Every parent gets a bit nervous when their teenager starts to drive. Even if you know your child is a careful driver, you will always have that thought at the back of your mind that they might become distracted while driving with friends and end up in a fender-bender.

One of the biggest risks of distraction is often posed by their passengers, especially when these consist of their teenage friends. Teens can easily get distracted when their friends are in the back, and this can be dangerous for all of them.

Here’s a guide to what your teenage child and their friends should know to reduce distractions caused by passengers. Share and discuss these points with your teen driver.

Explain to them that the dangers are real:

According to the New York State Department of Health website, for teens aged 15 to 19 years, motor vehicle crashes are the main cause of hospitalizations and unintentional deaths in the state (73 deaths a year).

Importantly, it also states that teen passengers have a greater chance of being seriously injured when another teen is driving the vehicle.

Seat belts are a must:

Remind your teen child and their friends to always buckle-up when behind the wheel. Seat belts save lives. Without them, a relatively minor accident could be severe. The New York State Department of Health claims that they cut the risk of serious injuries by anything from 50 to 83 percent. The CDC also has some interesting stats on seat belts and injuries.

Speed is deadly:

One of the biggest causes of crashes in teen drivers is speeding. Teens are particularly at risk because they are not only less experienced, but they may want to show off to their friends. Teach your child about the risks of speeding and make sure they know how dangerous it can be. Remind them not to feel pressured to drive fast just to show off to their friends.

One way to get through to them could be to remind them that they are liable if they cause a crash that results in injury to another driver or pedestrian. The injured driver may want to file a lawsuit against the negligent driver, and this is something your child will clearly want to avoid. You can also discuss the emotions of how your teen might feel if they were to hit a pedestrian or child while speeding – once they register the severity of the emotional consequences for their self and the family of injured, they will likely be more conscious of their decisions behind the wheel.

Take care when driving at night:

Driving at night can also be more dangerous, so you may want to restrict your child’s driving to daylight hours until you both are confident in their driving abilities. If you are buying them their first car, you can make this a condition that they have to follow.

Educate your teen’s friends on passenger etiquette:

Teen passengers causing distractions can present serious risks to everyone in the vehicle. Although it may not be easy to educate your child’s friends on the risks, try to remind them when they head out and your child is driving. If you know their parents, you could also suggest that they all teach their children about the dangers.

In fact, it may be best if your child does not carry teenage passengers who fail to follow proper passenger etiquette. Perhaps you can make that a condition of paying for their driving lessons or car, etc.

Help Your Teen to Drive Safer

Every parent worries about their teenage children driving on the roads. As long as you teach them the rules of the road and do everything you can to educate them—and their friends—on the dangers, they will be at less risk.

By Anna Burke: Anna Burke has worked in various roles within the auto industry for many years. Now semi-retired she uses her knowledge combined with current events to write articles. She has discovered a new passion she didn’t know existed until very recently but is thoroughly enjoying connecting with others through her writing.

Getting a driver’s license does not guarantee that you will be safe on the road. Even experienced drivers can falter when driving. For new drivers, navigating the road can be risky since they’re bound to face several unexpected situations. In fact, motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of U.S. teen deaths, finds Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s WISQARS (Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System). And the problem is big enough.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2,163 U.S. teens aged between 16 and 19 were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2013. It also indicates that another 243,243 teens in the U.S. were admitted to the emergency departments for treating car crash related injuries in the same year. This means, almost six teens between 16 and 19 are killed daily in the country due to motor vehicle accidents.

CDC’s reports also suggest that although young people aged between 15 and 24 represent just 14% of the country’s population, they account for around $19 billion (30%) of the total costs related to motor vehicle damages among male population and $7 billion (28%) among females.

It is also found that young male drivers and passengers aged between 16 and 19 are mostly at risk; in fact, almost two times compared to their female counterparts. Car crash risk is extremely high for newly licensed drivers, particularly during the first months of their licensure. To help in this regard, this post presents a few tips that can make driving a relatively safer proposition for new drivers.

1. Get More Training

Even after you have passed your license test, you need to get more training to really start pulling away alone on a busy street. When you are preparing for your licensure and/or learning to drive, instructors usually show you the ropes in all possible conditions. But in real life you won’t be driving through quiet back streets but in busy towns and motorways. In addition, you will have to drive in bad weather as well as at night too. More often than not, you need to drive in less than favourable environments on a regular basis.

