So Your Teen Wants a Car, Which Vehicle is Best?

I’m often asked by parents, “which vehicle is best for my teen driver?”   “Put your son or daughter in car with the most safety features,” is my standard response.  Whether your teen will be driving his own car or sharing a family vehicle, safety and reliability should always trump style and name plate.  

If you’re buying your teen a car (or he’s dipping into his own bank account) consider late-model vehicles equipped with antilock brakes (ABS), daytime running lights, electronic stability control, airbags, and adjustable/lockable head restraints.  EBS is particularly helpful for teens (and all drivers) because it improves vehicle control on slick roads or at high speeds.  According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), EBS has helped reduce single-vehicle rollover crashes by as much as 88 percent.  (EBS is a federal requirement starting with all 2012 model year vehicles.)

Airbags have been a standard feature in vehicles for more than a decade.  But side-impact airbags, available in many newer models, are particularly helpful to teens.  They’ve been shown to reduce injury risk in side collisions as well cut the fatality risk for drivers by 37 percent in cars and 52 percent in SUVs.  Meanwhile, properly adjusted head restraints are critical for protecting against whiplash. 

The automotive and safety experts at AAA recommend putting your teen in a mid-sized car with a four-cylinder engine, automatic transmission, ABS, and high crash test scores.  A four-cylinder engine limits the car’s acceleration capability and provides better fuel economy, while an automatic transmission is easier to drive and allows a novice to focus on steering, throttle control and braking.

Crash test scores are readily available on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and IIHS websites.  Both annually evaluate vehicles and assign ratings.  AAA recommends selecting vehicles that score the maximum five stars for frontal collisions and front side impacts, and at least four stars for rear side impact (NHTSA’s ranking system).  If you’re opting for a used car, both websites also offer information on older model year vehicles. 

NHTSA has made checking vehicle rankings portable thanks to the development of its new SaferCar app for iPhones, iPad and iPod Touch devices.  Launched just last week, the app enables you and your teen to access real-time vehicle safety information, including its 5-Star Safety Ratings by make and model, while you’re perusing new and used car lots.

If a family car is likely to be your teen’s primary mode of transport, give him access to the vehicle that has the most safety features.  Avoid vans and SUVs since these top-heavy vehicles are more likely to roll over in a crash.  And while you or your spouse’s sporty car or high-performance vehicle may be fun to drive, resist the urge to hand your teen the keys since it could tempt him to speed (a common cause of teen crashes) or drive recklessly. 

Whatever family vehicle or vehicles you give your teen access to make sure he’s well-acquainted with each and has logged supervised time behind the wheel.  If you teen will be driving multiple family vehicles, driver training professionals recommend taking your teen out for a series of practice drives in all vehicles since each handles differently and has unique blind spots as well as variations in the
instrumentation panel. 

Finally, make sure the vehicle(s) your teen is driving is equipped with an emergency kit.  One in three motorists will breakdown on the road or encounter some other problem -- dead battery, flat tire -- annually, says AAA.  The kit should include:  first aid kit, reflective warning triangles, tire gauge, foam tire sealant, jumper cables, flashlight and spare batteries, gloves, rags, duct tape, tow strap or rope, utility tools, rain poncho, drinking water, non-perishable snacks, warm blanket, snow shovel, kitty litter (for traction), ice scraper, and a charged cell phone.  (An old suitcase or duffle bag will help keep these items organized and stows easily in the trunk.)

While your teen is likely to have a cell phone, remind him that when he’s behind the wheel it should only be used in the event of an emergency.  Also, make sure your teen knows the importance of checking tire pressure (including the spare; be sure he knows where it and the jack are located) at least once a month.  Not only will it minimize the chances of having a flat while he’s on the road, but save on gas and keep him safe, too.