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WELCOMING YOUR NEW DRIVER 1

YYesterday, you wereputting them on the schoolbus. Today, you are handingover the car keys. Before youdo, AAA can recommend somestress-reducing practices that willhelp safeguard your teen and give you morepeace of mind.

Graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws alreadyplace some protective restrictions on new youngdrivers. As a parent, you also need to createguidelines that will help your young driver gainexperience with minimal risk. The information inthis brochure will help you set expectations withyour teen.

Though your teen may not have spent muchtime behind the wheel yet, they have alreadygained a lot of vicarious experience … good andbad. They have observed your driving habits.They’ve seen fast and furious car chases on thebig and small screen. They may play computer-based racing games that reward quick hand-to-eyecoordination and aggression at the expense ofgood judgment.

As a parent, it’s up to you to help your teenarrive at a realisticunderstanding of hisor her obligationsand the need to buildskills, judgment, andexperience.

It’s easy to overlook, but teens also need yourguidance in living up to the responsibilities andobligations that go along with operating a vehicle— such as choosing a safe vehicle, insuring and

Though your teen may not havespent much time behind thewheel yet, they have already gained a lot of vicariousexperience … good and bad.

maintaining it, and obeying all lawsrelated to licensing and inspection.

Shaping your teen’s driving habitsalso is a great opportunity to reinforcetraits that will serve them throughoutlife, including accountability, personalresponsibility, respect for people andproperty, consideration of others, the ability to budget, and anappreciation for actions andconsequences.

This brochure is a goodstarting point in yourdiscussion as your teen enters thedriving years.

We hope you will find it helpful

as you orient the newdriver in your family.

YOUR HELP DOES MAKEA DIFFERENCE.

A recent study by theNational Institutes ofHealth suggests thatparental involvement and restrictionssignificantly reduce risky driving behaviorduring a driver’s first12–18 monthsbehind the wheel.

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DWELCOMING YOUR NEW DRIVER

Driving entails risks and responsibilities forthe new driver, but the consequences ofyour teen’s decisions can extend toyour entire family.

Motor vehicle crashes arethe leading cause of death forAmerican teenagers. Permiles driven, the crash ratefor teens 16 to 19 is fourtimes higher than foradults. This crash risk iseven higher during thefirst year a teenager iseligible to drive.

Often, teens becomethe family chauffeur. Thatmeans younger siblings arealso at this higher risk of injuryas passengers in “teen” crashes.The AAA Foundation for TrafficSafety reports that nearly two ofevery three people killed in teen-drivercrashes are people other than the teen driver.

As the parent of a new driver, you take on newlegal and financial liability. If your teen is involvedin a crash, you may bear the cost of damages,medical expenses, legal counsel, repair costs, fines,and increased insurance premiums. Further, if yourteen injures or kills a pedestrian or another motorist,the emotional and legal consequences will beoverwhelming for everyone concerned.

Driver education is a good start, but it is notenough. Supplement formal driving classes/in-carsessions by sharing your experience and knowledge.

Just a handful of good habits can make a life-or-death difference.

Your personal example and encouragement canhelp your teen learn to consistently:

l successfully perceive events in the driving scene;

l make good decisions based on driver perceptions;

l take safe and effective action to preventpotential conflicts and collisions;

l drive the speed limit;lmaintain safe following distance;l wear safety belts.It is imperative that you make it clear to your teen

that it is never acceptable to drive when impairedby alcohol, other drugs, anger, or fatigue.

What’s the strongest way to deliver that message?

You cannot controlall of the conditionsyour new driver willface, but you canset standards andexpectations thatwill limit the risks.

LEAD BYEXAMPLE.

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DPARENTS AS CO-PILOTS

Driving is licensed by the state, but for a teen, it is a privilege granted by parents. It is completelyappropriate to insist on some say regarding howand when a new driver gets behind the wheel, evenif he or she is not driving the family car.

Parental responsibility does not end when theteen has a permit in hand. Recent studies find thatteens demonstrate the safest driving behavior whenparents remain involved in driver education evenafter teens are licensed drivers.

Your obligation goes beyond helping your childsecure a permit and then a license. You must helpyour teen become a safe driver. It’s a continuingeffort, but well worth it.

