5 Things Parents of Teen Drivers Can Do to Keep Them Safe on the Road

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There comes a time in every parent’s life when their children are going to get behind the wheel and start driving. This is a nerve wracking time for many parents, but you can make it easier on your self and your kids. Follow these 5 suggestions to keep your teen drivers safe on the road when they start driving.

1. Enforce a No Phone Rule
   One of the biggest dangers to teens and older drivers alike on the road is cell phone use behind the wheel. Mobile phones have worked their way into almost every aspect of life for many of us, and the risks of talking and texting behind the wheel have led legislators in many areas to pass laws against drivers using cell phones. Set your own ground rules about using phones while driving. Your teens shouldn’t be answering any calls while they’re driving–not even your calls.
2. Talk About Intoxication
   Like many parents, you may be shocked to learn that kids are partaking in underage drinking all over the country. This isn’t a new phenomenon, but it is one that parents rightly rail against in every generation. Talk to your teens about the dangers of driving under the influence. Not only is it illegal, it is extremely dangerous and irresponsible. Intoxicated drivers account for a large percentage of auto accidents every year. When you drive drunk, you put your own life on the line as well as the lives of those around you. Having a candid discussion about this with your teens could be a life saver.
3. Enroll Them in Driving School
   In order to be a competent and safe driver, you need two things–experience and maturity. Unfortunately these things can’t be learned in any driving class, but enrolling your teens in a driving education program can definitely help. Spending time in environments like this that emphasize the importance of safe and responsible driving will help instill them with good habits that will last a lifetime.
4. Reward Good Grades
   Teen drivers who get good grades deserve a reward. Insurance companies have caught on to this idea, and many are now offering cheap auto insurance rates to parents whose children get good grades. If your teen drivers are on your insurance plan, you can be rewarded for their good academic performance, and you should pass on the benefits. Rewarding them for their virtues reminds your teens that being responsible and mature is a good thing, and this will help mold them into better drivers.
5. Set a Curfew
   You don’t want your teens out partying all night and driving home. This is the number one enabler of drunk driving all over the world. Setting a curfew for your teens when they go out driving is one of the best things you can do for them. They may complain, but the curfew will help keep them safe as well as giving you peace of mind every night. Be reasonable about curfews but avoid being too lenient–this is a rule you want them to acknowledge and respect.