Summer time Is Harmful for Teen Drivers—What Mother and father Can Do

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

Summertime proves the best danger. The interval between Memorial Day and Labor Day is named 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 higher safeguard their younger drivers. It begins with understanding why teenagers is usually a danger 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 usually a piece in progress. Youngsters are “wired to be bolder and underestimate danger due to their emotional immaturity, social pressures, and an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex,” says Vikas Keshri, MSW, RSW, a psychotherapist based mostly in Toronto.

As a result of the prefrontal cortex (liable for decision-making) doesn’t end creating and maturing till the mid-to-late 20s, teenagers are sometimes related to numerous dangerous behaviors. These behaviors embody dashing, tailgating, distracted driving (usually from expertise, music, or passengers), driving beneath the affect of gear, and inconsistent seat belt use. 

Teenagers usually lack the abilities to make fast judgment calls, too, which may be exacerbated by sleep deprivation and excessive feelings, resembling stress, anxiousness, peer affect, Keshri shares. 

How To Assist Teenagers Keep Protected on the Highway

Mother and father can assist their teenagers keep safer on the highway. Keshri suggests dad and mom set a strict expertise curfew at night time 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 entails inhaling by way of your nostril whereas counting to 4, holding your breath on a depend of 4, after which exhaling for a similar quantity.

These proactive measures can assist to attenuate dangers, however there’s extra dad and mom 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 embody: basic driving guidelines, automobile duties (who pays the upkeep prices and insurance coverage?), passenger restrictions, curfew, weather-related driving situations, and communication (i.e., how usually a teen wants to tell dad and mom 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 have to mannequin good driving conduct. Keshri suggests creating routines within the automobile that focus on distraction-free driving, like switching your cellphone to Automotive Mode. 

Maria Wojtczak, co-founder of DrivingMBA, a nationally-recognized driving college based mostly in Arizona, agrees, including, “When you don’t need your teen on the cellphone whereas driving, then you need to keep off the cellphone as properly.”

Contemplate limiting passengers and nighttime driving 

In Australia, a focused legislation banned first-year drivers from driving at night time with a number of friends—a scenario 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 dad and mom to have their teen drive solo for the primary 12 months after acquiring a license. This may be helpful in the course of the “100 Deadliest Days,” when teenagers are extra liable to staying out late with friends. 

Deal with the automobile

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

The examine reported automobiles that had been 6 to fifteen years outdated had a 19% higher likelihood of driver dying in a crash, whereas automobiles older than 15 years had a 31% elevated danger. This was in comparison with driving automobiles 5 years outdated or newer. The driving force’s age didn’t matter. Moreover, every driver help expertise put in decreased the prospect of a deadly crash by 6%.

Researchers advise dad and mom to prioritize security options and driver help applied sciences within the automobile their teen drives. The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS) presents an inventory of protected automobiles. After all, shopping for a brand new automobile is probably not an possibility. In that case, the researchers urge extra frequent upkeep to enhance the security of the automobile.

Attempt protected driving programs 

A driver coaching class can assist your teen achieve confidence by practising their abilities in a protected surroundings. Wojtczak says her lessons give attention to hazard recognition, automobile dealing with, pace, and area administration to “enable college students to expertise conditions, make errors and study from these errors.” 

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

Set up open, nonjudgmental communication

If a teen makes a mistake behind the wheel, Keshri says to stay calm and have interaction 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 need to hearken to their aspect of the story. 

When dad and mom 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 vital to not emphasize “eligibility” however readiness. 

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