If you have a teenager who is getting ready to get his or her license, you may feel excited and anxious about this leap in independence. While you want to give your teenager the freedom to drive, you may also have concerns about your child’s safety.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 have the highest risk of getting into a car accident when compared with every other age group. Although you cannot control the actions of other drivers, the following strategies can help your teenager become a safer driver.
Model safe driving behavior
Whether you notice or not, your teenager watches you when you drive. Model safe driving behaviors by always wearing your seatbelt, following the rules of the road and never using your cell phone while you drive.
Set limits
Setting rules for your teenager when he or she first gets a driver’s license can protect your child’s safety. Consider putting boundaries in place for driving friends around, driving at night or driving to other places besides school and work.
Enroll your teen in driver education
A driver’s education course can provide your teenager with a strong foundation when he or she first starts driving. One of these courses may be available through your teenager’s school or through other community resources.
Learning to drive safely takes time and practice. By setting limits, enrolling your teenager in a driver’s education course and modeling safe driving behavior, you may be able to reduce your child’s risk of getting into an accident after licensure.