To be on the safer side, always opt for some further driving education workshops, either through your insurance company or a local safety organization. Completing advance level training helps you learn to drive on motorways, in busy towns, at night, in all kind of weather and in almost all sort of stressful environments that you are likely to experience in real life. It will not only help you become a better driver, these advance level training classes also help you find a cheaper insurance premium as they reduce your chances of getting involved in a car accident.

2. Follow the Safety Rules

No amount of training can help you on the road if you fail to follow the safety rules. And there are certain rules you must never break for you will not only be penalized for disobeying them if caught, they may even cost you your life. You should, for example, always wear your seat belt and make sure your passengers  have buckled up before you start the car.

There are some other rules as well that you must always follow. These include:

• Never cross the speed limit. Exceeding the speed limit is one of the major reasons for teen car accidents as excess speed gives you less time to react or stop your car.
• Your windshield must also be clear as a dirty windshield will not only impair your visibility, light reflecting of them during sunrise and sunset can blind you momentarily.
• Never drink and drive. Driving under the influence is another reason for teen deaths in the U.S. You are not only putting your and your passenger(s) life at risk, but are also jeopardizing others on the road.
• Make sure the height of the headrest of your car is behind your head and not your neck. This will help you minimize whiplash, if you get into an accident.
• Stay away from distractions while you are driving. Distracted driving, which involves any other activities while driving that take your focus off the road, is a major cause of motor vehicle accidents in the country. A recent AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety report found that distraction causes 58% of teen driver car accidents.

In addition, there are other safety rules you need to follow while on the road. In case you get involved into a motor vehicle crash, remember that the other parties involved in the crash will try to blame it on you even if they were at fault. And disobeying any of these rules and others will only give the opponent party’s car accident lawyers the much-needed opportunity they will be looking for to save their client’s skin.

3. Know Your Car

Before driving your new shiny car, take some time to get know it. Sit in your new car and turn it on and enjoy the feel. Take a look at the various buttons inside and learn about their functionalities. Where are the switches for your vehicle’s front and rear light or the hazard light? How do you switch on your corresponding warning lights? How do you turn your radio and GPS on/off?

You need to know these little things before you start driving down the street. In fact, you need to be absolutely sure about these features as activating/deactivating any of them in a hurry can take your focus away from the road, leading to an accident.

4. Take Care of the Blind Spot

Every time you turn right or change lanes, check your blind spot. This is the area that’s outside of your peripheral vision and your blind spot is a pretty large area where cars and bikes can lure undetected until it is too late. So whenever you are changing lanes or turning right, make sure you check your blind spot properly to avoid crashes.

Also, never drive in other driver’s blind spot. Not everyone is careful enough to practice defensive driving while on the road, but you can always put the onus on yourself and stay clear. For example, if you are driving to the right of and somewhat behind another car, the driver perhaps cannot see you.  In such situations

5. Your New Car is Your Friend

Enjoy your new car – it will be your buddy for a long time and you’ll have many adventures together and everyone remembers the their first car. As a new driver, you probably lack the experience but you can always be diligent to avoid accidents and unfavourable situations while behind the wheel. You’ll obviously want to keep your car in good shape for a long time, so following these tips mentioned above will help you save your life, your car and your money. Also, remain calm in frustrating situations as it is better to accept small delays than jeopardizing your life and those of others on the road with reckless driving.

Author Bio: Rachel Oliver is a thought leader in the field of Law. She is keen on gathering information and sharing her opinion on personal injury law, employment law and likes.

Find out more about resqme and other products every new driver should have

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Over the years, lots of innovation has occurred in the name of improving driver safety. Nationwide programs have sought to eliminate distracted driving habits, roads are constantly maintained maximum safety, and cars are increasingly designed to better withstand accidents. Yet, the numbers associated with motor vehicle accidents remain staggering. According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration¹, an estimated 32,675 people died in motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. in 2014—down only 1 percent from 2013.

Perhaps numbers like this one have inspired the launch of a number of innovative new products and services in recent years. Some of the newer ways of protecting drivers are attempting to do so by fixing very specific problems. Specifically, we’ve seen exciting new initiatives and products aimed at three areas: protecting drivers operating shipping projects, supplying average commuters with emergency tools, and training young drivers to practice safe habits.

