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A
Parent's Guide for Parents of Teen
Drivers
Teen driving, yikes!
We understand that is a
frightening thought to have your
teenager out on the road behind the
wheel of a car. That is why Teen
Drivers Ed Online has put together a
training guide just for parents,
full of statistics and helpful
hints.
The California State DMV offices
carry a very informative teen
training guide that is a must-have
for parents and teenagers preparing
to drive. We recommend obtaining a
copy for yourself. Some of the
following information has been taken
directly from The California State
DMV's "Teen Training Guide."
We encourage all of our parents
to take an active role in their
child's driving responsibilities.
Knowledge is power, so talking to
your child about traffic laws and
safety is key. Many children are
visual learners, so use the time
when you are in the car together to
talk about proper judgment and
mistakes that drivers often make.
The time you spend now can only make
your child a safer and more
defensive driver.
Only behind the wheel driving practice will make your child a good
driver.
One of the most important classes
your child will attend is a
California Drivers Education course.
Having this course online allows you
to take part in your child's
learning experience.
Here are a few stats and helpful
hints to guide your journey:
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Problem: |
Teenage drivers get more
tickets, and are also hurt
and killed in greater
numbers than other drivers. |
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CA Law Solution:
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To decrease these accidents,
a special provisional type
of license and instruction
permit is issued to drivers
under the age of 18. Minors
may keep their license as
long as they obey certain
provisions. They must obey
the traffic laws and drive
without an accident. They
must hold their permit
longer (six months) and
practice driving skills
before the come to the DMV
for their driving test. |
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Problem: |
Failing the Written Law
and/or Driving test. |
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CA Law Solution:
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If your teenager fails the
law test, there is a
one-week waiting period
before they are able to
retake the test. If the
driving test is failed, he
or she must wait two weeks
before retaking it. |
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Problem: |
Teen drivers are
statistically more careless
within their first year of
driving. |
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CA Law Solution:
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Teenage drivers are given
certain new restrictions for
the first year after they
are licensed. During the
first twelve months, the
teenager must be accompanied
by a parent or guardian, a
driver 25 years of age or
older, or a licensed or
certified driving instructor
when driving between eleven
and 5:00 a.m., or if
transporting people under
the age of 20. |
Helpful Hints:
Driver training is
crucial, but the hours you spend
with your teenager behind the wheel
will give them very important
additional experience.
During the summer months,
daylight hours sometimes extend
until 9:30PM. Therefore, schedule
your practice sessions so that your
student driver will have enough
experience driving when it is dark
and in different weather conditions.
(The student must have at least 10
hours of night driving practice
before taking a driving test.)
One way to help your child pass
their test is to take time
familiarizing yourself with
everything in the California Driver
Handbook before you begin your
sessions. Your student has been
studying that book during their
driver's education course, and the
DMV conducts driving tests based on
this handbook.
As parents, we are constantly
made aware of how our children
imitate our behavior. This is
especially true with our driving. Be
careful to set a good example
whenever you drive. Drive the way
you want your kids to drive; use a
safety belt, obey traffic signals
and speed limits, and do not mix
drugs or alcohol with driving.
Educate your teen about the fatal
dangers and legal consequences of
driving while under the influence of
drugs or alcohol.
Rules:
The following are
some rules for
parent to consider
once their teenager
begins to drive:
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Until your
teen has gained
sufficient
driving
experience, they
should not be
allowed to drive
freely without
restrictions.
Work out when
and where you're
child is allowed
to drive the
car. (store,
work, school) as
well as when it
is ok to drive
with passengers.
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For safety
sake, keep your
newly licensed
teen driver off
the road during
adverse weather
conditions; such
as fog, rain,
snow and ice).
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Limit night
driving to a
minimum, until
you're teen has
had a good
amount of
supervised night
driving skills.
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Inform your
teen of the
strict
punishment you
will enforce if
they are to
drive while
under the
influence of
drugs or
alcohol. As well
as what types of
other
wrongdoings will
result in the
lose of driving
privileges.
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Enforce
safety laws;
such as everyone
in the car must
wear a safety
belts, as well
as the use of
helmets for
motorcycles
driving.
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Instruct you
teen on proper
driving
etiquette, no
headphones, no
driving while
fatigued or
tired and no
cell phone usage
while driving.
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Place your
teen in an
annual defensive
driving course
to keep them
aware and fresh
at the wheel.
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FACT:
On average one in three
fatal traffic accidents
involving teen drivers are
alcohol related.
STATISTIC:
46.8 percent of all vehicle
occupants killed in crashes
were unbelted. in 2004.
NHTSA estimates that 671 of
1,443 unbelted vehicle
occupants killed would have
survived, had they simply
chosen to buckle up.
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FACT:
The leading cause of death
for children and young
people are motor vehicle
crashes.
STATISTIC:
Young drivers are involved
in fatal traffic crashes at
twice the rate as the rest
of the population.
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FACT:
Exceeding the speed
limit or driving at an
unsafe speed is the most
common error in fatal
accidents. |
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