How can you help?l Invest in driver training from a reputable

organization.l Commit to a practice schedule. Accompany

your teen on practice drives in increasinglychallenging locations and conditions. The riskof a crash drops significantly among teens thathave been supervised for 50 hours of practicedriving before they drive solo.

l Keep your cool during practice sessions.Provide feedback in a respectful tone. Look foropportunities for positive reinforcement.

l Introduce privileges gradually. Allowindependent driving only after much practiceand for limited amounts of time in low-trafficsituations. Allow longer sessions on busierroads, night driving, driving in inclementweather, and with passengers only after adriver demonstrates safe operation for severalmonths, in accordance with the GDL restrictionsin your state.

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l Plan ahead for challenges you are likely toface. A parent-teen driving contract is a goodline of defense against compromising on safetyon special occasions such as proms, holidays,or school trips.

l Take a refresher course yourself so that anycoaching you deliver will reinforce, notcontradict, instruction from your teen’s drivinginstructor. A refresher course sends a powerfulmessage that skills should be assessed andimproved throughout a driving career.

l Attend a parents’ night class at your child’sdriver training facility.

l Work through your community association tohave a meeting for parents and talk about thelimits you’ve placed on your teen’s driving.

l Talk to adult leaders of groups your teen isinvolved in — sports teams, school band,church youth group, after school clubs, etc. —about setting up a meeting for parents.

l Ask community groups and businesses thatemploy a large number of teens to facilitateconversation about teen driving.

l Review your state’s laws about the graduateddriver licensing (GDL) laws. For moreinformation on GDL visitAAA.com/PublicAffairs.

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TDRIVING IS ONLY PART OF BEING A DRIVER

Teens need to understand that driving connectsthem to the community in new ways. As drivers, theywill take on new legal and financial responsibilities.As the operators of a vehicle, they also mustmaintain that vehicle to ensure safe operation.

Involve your teen in the entire range of activitiesrelated to his or her new status, including:

l obtaining and renewing the vehicle title,registration, and license plates;

l performing routine maintenance, periodicchecks, and responding to safety recalls;

l shopping for insurance, finding discounts,securing coverage;

l researching requirements relatedto vehicle inspections and parking fees.

Your family should discussall expectations related tooperating a vehicle. Thatincludes financial decisions,such as who will pay for:

l gasoline?l insurance premiums?l car repairs?l parking decals?l associate membership

in AAA?

B

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CHOOSING THE SAFEST CAR FOR A NEW DRIVER

Bombarded with advertising,it’s tempting to choose a vehiclebased on image over safety.Whether you’re buying orhelping your teen buy avehicle or if they are buyingone on their own, insist on asafe choice. It’s important thateveryone is involved when makingdecisions about the vehicle.

When buying a vehicle, the insurance industrysuggests you choose a late-model car. While anolder car may seem bigger, heavier and therefore

safer, a newer sedanprobably features improvedcrumple zones, three-pointseatbelts, and front and side airbags.

AAA has an online resource called AAAAutoMaker®. A simple questionnaire guides you tothe make and model of the car, truck, or SUV thatbest meets your needs. This resource also providesmanufacturers’ suggested retail prices.

Here are some shopping pointers that cannarrow your choices:

l Think big. Small cars are cute and may saveon gas, but they can be harder to see on theroad and may offer less crash protection.

When buying a vehicle, the insurance industry suggests you choose a late-model car.

l Driver education is even more critical if yourteen will be operating a large, heavy sportutility vehicle. Special skills are required tosafely operate sport utility vehicles, pick-uptrucks, or vans. A high center of gravity makes these vehicles less stable and morelikely to roll over.

l Sports cars may attract admiring glances —but they can raise your insurance premiums.

l Check the reliability and cost of ownershipdata on any vehicle that makes your short list.

l Check crash test data for any vehicle youconsider online at AAA.com.

l Check the history on a used car online atAAA.com. AAA members receive a discounton these reports.

l If you select a used car, schedule an inspectionby the nearest AAA Approved Repair Facility.You can locate approved facilities online atAAA.com.

l Look for a vehicle with a warranty orpurchase an extended warranty.