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Protecting Drivers In Shipping

Commercial fleets conducting shipping business account for a huge number of vehicles, and it’s in the best interest of the companies involved to protect drivers. Furthermore, drivers in this business can sometimes operate with relatively high risk. They drive long hours, which leads to tired driving and distractions as drivers attempt to stay busy and entertained; they sometimes travel unfamiliar territory; and the physical aspect of operating a large fleet vehicle can be challenging.

It’s actually GPS tracking associated with the ever-expanding “Internet Of Things” that’s beginning to change conditions for these types of drivers. According to Verizon’s Networkfleet Program², GPS-based vehicle tracking can enable companies to track, monitor, and manage their vehicle fleets. Fleet management headquarters can now see where each individual vehicle is and even monitor the conditions of those vehicles. This enables them to manage driver hours, keep vehicles safe, and even map out the most efficient routes. These perks may appear to exist primarily for the sake of operational efficiency, but that same efficiency makes drivers less likely to adopt unsafe habits in an attempt to overcome poor conditions. A driver on a strictly monitored system is less likely to speed, cut corners, try unfamiliar routes, or stay active for dangerous hours. For that matter, resqme, Inc.’s alertme™ tool can also be very helpful for fleet drivers who do still have to work long hours, or for anyone driving with a risk of growing tired. The tool fits over your ear like a bluetooth and alerts you if you start to nod off!

Supplying Commuters With Safety Tools

Most people know general safe driving techniques, whether or not they choose to follow them. There will always be struggle to get more drivers acting safely on the road. But among 30,000+ deaths that occur annually due to accidents, a number of them also occur due to unsafe circumstances that may not have to do specifically with a driver’s actions. Consider, for example, an incident reported last month in which a driver’s Ford Fiesta gradually caught fire for no apparent reason. The driver and his family saved themselves thanks to a persistent smokey smell that led to their exiting the vehicle. However, in some instances, similar issues can prove fatal due to car issues resulting in automatically locked doors and windows.

The driver in this instance recommended to anyone reading the story to keep a hammer in the car at all times (so as to break a window if escaping the vehicle is an issue). But this is also where some of our own resqme® products can help. The resqme® Original Keychain in particular can be a life saver in situations that would otherwise result in more accident-related deaths, as it helps with escape from seat belts and sealed cars.

 Image Credit

Instilling Safe Habits In Young Drivers

We’ve also seen various companies taking steps to help with the education process as it applies to young drivers. Every young driver goes through a period of instruction in order to receive a license, and the hope is that the lessons learned during this stage will last. But unfortunately, young drivers are among the worst offenders when it comes to distracted driving in particular, and in turn are responsible for a significant portion of motor vehicle accidents.

Perhaps the most interesting company combatting this trend is SmartWheel USA, which has invented a product designed to teach and enforce safe driving habits. Specifically, they’ve invented a sort of steering wheel cover that alerts drivers to unsafe behavior (such as taking hands off the wheel). The wheels also track driving habits so that young drivers can gain a more thorough understanding of whether or not they’re being appropriately safe.

Hopefully with all of these tools in place for various types of drivers, the next few years will see the horrific numbers of accident-related deaths finally begin to decline significantly!

Author Bio: 

Cory Bowman is freelance writer and web designer based out of Virginia. His work primarily concerns themes in technology, travel, and lifestyle.

 Links:

¹National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
²Verizon’s Networkfleet program
³an incident reported last month
⁴our own resqme® products
⁵SmartWheel USA

How to Handle Your Teenager’s First Car Accident
By Guest Author: Marie Sulenski

All parents worry about their teen drivers getting into a car accident. Joanne Helperin of Edmunds Inc. told Disney Family that, statistically speaking, there’s a good chance a teen driver will be involved in an accident during the first 12 months of driving. We’re not saying it’s going to happen… we’re just saying it could. Read this before it does:

Get More Involved

Take this step long before you hand your teenager the keys. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) told Forbes that parental involvement is the most critical factor in reducing the risk of accidents for teenagers. Teenagers who are given supportive yet direct rules regarding their driving are half as likely to get into a crash, and 30 percent less likely to use a cell phone while driving.

