TIPS FOR PARENTS Printable File (Word file) Getting Started Check with your insurance company for their policy on new drivers. Some require that teens be added to your policy as soon as a learner's permit is obtained. Others may allow you to wait until your teen obtains a provisional license. Teach your teen about general vehicle upkeep and maintenance: how to change a tire, check tire pressure, check oil level, monitor fuel level, and how to fill up the gas tank. Before your teen begins driving, talk about the cost associated with having a license and using a car. Discuss who will pay for licensing fees, vehicle registration fees, insurance, gas, and vehicle upkeep and maintenance. Make sure your teen driver carries a cell phone in case of a breakdown or some other emergency. Make sure your teen driver has emergency telephone numbers in the car such as AAA road side assistance. Driving Laws Talk to your teen about driving laws. Talk to your teen about the financial consequences of a traffic citation or accident. Discuss possible hidden costs such as Course fees (e.g., driver improvement, substance abuse) Increased insurance rates Fee for towing or storing vehicle Attorney fees Jail bond Probation costs Court costs/fees Community service costs Discuss potential family consequences if your teen driver breaks the law. Make sure your teen knows where the insurance and registration cards are located. Let your teen know that driving is a big responsibility. Failure to obey traffic laws may result in far more serious consequences than delaying the receipt of a full driver's license: They could lose their own or take someone else's life. Aggresive Driving Teach by example. Be a courteous and careful driver. Teach your teen defensive driving-to look ahead to anticipate problems and be prepared to react. Use the Maryland Parent-Teen Driving Agreement (available at www.mva.state.md.us/Resources/RD-016.pdf) with your newly licensed teen to set up specific driving rules and consequences. Restrict teen driving under high-risk conditions, such as driving at night and with teen passengers, and consider delaying the age your teen gets a license. These actions have been shown to curb risky driving behaviors in teens. (Hartos, Eitel, & Simons-Morton, 2001) Review the following rules with your teen to help reduce the aggressive driving problem: Always allow extra travel time so you won't have to be in a hurry! Plan your trip by knowing where you are going, alternate ways to get there, where to park, etc. Always follow the 2 second following distance rule. Many people tailgate "slow" drivers who are just following the posted speed limit. Obey speed limits. Always use turn signals when turning and changing lanes. Yellow lights mean slow down, not speed up to make it through! Always come to a complete stop at red lights and stop signs. Allow other drivers to merge with you. Don't speed up when someone tries to pass you. Don't weave in and out of traffic. Pass only on the left. Only honk your horn for safety to alert drivers to your whereabouts. Never use obscene gestures or yell at other drivers. Practice common courtesy to other drivers. (Maryland MVA, 2002b) Tell your teen to keep his or her cool with aggressive or angry drivers. Keep your eyes on the road. Avoid eye contact with an aggressive driver. Keep your distance. Don't challenge another driver by speeding up or racing with them. Don't slam on your brakes if you are being tailgated. Ignore obscene gestures, and don't return them! (State Farm Insurance, Rearview magazine, p. 5) Seat Belt Use Set an example by always wearing your seat belt as a driver and a passenger. Insistthat teens and their passengers always wear their seat belts. Tell your teen when they drive, they are responsible for their passengers and must make them buckle up. Tell your teen that they will be responsible for paying the fines if they are caught not wearing their seat belt by a police officer. Discuss further consequences such as loss of driving privileges if teen is caught not wearing a seat belt. Make sure your teen knows how to properly wear a seat belt. Both lap and shoulder belts should be worn. The shoulder strap should come across the collarbone, and the lap belt should fit low and tight. Shoulder straps should never be put behind the back or under the arm. Prohibit or strictly limit the number of teen passengers. Limit the amount of time your teen spends driving at night. Driving Distractions Be a good role model. Don't drive while distracted. Prohibit teen passengers for the first 6 months of driving. Continue to limit the number of passengers until your teen receives a full driver's license. Discuss the following safety rules to reduce driving distraction with your teen: Adjust the radio, cassette or CD player only when the vehicle has come to a complete stop (e.g., red light