Many parents today are apprehensive about handing over the car keys to their teenager, and rightfully so. Car crashes kill more teenagers every year in this country than guns, drugs, alcohol, suicide and violence combined.
Parents fear the worst, yet underrate their responsibility in assuring the driving safety of their children. Many feel it is the responsibility of driver education programs to teach their teens the rules of the road and how to handle a vehicle.
The reality is that in every state of the U.S., driver's ed programs only provide 1 to 6 hours of 'behind-the-wheel' time. That's hardly enough time to memorize, much less understand the laws and pass the driving exam. In order to competently handle a car in the most common of traffic situations, they should have at least 30 to 50 hours driving time. Only with this extra time, time with a parent or mentor, will they develop the actual skills required for the constant dangers of the real road.
Timothy Smith, author of Crash Proof Your Kids, Make Your Teen a Safer, Smarter Driver says, "Parents have the ultimate responsibility to ensure that their teenagers develop safe driving skills and behaviors. But too many, either underestimating their role or lacking effective methods, have failed to help equip their teens to handle the single most dangerous thing they will ever do, at their most risky age."
Smith, a father of three teenagers, decided it was time to get more involved after a series of fatal car crashes happened in his neighborhood involving mistakes by teen drivers. He began looking for information that would help his own teenagers develop safe driving skills but found little that was cohesive and useful. Nothing seemed to be available beyond basic driver's ed.
Smith, an award-winning author and trained race car driver decided to do further research and created a step by step plan designed to Radically reduce teen automobile crashes. Following the Crashproof Plan he developed will give your teenager the skills needed to be successful drivers and survive in all adverse driving situations.
The following tips might just save your teens life:
Sit down with your teenager and discuss the process of learning to drive, and sign a Crashproof Contract that outlines the boundaries, establishing penalties and incentives for driving decisions and use of the car. Discuss all the issues and risks involved: speeding, road rage, drinking, drugs, distractions, cell phones, passengers, curfews, etc.
Get your teen's participation in this process and agreement, to create a plan for your teen to safely assume the responsibility for use of a car. Help them understand this is about helping them deal with the single most dangerous thing they will probably ever do.
You're being watched! Your kids watch the way you drive every day and have been familiar with your driving habits for a long time. If you don't fasten your seat belt, don't expect your teen to. An important aspect of the plan is yourself, the parent, becoming a positive role model.
Drive within the speed limit, use your turn signals, be a courteous driver and never use a cell phone while driving. Remember, your children are watching you, learning from your behavior and imitating you.
Communicating with your children is key to them becoming safer and smarter drivers. Don't criticize your teen, but emphasize on the measures needed for safe driving. Always remain calm while your teen is driving, and focus on constructive methods to focus on their driving more efficiently. You do not want your teens to stop listening, so make your time together and your lessons positive, with specific goals for each driving lesson.
Take it step by step, using simple exercises that reinforce safe driving habits. Go over braking in emergency situations, drive in all types of inclement weather, drive in the dark, in the city and on the highway. Get them behind the wheel in every type of driving condition and help them with the specific challenges each different driving situation presents.
Follow these proactive strategies and help your teenagers (and you) become safer, smarter drivers. The Crashproof Plan will prepare them to face any kind of driving situation that they may encounter when driving a car. You will sleep better at night knowing that you did your part in giving your children the skills they need to return home safely every time they take a drive.
About the Author:
For more teen crash proofing strategies from Timothy C. Smith listen to his entire enlightening interview with Randy Gilbert host of The Inside Success Show for FREE!
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