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.