Did you know that the risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among teenagers ages 16-19 than among any other age group? It's true. But what you may not realize is that parents play a big role in keeping teens safe behind the wheel. Here are two important ways parents can help their teenagers drive safely:
Insist on total focus. Make sure your teenager understands that any behind-the-wheel activity other than driving can dramatically increase the odds of an accident. Insist that your teen ignore their phone and any incoming messages while driving. When driving with a teen, teach them to keep an eye out for distractions, like a mattress flying out of the back of a pickup truck or an animal darting out into the road. Yes, it happens! On the road, a lot can go wrong, so paying constant attention to the task at hand is key to reaching your destination safely.
Teach the 3- to 4-second rule. A big cause of accidents among young adults involves driving too close to other vehicles and tailgating. Make sure your teenager knows to stay at least 3 to 4 seconds behind the car in front of them — increasing the amount of time for higher speeds and weather conditions. Here's how the 3-second rule works: Pick a roadside marker such as a road sign or tree and as soon as the vehicle ahead of you passes that marker, start counting — 1-1,000; 2-1,000; 3-1,000. If it doesn't take at least three seconds to pass the same spot, you're following too closely. Four seconds is even better.
Since the greatest chance of a collision is in front of you, this is an important driving rule. Year after year, rear-end collisions are the most common accidents between vehicles. Following at a safe distance allows your teen ample time to respond to what's going on ahead of them.