Having an additional driver in the family can be a plus—you’ll always have a volunteer to pick up a quart of milk. Often, though, having a teen driver at home is fertile ground for family conflict. Some conflict can be resolved or avoided altogether by anticipating problems and deciding, in advance, how to deal with them. Consider:

• If more than one family member shares the vehicle your teen will drive, how will you schedule use of the vehicle?
• Will your teen be expected to contribute to the cost of gas, insurance, car upkeep, or repairs?
• Do you expect your teen to “check in” periodically; to keep you informed of his or her whereabouts when he or she is driving or out with other new drivers?
• What are your tolerances for breaking the rules, and what are the consequences your teen will face if he or she breaks them (e.g., grounding, withdrawal of driving privileges

Safety is likely to be your biggest concern when your child starts to drive. According to the National Safety Council, a teenager’s risk of being in a car crash is at a lifetime high during their first 12 to 24 months of driving.

Don’t assume that your child knows and/or understands all important safety factors because he or she has taken a driver training course—lots of teenagers study French, but very few are fluent. It takes time, practice, and maturity to become a really good driver.

Graduated Licensing Systems — a Better Way
Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) is a system that gradually introduces young drivers into the driving population. Full driving privileges are phased in, usually in three stages—learners permit, provisional license, and full licensure. GDLs keep young, inexperienced drivers safer by restricting their driving to situations and times known to be lower risk. For example, both a learner’s permit and provisional license may impose restrictions on driving after dark, since evidence supports the fact that night-driving conditions are more dangerous for a teen. GDLs let teens develop driving skills over time, while limiting their exposure to high-risk situations.

Due to the high number of accidents among young drivers, GDLs have gained increased attention worldwide, and the majority of states have adopted some form of graduated licensing. GDLs have been shown to reduce teen accident involvement as well as fatalities. Check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles for details on components of the system that may be in place in your state.