Teach your teen safe driving habits and agree upon ground rules when he or she is behind the wheel. Driving-Tests.org offers a variety of resources, including a parent-teen driving contract you can print out. Use it as a guide to set rules, penalties and a mutual understanding of what is expected.

Parents should also take advantage of graduated driver licensing programs in their respective states. These enable teen drivers to gradually gain experience in different driving situations.

Educate Them

The first few moments when both parties exit their vehicles and begin communicating typically go a long way in determining the outcome of the incident. Remind your teenager: Less is more. The only information he is required to give the other party is insurance, driver’s license and contact information. Discussing the particulars of the accident itself is discouraged.

Your teen should never admit an accident was his fault, even if it seems obvious that it was. The admission can be used against him in administrative proceedings or court (if it gets that far). Instead, instruct him to use his smartphone to take several pictures of the scene. This includes photos of the damage both cars sustained, the interior of the car, the surrounding scene, etc. Many insurance providers now have accident apps that allow you to snap and upload photos directly to them.

The New Car

Hopefully the first accident your teenager is involved in is of the fender-bender variety. There will, of course, be cases in which the car is totaled or the repairs are so costly it makes more sense to get a new vehicle. Whether you will help pay for the new car is up to you, but this could be used as an incentive for safe driving. You could pay half of the monthly payment each month they go without an accident and moving violation. You could also pay for a less expensive car in cash and forgive portions of the payback from your teenager based on the same conditions.

Finally, Remember This

Accidents are going to happen with teenage drivers. Well-prepared, involved parents can mitigate the anxiety that comes with them. The most important thing is your teenager’s health and well-being. Remind him of this, too. Cars can be replaced; people can’t.

About the Author:
Marie is entertainment and lifestyle freelance writer who dreams of writing the next great American novel.

Teen Car Insurance and Driver Safety Guide
By Guest Author: Kerry Blake

It’s a well known fact that teen drivers take more risks on the road than drivers over the age of twenty. But many people do not realize just to what extent teens have problems with driving safely, and what exactly can be done to reduce the problem. Besides the physical risks entailed by reckless driving, teens and their parents are often hit with higher insurance premiums. Fortunately, there are things that can be done to improve teen driving and reduce teen insurance premiums.

Image via State Farm

Teens and Automobile Accidents: The Truth

It’s the shocking truth that according to CDC teens are 3 times more likely to get involved in fatal road accidents than drivers over the age of twenty. An explanation for this is that teen drivers simply do not have the requisite experience to drive safely.

High Risk = High Insurance Premiums

Due to the riskiness of insuring adolescent drivers, insurance companies charge much higher premiums for teenage drivers than they do to drivers 25 or older. Unfortunately, many parents are under the impression that there is little or nothing that they can do to lower their teens’ insurance premiums. This, fortunately, is not the case.

Lowering Teens’ Insurance Premiums

One possible way to lower a teen’s car insurance premium is to ask for a good student discount. Some insurers are willing to offer teenagers with a B average or higher insurance discounts they are not willing to offer mediocre or bad students.

Another way to possibly reduce a teen’s premium is to have him or her take a safety-focused driving course after passing his or her driving test. If the course is recognized by the car insurance company, they may be willing to offer some kind of discount. (Of course, different insurers have different policies, and not all are willing to offer any kind of discount.)

In the event that no discounts are available, it is a good idea for teens to consider buying a used car to help them and their families cut overall automobile expenses.

Helping Teen Drivers Develop into Safe Drivers

Becoming a safe, expert driver takes years of practice. Teens need all the help they can get in order to better develop their driving skills. Parents should provide advice and continued assistance as teens become more and more comfortable with driving on their own.

Naturally, at the same time, parents should avoid playing too dominant a role in teens’ driving education. Doing so may end up resulting in communication problems between parents and teens.

The single best way parents can help their teens develop into safe drivers (who will have substantially lower insurance premiums in the future) is to model good driving behaviors. Parents who fail to practice good driving habits cannot expect their older children to do anything but follow their bad example.

Being a good example is invariably more effective than lecturing. Parents should always be aware of their driving and what their teens might learn from their driving in order to encourage teens to establish good driving habits in the future.

Author Bio
Kerry Blake is a writer of technology and automotive articles. You can find Kerry contributing on several sites like King Of Fuel.

