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JUN 2015
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OMG! My Teen is Driving!?! by Kim Green-Spangler
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o you remember harassing your parents to take you to the DMV to take your exam to get your permit? Your first time (legally) behind the wheel of a car? Your first official driving lesson? The memories take you back, right? But now it’s your baby asking you for the ride to the DMV. And you’ll be the one up nights worrying and it’s suddenly a little scary! But there are several ways to help mitigate the fear (a tad) and get both you and your teen as ready as possible for the latest set of “wheels” they’ll be trying out. First, though, are the statistics regarding teen drivers that have resulted in higher insurance costs, more stringent laws and additional opportunities to educate teens on the dangers and responsibilities associated with their driving privilege. Did you know… • According to a comprehensive study resulting from crash videos of teen drivers in March 2015, it was found that distracted driving accounted for nearly 60% of “moderate to severe teen crashes.” The original estimate pegged distracted driving as a factor in just 14% of teen accidents. Distracted driving is defined as interacting with other passengers, cell phone use, looking/ reaching for items, etc. • According to the CDC, in 2012 of the teens killed in passenger
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vehicle crashes, 55% were not wearing seat belts. • More than 40% of teen vehicular related deaths occur between 9:00PM and 6:00AM. Short of bubble wrap and revoking all driving privileges for infinity, there are several things parents can do to provide excited teens with the tools they need to be safe, aware and defensive drivers. SAFETY There are 8 Ke y factors that can contribute to teen accidents/fatalities. The following Dangerous Eight should be reviewed and discussed and w it h te ens. The y should understand the reality of what these actions can result in before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle. • Distracted Driving • Driver Inexperience • Driving with Teen Passengers • Nighttime Driving • Driving While Impaired • Driving while Sleepy/Drowsy • Not Using Seatbelts • Driving Recklessly SAFETY TOOLS Each state and Washington D.C. has f i n d
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implemented a Graduated Driver’s License Program to help offset driver inexperience, different from the old learner’s permit process. According to the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances (NCUTLO), a graduated driver’s license is a three-part program designed for new teen drivers. Prior
to the instructional permit a vision and written test must be passed and documented before the fee is paid. The instructional permit requires teens to learn how to drive with a licensed driver of at least 21 years of age for a minimum of 12 months. At the end of 12 months the teen must pass a road test, complete a minimum of 30–50 hours (some states require up to 100 hours) of driving with a
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SUMMER 2015 supervised adult and pass a driver’s education course in order to complete the intermediate phase and apply for the standard license. In recent years there have been technological advancements that can help parents monitor their teens to ensure that they are adhering to the rules of the road and practicing safe driving. Parents can monitor driving speed, hard braking, texting while driving and more. There are several different models available starting at $79, with a monthly fee ranging from $15 to $40. For a relatively low cost, parents can install the devices on any car built after 1996 and select the activities they wish to monitor and set their specific limits like speed and geographic boundaries which will alert the parent when limits are exceeded or boundaries are crossed. There is even an alert for when a device is disconnected and/ or reconnected and the geo-map will show exactly where the vehicle was located when this occurred. With a little research a parent can determine the desired features, which will help narrow down the choices for the selection of the appropriate device. Several insurance companies, like Safeco and Progressive, offer customers devices for inst a l lat ion for a period of six months to e va lu ate te en drivers for the opportunity to lower premiums. INSURANCE Parents aren’t the only ones concerned with the safety of their teens. Insurance companies are just as concerned about the statistics surrounding teen drivers, which results in sky-high premiums to insure them. According to Smart Assets, parents can expect their insurance premiums to increase by approximately 18% to 116% if they add their teen driver to their policy, depending on where they live. Thus, it makes sense for parents and teens CONTINUED ON PAGE 3… PAGE 1