Summer Is Dangerous for Teen Drivers—What Parents Can Do

Mother and father typically joke about their teenagers being a “hazard on the highway,” however deadly motorcar crashes are the main reason behind demise for U.S. teenagers. In 2023, it accounted for practically 50% of all teen deaths between the ages of 15-24. The deadly crash price for 16- to 19-year-old drivers is sort of thrice increased than that of drivers 20 and older. 

Summertime proves the best threat. The interval between Memorial Day and Labor Day is called the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers. Given these harrowing statistics, it’s time to cease dismissing teen accidents as a ceremony of passage. 

Fortunately, there are methods for fogeys to raised safeguard their younger drivers. It begins with understanding why teenagers could be a threat on the highway after which placing security measures in place.

Why Teenagers Are at Better Threat for Automotive Accidents

Though a teen’s motor abilities could also be developed sufficient to acquire a driver’s license, their judgment behind the wheel is commonly a piece in progress. Youngsters are “wired to be bolder and underestimate threat due to their emotional immaturity, social pressures, and an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex,” says Vikas Keshri, MSW, RSW, a psychotherapist primarily based in Toronto.

As a result of the prefrontal cortex (answerable for decision-making) doesn’t end growing and maturing till the mid-to-late 20s, teenagers are sometimes related to numerous dangerous behaviors. These behaviors embrace rushing, tailgating, distracted driving (typically from expertise, music, or passengers), driving below the affect of drugs, and inconsistent seat belt use. 

Teenagers typically lack the talents to make fast judgment calls, too, which may be exacerbated by sleep deprivation and excessive feelings, comparable to stress, anxiety, peer influence, Keshri shares. 

How To Assist Teenagers Keep Protected on the Highway

Mother and father may help their teenagers keep safer on the highway. Keshri suggests mother and father set a strict expertise curfew at evening for distraction-free sleep. They need to additionally encourage them to make field respiration a routine to calm their nervous system earlier than driving. That includes inhaling by your nostril whereas counting to 4, holding your breath on a depend of 4, after which exhaling for a similar quantity.

These proactive measures may help to reduce dangers, however there’s extra mother and father can do. 

Create a parent-teen driving contract 

A parent-teen contract establishes expectations and teaches teenagers that “driving is a privilege, not a proper,” says Keshri, whereas contemplating the teenager’s needs, because it’s an settlement, not only a set of directions. 

Some concepts for a contract embrace: normal driving guidelines, automobile duties (who pays the upkeep prices and insurance coverage?), passenger restrictions, curfew, weather-related driving circumstances, and communication (i.e., how typically a teen wants to tell mother and father of whereabouts). 

A contract ought to have clear, particular penalties for violations, together with lack of driving privileges or restrictions. 

Mannequin protected driving habits

Mother and father must mannequin good driving conduct. Keshri suggests creating routines within the automotive that focus on distraction-free driving, like switching your telephone to Automotive Mode. 

Maria Wojtczak, co-founder of DrivingMBA, a nationally-recognized driving faculty primarily based in Arizona, agrees, including, “If you happen to don’t need your teen on the telephone whereas driving, then you need to keep off the telephone as nicely.”

Think about limiting passengers and nighttime driving 

In Australia, a focused legislation banned first-year drivers from driving at evening with a number of friends—a state of affairs that accounted for one-fifth of the nation’s site visitors fatalities. A 2024 examine discovered that this initiative greater than halved the focused crashes, casualties, and deaths amongst Australian first-year drivers.

It additionally had constructive spillover results, together with fewer early night crashes and a sustained discount in high-risk driving total. 

Wojtczak encourages mother and father to have their teen drive solo for the primary yr after acquiring a license. This may be helpful through the “100 Deadliest Days,” when teenagers are extra liable to staying out late with friends. 

Concentrate on the automotive

Working a safe vehicle is one other necessary issue to bear in mind. A brand new examine from Nationwide Youngsters’s Hospital, revealed in JAMA Community Open, discovered teenagers have been extra prone to drive automobiles older than 15 years and with fewer driver help applied sciences.

The examine reported automobiles that have been 6 to fifteen years outdated had a 19% better probability of driver demise in a crash, whereas automobiles older than 15 years had a 31% elevated threat. This was in comparison with driving automobiles 5 years outdated or newer. The motive force’s age didn’t matter. Moreover, every driver help expertise put in lowered the possibility of a deadly crash by 6%.

Researchers advise mother and father to prioritize security options and driver help applied sciences within the automobile their teen drives. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) provides a listing of protected automobiles. In fact, shopping for a brand new automotive might not be an choice. In that case, the researchers urge extra frequent upkeep to enhance the security of the automotive.

Attempt protected driving programs 

A driver coaching class may help your teen acquire confidence by working towards their abilities in a protected setting. Wojtczak says her courses concentrate on hazard recognition, automobile dealing with, velocity, and house administration to “enable college students to expertise conditions, make errors and study from these errors.” 

When selecting a driving faculty, she recommends visiting the varsity, asking questions, and making an knowledgeable determination.

Set up open, nonjudgmental communication

If a teen makes a mistake behind the wheel, Keshri says to stay calm and interact in dialog with them at eye stage. Inform them they aren’t in bother and that you just’ve made errors whereas driving, too, and also you simply wish to take heed to their facet of the story. 

When mother and father validate their teenagers’ experiences with out instantly providing options or criticism, they create a extra trusting, open relationship. 

Be affected person and attempt to benefit from the course of

Wojtczak says everybody learns to drive at their very own tempo, so it’s necessary to not emphasize “eligibility” however readiness. 

Quickly, your teen might be an grownup, and also you received’t get that point again. Wojtczak encourages mother and father to not view instructing their teen to drive as a chore however as a possibility to spend 1:1 time with them.