Road Safety:  How Parents Can Make Safe Driving Cool for TeensBy Guest Author: Frank Pipolo

 The Problem of Unsafe Driving Among Teens

As you can see from the data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the key contributing factor to fatal collisions with young drivers is speed.  Over 35% of the accidents are caused by teenage drivers exceeding the posted speed limit.

The statistics are a great concern as they address a clear lack of judgment of the risk factors that multiply when driving at reckless speeds, but it also reflects an unfortunate overconfidence in the young driver’s abilities to manage the vehicle at a high speed.  Their confidence that they will be able to react promptly as a driver causes a high mortality rate in motor vehicle accidents involving teens.  And the data reflects that the speed of travel greatly exceeds the posted safe speed, which means that they aren’t just speeding “a little” they are making a dangerous choice that puts them (and other drivers and passengers) at great risk.

What is even more alarming is the fact that statistically, young drivers do not appear to learn from their mistakes.  After a non-fatal collision dangerous young drivers are very likely to repeat the same risky behaviors that lead to the cause of their first accident.  These dangerous drivers rather than being deterred by participating in a collision have a probability of a reoccurring serious accident according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data.

• Drivers with one prior crash have a subsequent crash rate of 1.5 times greater than drivers with no prior incidents.
• Drivers with three (3) prior crashes have a subsequent crash rate of 3.3 times greater than drivers with no prior incidents.
• Drivers with 6 or more prior neg-op points have a crash rate which is 2.5 times higher than young drivers with no prior accidents.

The data is alarming for both parents and lawmakers who struggle to educate young drivers on the very real risks of fatality or serious, lifetime injury such as cognitive or physical disability post-accident.  Overcoming the obstacles to educating our young drivers is critical, and understanding what motivates them to make life threatening choices when behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

Factors Which Contribute to Unsafe Driving

Why do young drivers make bad choices that put their safety (and the safety of others) at risk?  There are a number of common factors that contribute to motor vehicle accidents causing injury or even death for young drivers, who have a traffic accident rate that is higher than any other age group (drivers aged 16 to 19 years).    These are some of the common factors.

• Poor hazard detection (the ability to gather information quickly and identify potential risks around them to avoid accidents).  This perception comes with experience that young drivers have not acquired on the road.
• Hesitance to wear seatbelts contributes to serious injury during motor vehicle accidents for teens.
• Alcohol and drugs are a factor that impairs reaction time and judgment, increasing both the risk of an accident and the severity of injuries for the driver and passengers.
• Transporting passengers puts a young driver 3.6 times more likely to get into an accident due to distracted driving.
• The crash rate is three times higher for young drivers on the road after 9:00 p.m.  Visual acuity for night driving may be poor, but alcohol and drugs are also a factor in late night accidents.
• Risk perception is low.  Teens do not feel that they will get into an accident and they do not contemplate the probability of a serious life threatening injury, disability or even death.

For young drivers it can be a combination of many of these factors that puts them in the direct path of a motor vehicle accident.   So what is being done and what can we do to educate them better and protect teens and other drivers from bad decisions that cost lives?

Protecting Young Drivers with Graduated Licensing

Why are teenage drivers so reluctant to evaluate the real danger when it comes to driving?   Lawmakers have realized that in many cases where speed or distracted driving is a factor, there are other passengers in the vehicle which can contribute to poor decision making and dangerous distractions for the young and inexperienced driver.

Each of the fifty (50) States in the US have instituted a three-stage GDL system, although the terms and restrictions of the Graduated Drivers License vary by state as there is no Federal provision.  One of the common restrictions for teen drivers is to restrict passengers by age; it reduces fatalities to limit the number of young passengers permitted in the car without adult supervision.   More than 50% of the States limit young drivers to one (1) passenger under the age of 21 years.

For more information and a map of State laws pertaining to Graduated Drivers Licensing visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute website.

What Can Parents Do About It?

No one wants to discuss mortality, particularly with your children.  But that hesitancy to discuss the consequences of certain actions and bad judgment puts young drivers at exceptional risk.  They need to understand that there is more at risk in a car accident than a speeding ticket or raised insurance premiums.  That they, and their friends and other drivers are all put into a dangerous situation any time bad choices are made behind the wheel.

