With statistics like the ones below, letting your teen take the wheel for the first time can be a scary experience for parents. It's important to ensure that your son or daughter is given the tools to keep them as safe as possible on the road.
Teen Driver Statistics
- According to MADD Canada, car accidents are the main cause of death for 15- to 25-year-olds.
- The risk of motor vehicle accidents is slightly higher among males than females.
- Teenage drivers are eight times more likely to have an accident during their first six months of driving.
Suggestions to Keep Your Teen Driver Safe
- Enroll your child in a private driver education course taught by a professional.
- Have your child obtain his or her learners’ permit as soon as possible and get as much experience as he or she can throughout the next year.
- Require your child to drive with a learners’ permit for a full year, even if your province only requires this for six months.
- Have your child practice driving under various conditions, such as at night, during bad weather and in heavy traffic.
- Restrict the number of passengers allowed in the car with your teen driver. The more passengers, the greater the risk.
- Do not allow your child to drive with new, teen drivers until they have had permits for at least one year.
- Purchase a sensible, safe vehicle for your child to drive and/or allow them to drive one of your vehicles that fits that description.
- Do not give your child his or her “own” car. Allow him or her to drive a “family vehicle” that is everyone’s to use. This will dicourage them from treating it more haphazardly.
- Set firm rules about driving privileges and stick with them. Relax the rules as your child becomes a better driver and maintains a clean driving record.
- Make sure your teen gets enough sleep before driving; this will lessen his or her chance for an accident.
- Set a good example in your own driving by abiding traffic laws, not talking on a cellphone while driving and not carrying on in-depth conversations while on the road with your teen in the car.
- Create a driving contract between you and your child.
If you're ready to get add your teen driver to your insurance policy or if they want to start their own policy give one of our brokers a call today: 1-855-475-0959. Or get an instant online quote comparison from up to 6 insurance companies here.
