Most teenagers look forward to getting their driver’s licenses with eager anticipation. They look forward to going out on the road independently. Parents often worry about their young drivers for the same reason. When they aren’t present to give advice, they may worry about their new driver making the right choices in traffic.
Parents do largely have to give up a degree of control when they agree to let their young adults drive. However, they can implement and enforce certain rules that could reduce the risk of their teen driver causing a crash. Establishing informed rules early is important, as is enforcing them if there is any provable violation that occurs.
What rules can reduce a teenager’s chances of causing a collision?
Limits on passengers
The other occupants of a vehicle can be a serious source of distraction. A parent has likely already explained that the teen driver cannot text while driving because of distraction risks. They may not have addressed how dangerous in-person conversations can be. Limiting a young adult to no more than one other teenage passenger is often the safest option. In Maryland, Provisional Licensed drivers under 18 yrs. of age can only transport their family members, not their friends, teammates or coworkers, if they too are under 18 yrs. old.
Rules about nighttime driving
The nighttime is one of the most dangerous times to be on the road for anyone. Visibility issues, animal activity and drunk drivers are all hazards that can cause crashes after dark. Teen drivers who lack experience on the road are particularly vulnerable after the sun sets. A significant portion of the worst collisions involving young drivers occur during the night time. Having a rule that a young adult must be home by the time the sun sets or limiting them to nighttime driving if they need to get home from athletic activities or a part-time job could improve their overall safety.
A rule about calling home after drinking
Parents generally want their teenagers to make responsible choices. Those choices typically do not involve consuming alcohol or other mind-altering drugs. Despite a parent’s hopes, many young adults experiment with drugs or alcohol at some point in their high school careers or when they first start college. If they fear getting caught, they may try to drive home while under the influence. Parents who implement a rule where a child can avoid extra penalties if they call home and admit that they are not safe to drive could prevent a tragedy from occurring.
With all of this said and done, however, it is important to understand that accidents may still occur. In cases where teens end up involved in car crashes that they did not cause, they may need help handling the aftermath. Proving fault and holding another party accountable can be difficult tasks for young drivers to handle without proper support.