• Insist on a formal driver’s education program for your teen.  You can assist their progress and training by helping them and instructing them, but the best education comes from trained professionals who are skilled in communicating with young drivers.   Choose a qualified and reputable education class for your teen.
• Sit down and show them the consequences of reckless driving.  It may seem a little harsh or awkward but YouTube is a great source for videos on driver safety awareness.  Let your teen see peers who have experience significant loss (injury or disability) as a result of bad choices.
• Limit access to vehicles until you are comfortable with the level of practical driving skills your teen has.  In other words, a license does not mean automatic and unsupervised access to Mom or Dad’s car.  It is earned when responsible driving skills are demonstrated over time.

Create an honest, non-lecturing and frank dialogue with your teenager about the risks for them, their friends and other drivers on the road with them.  

Author Bio:

Frank Pipolo is President of FP Internet Marketing a certified Internet marketing consultant, professional marketing advisor to law firms, legal marketers, administrators and lawyers, and writer for Vanguard Attorneys, a Tampa Florida law firm that specializes in florida auto accident attorney. He has more than 20 years’ experience partnering with clients to build their business through development and implementation of track-proven Internet marketing strategies.. Follow him on Google+

Distracted Driving: One Text or Call Could Wreck It All

Via: NHTSA

With ever increasing demands on our personal and professional time in today’s busy society, learning to juggle multiple tasks at once is something we all face daily.  As a result, a new traffic safety epidemic has emerged on America’s roadways that demand immediate attention: distracted driving.

In 2012, 3,328 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver.  One of the most alarming and widespread forms of distracted driving is cell phone usage.  According to a Carnegie Mellon study, driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent.  And a report from the National Safety Council found that people talking on cell phones or sending text messages cause more than one out of every four traffic accidents.

Text messaging is of heightened concern because it combines three types of distraction – visual, manual and cognitive.  In other words, texting involves taking your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, and your mind off the task of driving.

To tackle this ever-increasing problem, NHTSA is focusing on ways to change the behavior of drivers through legislation, enforcement, public awareness and education—the same tactics that have curbed drinking and driving and increased seat belt use.

NHTSA’s message is simple – “One Text or Call Could Wreck it All.” With supporters ranging from President Obama to Oprah and legislation being passed across the nation to discourage distracted driving, we hope drivers get the message loud and clear.

So the next time you are pressed for time, and it seems like multitasking in the car is the best decision, remember those 3,328 lives that were taken because someone decided they could do two things at once.  A text or call is not worth your life, or anyone else’s.

Content and Image Source: NHTSA

Get Your Teen Ready for the Open Road

By Guest Author, Marcus Beatty

Younger drivers, those under 20 years of age, are three times as likely to be involved in an accident, reports the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. You have enough on your mind with a new teenage driver without worrying about the car your child is driving. You also do not want to purchase a brand new vehicle for a new driver. On top of educating your teen, your solution is to ensure that the vehicle your teen drives is safe and reliable.

How Mechanical is Your Young Driver?
Some teenagers have substantial mechanical skills, others do not. Take the time to educate your teen about motor vehicles. If you do not have the skills, find someone who does. Your teen should know the basics of changing a flat tire and jump-starting a dead battery.

Additional knowledge can further improve safety on the road. Your teen should learn the signs of potential brake failure. If the brake pedal begins to go to the floor, or the brakes are making loud noises, the vehicle should be inspected. Your young driver needs to be aware of how the vehicle handles. If the car becomes difficult to control, it should be pulled off the roadway.

How Safe and Reliable is the Vehicle?
Take a used vehicle to a mechanic you trust and have it inspected before you purchase it. This may not always be possible and not all issues are noticed on an inspection. When you are looking at used car safety and reliability ratings, check a few sources. You want to get unbiased opinions and accurate information.

Look at sources including Kelley Blue Book, Consumer Reports and even Forbes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides a link that allows you to stay up-to-date with any safety recalls. You can also use a manufacturer’s website to determine if the vehicle has any special safety features, including additional air bags.

How are Your Young Adult’s Driving Skills?
Driving skills come with experience that beginning drivers do not have. This makes it all the more important for a vehicle to have reliable brakes and well-maintained suspension. Discuss possible mechanical failures with your teen and provide solutions. If the power steering fails, your teen should understand that the car could be controlled by using extra arm strength, with both hands on the wheel. If the brakes fail, your teen needs to look for a safe area to bring the vehicle to a stop.

