Getting A Driver

"Mom, Dad! Can I borrow the car?"

It's the day your child has eagerly anticipated — getting a driver's license. But chances are it's a day you've been dreading. The good news is that you don't have to play chauffeur anymore. The bad news is that this milestone in your child's life brings new safety concerns and higher insurance costs. Still, it is a proud day, and you're probably anxious to get the new driver off to the safest possible start.

Even though young drivers often exhibit a great deal of confidence behind the wheel — in part because of their ability to react quickly — they lack the judgment that comes with experience. The fact is that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among 15 to 20 year olds.* You can encourage safe driving by setting a good example and following safety rules yourself.

Download the PDF booklet: Life Advice: When Your Child Gets a Driver's License

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Adjusting To A New Driver

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.

Communicate Your Expectations

It's important that your teenager know your expectations for his or her driving behavior. As a parent, you can have a positive influence on your child's behavior and habits. Children learn by example; if you always use seat belts, for instance, it's much more likely that your child will. Following are safety guidelines to discuss with your teenager.

Drive defensively. Driving defensively means doing everything possible to avoid an accident before you're in a hazardous or dangerous situation. This includes observing speed limits, leaving adequate distance between vehicles, slowing down to adjust for adverse weather conditions, and not driving when tired. Remind your teen to look and think ahead - to anticipate problems and be prepared to react. Point out that defensive driving also includes keeping your car in proper working order.

Always use seat belts. Nearly two-thirds of teens killed in passenger vehicle accidents are unrestrained. Make it clear to your child that safety belt use is not optional - he or she must wear a safety belt every time he or she rides in a car, whether as the driver or as a passenger. Make it clear also that your child must require his or her passengers to wear safety belts. Be sure to set a good example by always using your own restraint.

Don't mix alcohol or drugs with driving. Combining driving with drinking and/or drugs is a deadly mix. Using drugs or alcohol is a choice - it is your teen's responsibility to make safe choices. Make sure your child understands what it means to choose a designated driver - a driver who agrees to stay sober and do the driving. Promise your teenager that if he or she ends up in a drinking or drug situation without a designated driver, you will provide a ride at any hour of the day or night.

Avoid distractions while driving. Using a cell phone, fiddling with the radio, and talking to people in the backseat are just a few of many possible dangerous distractions. Explain to your teen why and how you expect him or her to avoid distractions (e.g., do not answer a cell phone while driving; pull over if a call needs to be made; choose radio stations before starting to drive). Point out to your teen that he or she is in charge of the vehicle when driving, and that includes asking passengers not to distract the driver.

Understand and obey traffic laws. Encourage your child to ask for explanations of driving and/or traffic rules and regulations he or she may not understand. Some elements of driving behavior have no "rules;" they are matters of courtesy and convention that are not necessarily taught. For example, if there's a line of cars trying to exit a parking lot onto a street, what is appropriate driving behavior for the drivers trying to exit and the drivers on the street? Make it clear that you believe asking for information is not an indication of ignorance, but a responsible thing to do. Most teens understand that states have penalties for traffic violations (e.g., fines, revocation of a driver's license); make sure that your teen also understands that serious offenses, such as driving while intoxicated, are crimes that can result in imprisonment, a permanent criminal record, and hefty legal fees.

Know what to do in the event of an accident. Make sure your teen knows what to do if involved in an accident. Teenage drivers need to know the state requirements for reporting/documenting traffic mishaps, and how and when to call for assistance (e.g., 911).

Know how to handle unexpected vehicle problems. Your teen needs to know what to do if he or she runs out of gas, is faced with a flat tire, or can't start the car. It's a good idea for every driver to learn how to change a tire, but it's just as important to understand when it's not safe to change a tire (e.g., on the shoulder of a very busy road) but better to call for help. Have your child get familiar with the owner's manual of the car he or she will be driving. Membership in an automobile club might make a good birthday or congratulatory gift.

Learn the basic mechanics of a car. Before getting behind the wheel, a driver should know what it takes to keep the car running well and how to avoid simple problems. Make sure your child knows the type of gasoline to use and how and when to check oil and fluid levels and air pressure in the tires.

Setting Boundaries

There's a lot you can do to help your teenager become a safe, skilled driver, prepared to avoid accidents and mishaps. Decision-making and judgment in driving situations are learned over time, through experience. Following are some tips from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that can help you keep your teen safe while he or she gains valuable driving experience.

Restrict night driving. Night driving requires more skill, and night driving for teens tends to be recreational. Even teens that usually follow the rules are more like to be distracted or encouraged to take risks at night.

Restrict passengers. Teenage passengers often distract beginning drivers and encourage risk-taking behavior. While teen night driving with teen passengers is particularly lethal, many fatal crashes occur during the day. The safest policy is to restrict teenage passengers, especially multiple teens, all the time.

Do Your Part
Driver education can help your teenager learn to operate a vehicle and learn the rules of the road, but it doesn't produce safer drivers. Teens' attitudes and decision-making are critical components of safe driving. Teens often think they're immune to harm and, consequently, deliberately seek thrills like speeding. Experience and maturity are more likely to change these tendencies than is training or education. Following are some suggestions for getting your new driver off to a good start.