or stop sign). Keep radio volume low enough so that emergency vehicle sirens and car horns can be heard. Do not use a cell phone while driving. In case of an emergency, pull off the road to a safe area before making a call. If a cell phone must be used while driving, program important phone numbers into the phone ahead of time. Use voice activation if available. Do not eat or drink while the car is in motion. Set aside enough time to eat before driving or after arriving at a destination. Adjust the heat or A/C only when the vehicle has stopped. Take the time to accompany your teen to a new location before he or she has to drive somewhere new on his or her own. Talk to your teen about the dangers of outside distractions and "rubber-necking". Don't allow your teen to drive if he or she is emotionally upset. To help prevent drowsy driving, make sure your teen gets enough sleep before driving and limit driving between midnight and 6am. Talk to your teen about the following ways to combat drowsy driving: Let a passenger drive or stop to sleep. Even a short nap (15 to 20 minutes) can increase driver alertness. Stop to get some coffee or a caffeinated soda. Caffeine may help increase short-term alertness. Turn on the radio or the cassette/CD player. Listening to music may help reduce fatigue and "highway hypnosis". Driving Under Influence Enforce no alcohol rules and share with your child the serious consequences of drinking and driving. Be a good role model. Don't drink and drive. Don't underestimate your role in influencing your teen's behavior: Communicate your feelings about underage drinking AND drinking and driving to your teen. Communicate your feelings about illegal drug use AND driving while under the influence of drugs. Tell your teen to never ride with someone who has been drinking or using drugs. Talk to your teen about calling for a safe and sober ride home if needed. Teach your teen that resisting peer pressure is a sign of maturity and self-respect. Have clear rules, expectations, and consequences about drinking and drug use for your teen driver. Monitor your teen. Ask questions: Where are they going? Who are they going with? What time will they be home? Tell your teen to call if plans change. Get to know your teen's friends and their parents. Stay awake and make sure your teen driver arrives home sober. Limit the time your teen spends driving at night, especially during the first 6 months of driving. Limit the time your teen spends driving on weekends, especially during the first 6 months of driving. Finally, don't just talk but listen to what your teen has to say. High Risk Driving Night Driving For the first couple months of driving, limit unsupervised driving after 9 p.m. Essential activities such as work or sports may be exempted. If your teen must drive at night, be it during the dark hours before curfew or for work or sports related events, make sure he or she makes use of the following tips: Slow down! It is more difficult to see in the dark. Drivers are more likely to use alcohol and drugs when driving at night, so watch out for impaired drivers. Know exactly where you are going to avoid getting lost in the dark. Know when and how to use high and low beams. Flash your brights once to signal oncoming cars to dim their brights. To combat glare: Keep headlights and windshield clean. Use the "night" setting on your rearview mirror. (State Farm Insurance, Rearview magazine, p. 9) If your teen must drive to and from school, reduce his or her risk of a crash by allowing no passengers. Driving in Bad Weather Most accidents due to bad weather can be prevented. Make sure teens know how to adjust their driving to weather conditions. Take them to a vacant parking lot to practice driving in adverse weather. Teens should avoid driving in bad weather if at all possible, especially at night. After young drivers have demonstrated competence and confidence, if they must drive, tell them to slow down and adhere to the following: Driving in Rain Use headlights, even in daylight. Roads are slickest after it first starts raining. Increase the distance between you and the car in front of you. Be aware of hydroplaning. If you do hydroplane, let off the gas and avoid braking. Don't use cruise control in rainy weather as your car may accelerate during a hydroplane. Driving on Ice or Snow Keep windows completely clear of snow and ice. Slow down gradually. Avoid sudden changes in speed or direction. Know your brakes and use them with caution in snow or ice! Bridges and overpasses freeze first. Look out for "black ice" (road will look darker and dull). Driving in Fog Use your headlights on low beam only. Stay in the right lane. If you can't see the edge of the road, pull off as far to the right as possible and turn on the emergency flashers. Stay in the car (State Farm Insurance, Rearview magazine, p. 9)