A growing body of evidence suggests it’s important to put limits on learner drivers and novices when, where and with how many friends they drive.
Those restrictions can dramatically reduce the chances that learners and novices — the most crash-prone age group around — will get into an accident. The adults need to remember that they have the keys. They have the power to set the limits.
But what restrictions are the most important and how do parents go about enforcing them?
Know the Law
Many states in the US have graduated licensing systems, which limit when teens can drive and how many passengers they can have in their car. Parents should know those rules and enforce them. But they shouldn’t necessarily stop there. Parents can always take it a step further.
Restrict Driving at Night
About 40 percent of all fatal teen crashes happen at night, which is why it’s important to limit how much driving teens do after sunset. Most states in the US have a curfew for teen drivers, with the strictest starting at 8 p.m. But some don’t kick in until after midnight. Parents here might want to consider setting a cutoff time for their teens.
Limit the Number of Teenage Passengers
Studies have shown that the more teens there are in a car, the higher the chances of a crash. That’s because rowdy passengers can distract young drivers, and sometimes even goad them into taking chances. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the US recommends parents bar other teens from their child’s car. They generally recommend there be no teen passengers. That’s the safest.
Go Back to Basics
While some road rules may seem obvious—no drinking and driving, no texting while behind the wheel, always buckle up—many teens have a tendency to throw caution to the wind. (Most teens killed in crashes are not wearing seatbelts.) They recommend parents emphasize the importance of being a law-abiding driver.
Communicate the Rules Clearly
Often, parents set limits for their teens, but at least one study shows the rules sometimes fall on deaf ears. In some cases parents may not have made all of their expectations clear. That’s why it’s important they have a serious conversation with their kids about driving restrictions and outline what will happen if teens flout the rules.
Follow Through on Punishments
If teens break the rules, it’s important there be consequences. Among the most effective is revoking driving privileges. “Parents control the keys,”
