When parents understand the risk factors involved in letting 16 year olds get behind the wheel, they can act to improve the situation for their own children.
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| 1. | Inexperience: All young drivers start out with very little knowledge or understanding of the complexities of driving a motor vehicle. Like any other skill, learning to drive well takes technical ability, good judgment and experience. These skills are needed to properly make the many continuous decisions, small and large, that add up to safe driving. This is why it is so necessary for them to practice with an adult in all kinds of conditions, before and after they get their license. |
| 2. | Risk taking behavior and immaturity Adolescent impulsiveness is a natural behavior, but it results in poor driving judgment and participation in high risk behaviors such as speeding, inattention, drinking and driving, and not using a seatbelt. Peer pressure also encourages risk taking. |
| 3. | Greater risk exposure Teens often drive at night with other teens in the vehicle - factors that increase crash risk Statistics show that one in four teens will have a crash in their first year of driving |
Parents, are you dreading having those practice driving sessions with your teenage permit driver? Check out this website. They have a DVD – A parent’s guide to teaching teens to drive. MSD is not promoting this DVD, but it appears to be a good resource.
http://drivesaferidesafe.com
Another resource for having your teen and/or yourself as well trained as possible, you may want to check into Dakota County Technical College’s Accident Avoidance & Safe Driving Course: an 8 hour one day course. Click on to their website for more information: www.dctc.edu/go/driving