Summer time Is Harmful for Teen Drivers—What Dad and mom Can Do

Dad and mom usually joke about their teenagers being a “hazard on the highway,” however deadly motorized vehicle crashes are the main explanation for demise for U.S. teenagers. In 2023, it accounted for practically 50% of all teen deaths between the ages of 15-24. The deadly crash fee for 16- to 19-year-old drivers is nearly thrice larger than that of drivers 20 and older. 

Summertime proves the best threat. The interval between Memorial Day and Labor Day is named the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers. Given these harrowing statistics, it’s time to cease dismissing teen accidents as a ceremony of passage. 

Fortunately, there are methods for folks to higher safeguard their younger drivers. It begins with understanding why teenagers is usually a threat on the highway after which placing security measures in place.

Why Teenagers Are at Better Danger for Automobile Accidents

Though a teen’s motor abilities could also be developed sufficient to acquire a driver’s license, their judgment behind the wheel is commonly a piece in progress. Youngsters are “wired to be bolder and underestimate threat due to their emotional immaturity, social pressures, and an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex,” says Vikas Keshri, MSW, RSW, a psychotherapist based mostly in Toronto.

As a result of the prefrontal cortex (liable for decision-making) doesn’t end creating and maturing till the mid-to-late 20s, teenagers are sometimes related to numerous dangerous behaviors. These behaviors embrace rushing, tailgating, distracted driving (usually from expertise, music, or passengers), driving beneath the affect of drugs, and inconsistent seat belt use. 

Teenagers usually lack the talents to make fast judgment calls, too, which could be exacerbated by sleep deprivation and excessive feelings, reminiscent of stress, anxiousness, peer affect, Keshri shares. 

How To Assist Teenagers Keep Secure on the Street

Dad and mom will help their teenagers keep safer on the highway. Keshri suggests mother and father set a strict expertise curfew at evening for distraction-free sleep. They need to additionally encourage them to make field respiration a routine to calm their nervous system earlier than driving. That includes inhaling by way of your nostril whereas counting to 4, holding your breath on a depend of 4, after which exhaling for a similar quantity.

These proactive measures will help to reduce dangers, however there’s extra mother and father can do. 

Create a parent-teen driving contract 

A parent-teen contract establishes expectations and teaches teenagers that “driving is a privilege, not a proper,” says Keshri, whereas contemplating the teenager’s needs, because it’s an settlement, not only a set of directions. 

Some concepts for a contract embrace: basic driving guidelines, car obligations (who pays the upkeep prices and insurance coverage?), passenger restrictions, curfew, weather-related driving circumstances, and communication (i.e., how usually a teen wants to tell mother and father of whereabouts). 

A contract ought to have clear, particular penalties for violations, together with lack of driving privileges or restrictions. 

Mannequin secure driving habits

Dad and mom must mannequin good driving conduct. Keshri suggests creating routines within the automobile that focus on distraction-free driving, like switching your cellphone to Automobile Mode. 

Maria Wojtczak, co-founder of DrivingMBA, a nationally-recognized driving college based mostly in Arizona, agrees, including, “If you happen to don’t need your teen on the cellphone whereas driving, then you need to keep off the cellphone as nicely.”

Think about limiting passengers and nighttime driving 

In Australia, a focused legislation banned first-year drivers from driving at evening with a number of friends—a state of affairs that accounted for one-fifth of the nation’s site visitors fatalities. A 2024 research discovered that this initiative greater than halved the focused crashes, casualties, and deaths amongst Australian first-year drivers.

It additionally had constructive spillover results, together with fewer early night crashes and a sustained discount in high-risk driving general. 

Wojtczak encourages mother and father to have their teen drive solo for the primary yr after acquiring a license. This may be useful in the course of the “100 Deadliest Days,” when teenagers are extra susceptible to staying out late with friends. 

Deal with the automobile

Working a secure car is one other essential issue to bear in mind. A brand new research from Nationwide Youngsters’s Hospital, revealed in JAMA Community Open, discovered teenagers had been extra more likely to drive automobiles older than 15 years and with fewer driver help applied sciences.

The research reported automobiles that had been 6 to fifteen years outdated had a 19% better probability of driver demise in a crash, whereas automobiles older than 15 years had a 31% elevated threat. This was in comparison with driving automobiles 5 years outdated or newer. The motive force’s age didn’t matter. Moreover, every driver help expertise put in decreased the prospect of a deadly crash by 6%.

Researchers advise mother and father to prioritize security options and driver help applied sciences within the car their teen drives. The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS) affords an inventory of secure automobiles. In fact, shopping for a brand new automobile is probably not an choice. In that case, the researchers urge extra frequent upkeep to enhance the security of the automobile.

Attempt secure driving programs 

A driver coaching class will help your teen acquire confidence by training their abilities in a secure surroundings. Wojtczak says her courses give attention to hazard recognition, car dealing with, velocity, and area administration to “permit college students to expertise conditions, make errors and be taught from these errors.” 

When selecting a driving college, she recommends visiting the varsity, asking questions, and making an knowledgeable choice.

Set up open, nonjudgmental communication

If a teen makes a mistake behind the wheel, Keshri says to stay calm and interact in dialog with them at eye stage. Inform them they aren’t in hassle and that you just’ve made errors whereas driving, too, and also you simply need to hearken to their aspect of the story. 

When mother and father validate their teenagers’ experiences with out instantly providing options or criticism, they create a extra trusting, open relationship. 

Be affected person and attempt to benefit from the course of

Wojtczak says everybody learns to drive at their very own tempo, so it’s essential to not emphasize “eligibility” however readiness. 

Quickly, your teen might be an grownup, and also you received’t get that point again. Wojtczak encourages mother and father to not view instructing their teen to drive as a chore however as a possibility to spend 1:1 time with them.