Summer is officially here and more teenagers will be getting their drivers permit or license. In Broward County, the age for a driving permit is 15 years old. STANDUP is an organization that is working towards raising the teen driving age. H.R. 1895: Safe Teen and Novice Uniform Protection Act is currently being reviewed by lawmakers.
With this in the hands of the justice system, the results could take a very long time. In the meantime, parents need to take to the streets and insure their teen's driving safety.
Teen Drivers Source is a valuable website with a vast amount of information about teenage driving. They offer support for the teens as well as the parents. They have also included a section for educators. When driving safety is reinforced at home and school, you have better chances of having a safer teen driver, however remember, parenting is key.
Under their FAQ's there is a very common question that is asked and that is:
Q: How can I convince my teen to lower the music and not use a cell phone for talking or texting while driving?
A: When you sit down to talk to your teen about setting house rules, bring up the three-second sequence. Explain to your teen that within a one-second window a driver scans for hazards then has 2 seconds to detect it and decide how to respond in order to avoid or lessen the severity of a crash. Tell your teen that crash risk is four times higher when a driver uses a cell phone, whether or not it's hands-free. Such distractions can cause drivers to take their eyes off the road long enough to have difficulty responding to hazards and staying in their lane.
They also answer many other common questions such as:
Q: My teen is often up late studying for a test. How can I let her drive when she barely had two hours of sleep?
Take the time to educate yourself and your new teen driver. Learning to drive starts before you get behind the wheel.
Visit www.teendriverssource.org for much more information.
Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens.
Comments
Excellent article~ so true! Big concern and great information.
This is a great way to spread awareness of the dangers of distracted driving! Here is a link to a website that expands on promoting safety concerning teen drivers. It is filled with webisodes, PSAs, and even more concerning the subject! http://rulethal.com/
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