The Road to Independence: Establishing Expectations for Your Teen Driver

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The best bet is to take a confident, assertive role in your teen’s driving experience.

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By creating your own teen driving contract with your new driver, you are keeping respect and responsibility a mutual condition.

Teens have an average of three accidents between the ages of 16 and 20.  During the 100 Deadliest Days, the days between Memorial Day and Labor Day, teens are four times as likely to get in an accident, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), which means the safety of every other driver on the road is at risk, too.  As a parent, you can help instill some responsibilities by drawing up a “driving contract” before turning over the keys.

A contract should address safety, good driving skills and intuition, rules of the road, as well as the ones you establish for your family, which can and should differ than standard defensive driving rules.

Here are a few suggestions as you begin to draft your contract between you and your teen driver.

Driving Rules

1. Tell a parent where you are going, who will be the passengers, and when you will return.
2. Call home if you will be more than ____ minutes late (establish a timeframe for your teen).
3. Call home if any plans change while you’re out.
4. Call home if you cannot get home safely and responsibly. A parent will arrange a safe ride home.
5. Never drive when using alcohol or other drugs or ride in a car when others are using them.
6. Always wear your seatbelt, whether a driver or passenger, and be sure all passengers are buckled up, as well.
7. Do not drive aggressively.
8. Do not drive distracted – put your phone away, limit radio use, set your GPS before you leave.
9. Do not drive when overly tired, angry, or upset.
10. Avoid driving in bad weather.

These rules are in addition to following the rules of the road.  And remember, this is a contract between you and your teen driver.  It will be up to your teenager to follow the rules, but it will be your responsibility to enforce them.

Consequences

Depending upon the severity of the violation, your teen will likely see losing the freedom to drive as the most extreme punishment.  However, taking their car keys is the most effective consequence to breaking any of the rules established in your driving contract.  According to the AAA, rewarding positive driving behavior is also effective in helping keep your child safe. 

Parental Involvement

According to national research conducted by AAA, 80% of teens value the opinions of their parents (even if it doesn’t always seem like it). 

• Evaluate your teen’s readiness. Talk to your teen about the responsibility they have to you, themselves and to other drivers.
• Set a good example. Your teen has been watching you drive for years.You should be the epitome of the driver you want them to be.
• Sign an agreement. Create the driving contract and put expectations and consequences in writing.
• Set limits. Setting boundaries will help to inform your teen’s decisions in the future.
• Stay involved. Just because they have their license and the keys, your involvement shouldn’t disappear.Maintain an open dialogue and restrict driving privileges if you need to.

The best bet is to take a confident, assertive role in your teen’s driving experience.

For more information and resources on how you and your teen can work together for the road ahead, visit KEYS2DRIVE.