Schedule regular, supervised practice driving. Supervised practice should continue even after teens have a full license. Beginners need time to work up to challengers like freeway driving and driving in heavy traffic. Plan sessions in a variety of situations, particularly night driving.
Choose vehicles for safety. Teens should drive vehicles that reduce their chances of a crash and that offer the best protection if they do crash. For example, trucks and sport-utility vehicles are more prone to roll over, and small cars don't offer the best protection in a crash. Government crash test results are available on the Internet at www.nhtsa.gov.
Pay attention. Don't assume that because your teen buckles up when with you that he or she always buckles up when you're not there. Seat belt use is lower among teenagers than among older people. Insist on it.
Trust your instincts and common sense. Don't let your teen drive at night or in bad weather if you don't feel he or she is ready, no matter what other parents may do.

Adjusting to Your New Insurance Rates

You'll want to check your auto insurance coverage before your teen gets a license, and be sure to notify your insurance company immediately when your child receives a license or learner's permit. You want coverage to start the very first day your child is behind the wheel.

Adding a teenager to your insurance policy can be costly. Insurance companies set their premiums based upon data about teenage driving performance, and teenagers as a group have far more accidents than adults. The following facts from NHTSA, the Insurance Information Institute, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (see For More Information) make it easier to understand why auto insurance rates go up so much when a teen driver is added to a policy.

The frequency of insurance claims for occupant injuries in cars insured for teenage drivers is more than twice as high as in cars insured for older drivers.
Overall, vehicle damage losses are more than twice as high in cars insured for teenage drivers.
In 2006, 3,490 drivers between 16 and 20 years old were killed in car crashes.
Teen drivers have four times the fatality rate of drivers between 25 and 69 years old.
58 percent of teenage passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2006 were not using seat belts.
More than any other age group, teens are likely to be involved in a single vehicle crash.

Following are some suggestions from the Insurance Information Institute, www.iii.org, for keeping cost increases to a minimum when adding a teenage driver to your auto policy.

It's usually cheaper to add a teenager to your policy than for them to purchase their own insurance.
Make sure your insurance company knows if your teenager is going away to school. If your child is at least 100 miles from home, you'll get a discount - assuming they leave the car at home.
Encourage your teen to get good grades and to take driver's training since these will qualify you for a discount with most insurers.
Shop around (see the comparative shopping worksheet).
Choose a safe car - this can dramatically affect the price of insurance.

Most insurance companies offer other discounts that may help lower your premiums. These include discounts for:

Completing an accredited driver's education course for mature drivers.
Good driving records for all drivers of a vehicle.
Vehicles equipped with antitheft devices.
Air bags and antilock brakes.
Lower than average annual mileage driven.

Comparison Worksheet

Before choosing the insurance coverage that's right for you and your teenager, shop around. You can use our worksheet to help you compare coverage as well as cost.

Download the Auto Insurance Comparison Worksheet to help you evaluate your coverage options.

Definitions
Bodily Injury

Liability helps protect your assets if you cause an injury or death with your vehicle and you are judged liable for the accident.
Medical Payments pays the medical expenses resulting from accidental injury to you and any passengers in your car, up to your policy's limit.
Protection Against Uninsured / Underinsured Motorists provides payment for bodily injury to you and any passengers for injuries caused by an uninsured, underinsured or hit-and-run driver who's at fault in the accident.

Property Damage

Liability pays for the damage caused by your car to property of others, if you are responsible for the accident.
Comprehensive pays if your car is damaged by events other than an automobile accident, such as theft, hail, fire, and glass breakage or water damage.
Collision pays for damage to your car resulting from a collision with another vehicle or object, regardless of who is at fault.

Heading Down the Road
It's an exciting time for your teenager. A driver's license brings a taste of independence. With some thoughtful supervision from you, your child can enjoy this new freedom safely, and establish good driving habits for the years to come.

For More Information

Helpful Links

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
www.iihs.org
This website offers crash test results, vehicle safety information, and free brochures about driver safety.

National Safety Council
www.nsc.org
The NSC website has useful vehicle and driver safety information. The National Safety Council offers a defensive driving course — DDC-Alive at 25 — for drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 years old. For information on classes in your area call 800-621-6244 or go to www.nsc.org/alive25.

Students Against Destructive Decisions
www.sadd.org
The SADD website (founded as Students Against Drunk Driving) is intended to provide students with the best prevention and intervention tools possible to deal with the issues of underage drinking, drug use, impaired driving, and other destructive decisions.

Insurance Information Institutue
www.iii.org
This website has crash test results and information on automobile insurance, including how to choose an auto policy.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
www.nhtsa.dot.gov
The NHTSA website provides research, educational information and safety tips on teen driving, graduated driver licensing and other driving topics.

Teaching Your Teen to Drive, offered by MetLife, is a useful handbook for parents and guardians. It can be ordered on the Internet at www.metlife.com; search on "teaching your teen to drive."

Consumer Information from the Federal Government
The quarterly Consumer Information Center Catalog lists more than 200 helpful federal publications. For your free copy call 1-888-8-PUEBLO or visit www.pueblo.gsa.gov.

When Your Child Gets a Driver's License