Guest Article by Sean Gray

Giving a teenager the keys to the car is filled with anxiety for parents. Not only do you fear for the way they will drive the car, but also how the other drivers navigate the roads while your teen is on them. There are several steps you can take to prepare your teen for the hazards of driving so you'll feel a little more at ease with them behind the wheel.
 
First off, driving education is paramount for everyone learning to drive, teen or otherwise. Parents should look into professional driving schools in their area, which will get your teen on the right path to becoming a safe driver. A third party driving instructor is the best route to go, as sometimes parents don't have the time or patience to dedicate to hours of instruction - a professional does, and your teen is more likely to listen to an instructor.
 
Driving education gives new drivers a good foundation and grasp of skills in order to cut down their risks behind the wheel and aids in developing safe driving habits and explaining how to handle time, visibility and space while in traffic.
 
Teens today face a new distraction that their parents did not while they were learning to drive - the cell phone. Texting while driving is very dangerous, and parents should educate their teens with statistics and educational videos showing what can happen when people text and drive - accidents. These videos, although disturbing, show the gravity of what occurs when people don't pay attention to the road/surroundings.
 
To provide both you and your teen with a framework for setting and enforcing effective rules, it's a good idea to create a written Parent/Teen Driving Agreement. According to research, teens whose parents limit initial driving privileges (like driving at night or with other teenage passengers) are less likely to engage in risky driving, to get tickets, and have crashes.
 
A good way to accomplish safe driving habits is the "driving contract." This is a list of rules that teens promise to obey while operating a car, and can be catered to each family. An example of a contract would be:
 
- Always wear your seat belt (drivers and passengers)
 
- No drinking/drug use - Driving while impaired is one of the leading causes of fatalities in car crashes. The contract should clearly state that teens are not allowed to drink and drive or be a passenger in a car with a driver who has been drinking. Tell your teen that they can always call, no matter what time of the night, and you will pick them up if they encounter this situation.
 
- No driving with friends - Experts feel that teens should not be allowed to drive with friends or even younger siblings in the car for the first six to 12 months of getting their license. This cuts down on distractions, such as loud conversations, horse playing, or trying to show off.
 
- New drivers will let their parents know exactly where they are going and when they are coming home.
 
- Curfews - Limit nighttime driving for new drivers.
 
Parents should choose a safe car for their teen to drive, one that they would feel comfortable driving themselves. Numerous sources can tell you what the highest-rated safety vehicles are, so do your research.
 
And last, but certainly not least, practice what you preach! Children mimic your behavior, so if they see you driving safely, they will more than likely follow your example.

Note from Driverthink:  While drinking and driving is never a good thing, studies have suggested that, when drinking, our most recently learned skills are forgotten most quickly.  It is extremely important that new drivers (usually our teens) understand this critical factor.
 
Bio: Sean deals with cars on a daily basis, and cares strongly about children. Furthermore, Sean works for cash for cars service, which helps individuals when they need to sell a car quickly.