Parent's Guide


Whether your teen is getting ready to start driver’s ed, has a learner’s permit or recently began driving, your influence matters.


WHAT’S THE BIGGEST RISK TO TEEN DRIVERS?
Alcohol is involved in about 16% of fatal crashes with 16- and 17-year-old drivers. What about the other 84%?


Inexperience
About 2 in 3 fatal teen crashes are due to driver error – mistakes due to inexperience and distractions. Teens’ crash risk is highest during the first six months (or 1,000 miles) of independent driving.


Distractions
Passengers: A teen driver’s fatal crash risk doubles just by having one peer passenger along for the ride. With 3 or more, the fatal crash risk increases 4 to 5 times.


Cell Phones: Hands-free or not, cell phone use quadruples teens’ crash risk.


Speed
Like adults the faster you go, the higher the crash risk. Add in teens’ lack of experience and judgment, and the risk only increases.


Fatigue
Drivers under age 25 cause the majority of drowsy driving-related crashes. The effect of fatigue on driving skills is similar to the effect of drinking and driving.


Driving at Night
Four of 10 teen traffic deaths occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Limiting teens’ nighttime driving can cut crash rates by 40 to 60%.


The Biggest Risk of All? Not Buckling Up
Two of three teens who die in traffic crashes were not wearing seat belts. This sorry statistic includes both drivers and passengers.



PARENTS’ ROLE
In most states today, graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws protect teens by restricting new drivers’ exposure to high-risk situations, such as nighttime driving, teen passengers, and cell phone use. Parent enforcement is essential for these laws to be effective.


What’s Normal
Studies show most parents support restrictions that reduce risks for new teen drivers. Nearly 4 of 5 parents favor GDL programs that place limits on passengers and nighttime driving.


Need Rules that Work?
Start with a written Parent/Teen Driving Agreement. Because state laws vary on GDL, an agreement helps establish your rules in a concrete way. Regardless, it’s good to make sure your teen is following your state law on passengers and curfews. Click here to see your state’s law.


A good parent/teen driving agreement should include:

  • Limits on new drivers for the first 6 to 12 months after licensure:
    • No passengers under age 21, including siblings
    • No nighttime driving
  • Require safe behaviors
    • Always wear a seat belt
    • Do not speed
    • No cell phone use
    • No drinking and driving
  • Two–way communication – know where and with whom your child is driving.
  • Set clear consequences for breaking anything in the agreement. Choose consequences you can enforce.


View sample parent/teen agreements:
American Academy of Pediatrics Parent-Teen Agreement
National Safety Council Parent-Teen Agreement