Remind your young adult about the dangers of drinking and driving. Emphasize accidents caused by drinking and not using seat belts.

Add a Few Safety Measures
Give you teen a safe driving kit. The car should have a can of Fix-A-Flat or other temporary tire repair, a set of jumper cables and a quart of oil in the trunk. You teen also needs to know how to use these items. Finally, over emphasize the importance of not using a cell phone while driving. For young adult drivers, this includes not talking on a phone much less texting on one. Texting while driving is illegal in most states. Many states ban any cell phone use by new drivers.

About the Author:
Marcus is a retired social studies teacher and grandfather of 12 who blogs from his log cabin.

It’s National Teen Driver Safety Week and parents across the nation struggle with how to address tough topics with their teens, but one of the most important topics to talk about is frequently forgotten — how to drive safely.

Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killers of teens in America.  In 2011, 2,105 teen drivers were involved in fatal crashes – with almost half (45%) of those teen drivers being killed in those crashes.

Yet, a recent survey shows that only 25 percent of parents have had that “serious” talk with their teens about the key components of safe driving.

It’s sometimes easy to forget that teens are only children, and they still have a lot to learn. What parents teach them about driving safely and responsibly may just help save their life.

That’s why local and state highway safety and law enforcement organizations teamed up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to launch a new National Teen Driver Safety Week campaign called “5 to Drive.”

This parent education campaign is designed to challenge and encourage parents to talk it out with their teens and to regularly “set the rules before they hit the road.”

Each day during teen safety week, NHTSA features tips for parents to help keep their teens safe behind the wheel.  Set the rules before they hit the road:

1. No Cell Phones While Driving.

Teens texting or dialing while driving have proven to be recipes for disaster. In 2011, 270 people were killed in crashes involving distracted teen drivers. REMEMBER, One Text or Call Could Wreck It All.

2. No Extra Passengers.

Research shows that the risk of a fatal crash goes up in direct relation to the number of teens in the car. The likelihood of teen drivers engaging in risky behavior when traveling with multiple passengers increased to three times. REMEMBER, No extra passengers in the car.

3. No Speeding.

In 2011, speeding was a factor for 35 percent of the teen drivers in fatal crashes in 2011. REMEMBER, Stop Speeding Before It Stops You.

4. No Alcohol.

Although all States have zero tolerance laws for drinking and driving under 21, 505 people died in crashes in which 14- to 18-year-old drivers had alcohol in their systems. Nationally in 2011, 27 percent of teen drivers killed had some level of alcohol in their systems. Parents should show zero tolerance for any sign of impaired driving. Teens need to hear this again and again: REMEMBER, No Drinking and Driving.

5. No Driving or Riding Without a Seat Belt.

Teenage belt use is not what it should be. In 2011, over half of the teen occupants of passenger vehicles who died were unrestrained. Teens, and all adults for that matter, need to buckle up every trip, every time, day and night, no matter the distance. REMEMBER, Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time – Front-Seat and Back.

If you are a parent, you’ve tried to protect your kids their entire lives. So don’t hand them the keys to a 2-ton machine and expect them to know what to do.

Please talk to your kids—this week and every week—about how to be smart and safe behind the wheel.

Remember, the “5 to Drive” – Always Set the Rules Before Your Teens Hit the Road. For more information about national Teen Driver Safety Week and the new “5 to Drive” campaign, please visit www.safercar.gov/parents/teendriving.htm.

Article via: Traffic Safety Marketing

This week marks National Teen Driver Safety Week from October 20-26. According to teendriversource.org, “Motor vehicle crashes are the No.1 cause of death for adolescents.” This year’s theme is “It Takes Two: Shared Expectations for Teens and Parents for Driving,” and focuses on ways that parents and their teens can work together to increase safety on the road.

resqme, Inc. believes in safety for all drivers and that new drivers need special help as they start their journey on becoming good motorists and fellow drivers. resqme, Inc. encourages parents to talk to their kids about safety and set rules about driving. You can support your teenagers by educating them about motorist safety and being available to them as a resource.

Below is a PDF to help parents get started on talking with their teens as new drivers. Learn more at: www.teendriversource.org.

You can download the PDF directly to share here. 

Source: www.teendriversource.org

-The resqme team