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EA LITTLE HOMEWORK CAN STEER YOU TO THE RIGHT DRIVER TRAINING

Even parents who have the time andtemperament to teach their teens to driveshould consider the added benefits oftraining by an expert. Drivertraining is important. You may bean exceptional driver but not thebest teacher — either becauseyour competence is so ingrainedit has become unconscious, orbecause you are more likely tooverreact to your own children.

Professional instructors have beentrained to provide comprehensive training thataddresses the mistakes new drivers are most likely tomake. Even parents who are exceptional driversshould consider professional training by an expert.

Driver training is only the beginning. Your teenwill still lack the experience — and perhaps thematurity — needed to be a safe driver immediately.Like anything else, your teen needs practice tobecome an informed, safe driver.

The extent of driver education offered throughhigh schools is highly variable. Budget cuts andliability issues have limited the amount of hands-onexperience a student receives. In some areas, noon-the-road experience is provided.

Training at a commercial driver training schoolmay be a worthwhile investment. The key is findinga school that meets your needs. To make this processeasier, AAA offers a brochure titled “Choosing aDriving School.”

Check with your local AAA club for references. Any school that displays the AAA logo has been

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thoroughly reviewed and must maintain:l late-model, safe driver training cars;l up-to-date training materials;l professionally trained instructors;l a record of good business practices;l discounts to AAA members.

Here are some pointers that will help your familyidentify the best training program in your area:

l Visit each facility and observe the instructorsand check out the vehicles and trainingmaterials.

l Ensure the facility is fully licensed and meets all state instructional standards.

l Ask for a list of references so you can get acustomer’s point of view.

l Consult your local Better Business Bureau to find out if there are complaints about the facility.

l Check on polices for refunds, make-upsessions, and contracts.

l Avoid “quickie” courses. Look for a balance of classroom and in-car instruction. A minimumof 30 classroom hours and six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction over four to six weeks are recommended.

l AAA recommends at least 50 additional hoursof behind-the-wheel practice with a licenseddriver before the teen applies for a license.

Please visit AAA.com/drivingcontracts to download aprintable version of the Parent-Teen Driving Agreementand the Family-to-Family Agreement. Please note thatthese agreements may be customized to fit your needs.You may choose to use the agreements as is, or onlychoose sections that you feel comfortable in implementing.

APUT TOGETHER YOUR NEW DRIVER TOOLKIT

A variety of resources is available to helpreinforce good driving habits. Here are a fewto consider:

Teaching Your Teens to DriveThis DVD and handbook from AAA guides you

through 13 on-the-road exercises that help combatthe most frequent causes of motor vehicle crashes.Topics including visual search habits, freeway andnight driving, maintaining control on slippery surfacesand strategies to reduce risk support parents incompleting supervised driving requirements. Contactyour local club or call toll-free1-800-327-3444.

Driver-ZED This computer-based training program is

available from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.It involves teens in realistic driving simulations andprovides immediate feedback on their choices.

Driving ContractsAs a parent, you can add protective guidelines

through a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement. Theseagreements can help communicate that driving is aprivilege that your family takes seriously. Familiesalso are joining forces by creating voluntary Family-to-Family Agreements that define acceptable drivingbehavior. AAA encourages parents to talk with oneanother about the driving rules in their respectivehomes and encourages them to develop somecommon rules.

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MNAVIGATING THEINFORMATION HIGHWAY

Most teens are very Internet savvy — make themresponsible for fact-finding. Below are some helpfulresources to get you started.

For Information Check These on These Topics uuu Web Resources

Driver Education and Licensing AAAApproved Driving Schools AAA.comCar Care ClinicsGraduated LicensingCar BuyingCosts of Vehicle OwnershipVehicle History ReportsCrashworthiness EvaluationsCar InsuranceCar LoansApproved Auto Repair FacilitiesMaintenance RecordkeepingAuto Insurance Information Insurance Information

Institutewww.iii.org

Ranking of Most Frequently National Insurance Crime Stolen Vehicles Bureau

www.nicb.orgCrash Test Results, National Highway Traffic Rollover Rates Defects and Recalls Safety

Administration (NHTSA)www.nhtsa.gov

Department of Motor Vehicle National DMV GuideGuide for Your State www.dmv.orgState-by-State Provisions AAA for Teen Drivers AAA.com/PublicAffairsDriving Safety Research AAA Foundation

for Traffic SafetyAAAfoundation.org