Teen Driving Safety

One of the Most Important Safety Features
for Your Teen Driver- You!

The National Safety Council reports that the first year of driving for teens is among the most exciting and dangerous. Car crashes are the number one killer of teens. With more than 12 young people losing their lives in car crashes each day—more than suicide and homicide combined—we are facing a national crisis.

As their parents, we want to keep them safe—and we can, if we understand the risks teenagers face. We can help them beat the odds by staying involved as they gain experience over that first year, as they transition from a new to an experienced driver. Create your Parent-Teen Agreement by clicking here!

How Parents Can Help Their Teen Drive Safely

Crash risk is low during the learner phase when all teen driving is supervised. Crash risk quickly increases for all teens when they move on to unsupervised driving. The first months of driving independently (a Level 2 license) are the most dangerous for every new driver.

Learning Phase

During the learning phase, you are encouraged to supervise your teen's practice driving and provide important coaching and instruction.

Teen Driver Risks

Distracted Driving
Inexperience
Passenger
Speeding
Lack of Seat Belts
Night Driving
Impaired Driving
Road Hazards

Independent Driving Phase

Use a parent-teen driving agreement to set privileges that give teens experience in less risky driving conditions

Continue to monitor your teen’s unsupervised driving, including the conditions they drive in and how they are driving
Make opportunities to ride with your teens to continue giving them supervised practice in riskier conditions
Frequently emphasize that your teens follow all traffic laws and the terms of their driving agreement
Evaluate your teen’s driving and adjust your teen’s driving privileges as they gain more experience

Parent Resources

Drive It Home- Helping You Keep Your Teen Driver Safe

Young Driver Parenting

National Safety Council

This program is made possible through funding from the Office of Community Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; the division of Community Services, N.Y.S. Department of State; New York. Funding by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with a grant from the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.