Don't Ease up on the Restrictions

"So your teen got his driver’s license. Don’t declare victory yet."  That’s the message I took away from the “Drive It Home Show” that made a stop in Middletown, New Jersey last week.  Delivered by John Ulczycki, the National Safety Council’s executive director of transportation safety and the father of six, it confirms an important truth that every parent of a teen driver needs to know and take to heart.  A license does not a safe driver make.

Only time, lots of practice and plenty of parental monitoring and support will help a novice driver lower his crash risk, which is highest during the first year of independent driving.  Many parents, however, look at their teens’ licensure as an opportunity to relinquish the long-held task of shuttling their children to activities.  This new found freedom for both parent and teen does have its advantages, but it can come with a price if we fail to remain actively engaged throughout our teen’s formative driving years.

Involvement means understanding the risks and determining how best to help your teen address them.  More teen crashes in New Jersey are caused by distraction and inattention than anything else.  That, says researchers, is typical for teens who are more likely to crash as the result of recognition (e.g., inadequate surveillance, distraction) and decision (e.g., following too closely, driving too fast for conditions) errors.  Continuing to practice with your teen, even after licensure, may seem extreme, but it’s critical for helping him or her identify and overcome the inexperience hurdle. 

Yes teens crash, about 38,000 last year in New Jersey, according to the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety.  Thankfully, many of those involved a single vehicle and resulted only in property damage (the repair bill can, however, cost thousands of dollars).  But if we recognize that all teens -- including our own -- start the licensing process as beginners with an inordinately high crash risk, we’ll be better equipped to help our novice drivers survive their most dangerous driving years. 

That means being fully aware of what are teens are doing behind the wheel.  Research confirms that we’re grossly underestimating how much our teens text and drive.  The latest study, out just last week from the Centers for Disease Control, found that 45 percent of teens admitted to texting while driving during the past 30 days.  While you may think your teen doesn’t text and drive, how can you be sure?  Are you monitoring your teen’s cell phone use?  That may seem extreme, but teens who texted every day while driving during the past month were less likely to buckle up behind the wheel and five times more likely to drink and drive. 

No parent wants their teen to drink and drive, and we should be equally alarmed about texting.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration texting while driving is the same as driving after drinking four beers and makes you 23 times more likely to crash.   

But texting isn’t the only thing tripping up teen drivers.  Passengers also warrant parental attention.  According to research conducted on behalf of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, in fatal crashes involving 16- and 17-year-old drivers, speeding, alcohol use, late-night driving, lack of a valid driver’s license, non-seat belt use, and responsibility for the crash were more prevalent when teen passengers were in the vehicle than when the teen was driving alone.  And the prevalence factors increase as the number of passengers increase. 

Holding the line on passengers is essential.  New Jersey’s Graduated Driver License (GDL) program  limits a teen with a probationary license from transporting more than one passenger.  That same teen must be off the road by 11:01 p.m., refrain from using electronic devices (hand-held or hands-free) and always buckle up.  These restrictions address the key risk factors for teens.  When parents
monitor and enforce these restrictions, their teens are less likely to crash.  They’re also less likely to text and drive, drink and drive, speed or fail to buckle up.

As your teen progresses through the probationary phase of licensure, don’t get lulled into a false sense of safety when it comes to his driving and ease up on or tailor these restrictions.  Complete every phase and adhere to every restriction of the GDL program and explain why.  You may get push back from your teen and funny looks from other parents, but the benefits of holding firm far outweigh the negative.