One of the most liberating times for parents is when their teen gets that driver’s license and is able to drive to all those after school activities and weekend soccer games. However, while liberating, it is also one of the scariest times. Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death for teen drivers. Here are 5 tips parents can use to lessen the chance their teen is involved in a car accident:
- Enroll your teen in a licensed California DMV driving program. While you may want to teach your child, or just get a family friend, a licensed program will help your teen acquire traffic safety awareness and key defensive driving skills.
- Strictly enforce the California Graduated Driver License laws. Until your teen receives a driver’s license, make sure he or she obeys all the rules of his or her provisional permit or driver’s license.
- Look on the internet for a parent/teen driving contract and have your teen sign it with you. This contract formally outlines the specific guidelines your teen agrees to follow, as well as any consequences if he or she breaks the contract.
- Monitor your teen’s driving. While your teen is driving, be a passenger, but not a backseat driver. Without causing undue stress, casually watch how the teen obeys the traffic laws and uses good judgment. Afterwards, calmly and patiently discuss with the teen what they did right and what they did wrong. Use praise and discipline as reinforcement.
- Be a role model. Teens often mimic the behavior of their parents. If you are a road rage driver or distracted, or fail to use your seat belt or car signals, it is likely your teen will mimic your behavior when he or she begins to drive. Make sure your children observe you obeying the traffic laws and exhibiting good driving behavior. If you make a mistake, explain it to your child. Lessons learned early will be remembered later.
You want to protect your teen. You want them safe. However, if your teen is involved in a car accident, consult experienced car accident attorneys to ensure you get the most compensation for the injuries you have sustained.
At the Law Offices of John P. Burns, we effectively handle your car accident claim so you can focus on recovering emotionally and physically without dealing with the details. It’s free to ask questions, so contact us directly at 949-496-7000, or email us at john@johnburnslaw.com. We’ll be sure to get back to you within 24 hours.