour, in inclement weather, and at night. Only a quarter of parents surveyed said they had planned to have teens practice in such conditions, and most teens' driving practice took place on routine trips, such as quick runs to school and local stores.
Although taking a novice driver out in challenging road conditions can seem counter-intuitive, safety professionals agree that gaining experience managing on-road risks is one of the most important things a teen can do to prepare for independent driving.
Most parents indicated they wanted to spend more time practicing with their teens, but 70 percent said that busy schedules—for both parents and teens—limited the amount of supervised driving that actually occurred. About 40 percent of parents said their teens lost interest in practicing—a surprising number, given how enthusiastic most kids are about getting their licenses.
One of the reasons some teens resist supervised practice may be the way they perceive guidance from parents. Researchers observed many occasions when teens told their parents to "stop yelling," even though parents had not raised their voices. In 16 percent of families, teens refused to drive with one of their parents because the adult was too nervous or critical in the car.
Regardless of the amount or quality of supervised driving practice teens received, most families allowed their kids to obtain licenses at the end of the learners period. But as foundation experts point out, becoming a licensed driver doesn't mean parental involvement and supervised driving should end. Parents can—and should—take an active role in helping their teens learn how to manage risks in a way that will make them safer drivers now and for the rest of their lives.
For more information about teen driving safety and graduated licensing, visit TeenDriving.AAA.com.
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Teen drivers respond best when you share your experience and insights, rather than just correct and instruct them on how to handle the car. Here are some examples of how to make a point without being "bossy."
- I check the side mirror and glance over my shoulder when entering a highway ramp so I have a sense of how easily I'll be able to merge.
- In residential neighborhoods, I take extra care in the early morning and late afternoon, when I know kids will be heading to or from school.
- When I see an emergency vehicle come up behind me, I immediately use my signals to let them know which way I'll be going to get out of the way.
- When I see a lane closed ahead, I try to get over well in advance, and I anticipate that other drivers may need to merge in front of me.