Insuring a teenage driver is often a very expensive prospect, which is why, as parents, we need to do everything we can to ensure not only that our teenagers remain safe behind the wheel, but that they don’t do anything that could result in an increase in their already-high auto insurance rates.
Passing a driver’s test is just the first step in learning how to conduct oneself behind the wheel. It is up to the parents, therefore, to ensure that they enforce a strict set of rules so that their teenage driver, as well as other motorists, remains safe.
The following tips may provide you with the information necessary to talk to your teenage driver about responsible driving habits:
- Set a curfew – Setting a curfew with your teenage driver will ensure that he or she is not on the roads during the latest (and arguably the most dangerous) part of the night. A reasonable curfew is perhaps one of the best places to start when establishing driving rules.
- Prohibit your Teenager from Playing Taxi to many Friends – A car full of many friends is sure to cause distractions for your teenage driver, and may increase his or her likelihood of becoming involved in an auto accident. It is therefore in your teenager’s best interest to limit the amount of passengers that he or she can have in the car at any given time.
- Prohibit your Teenager from Texting/Talking while Driving – Simply put, cell phones can prove deadly for many teenage drivers. It is therefore imperative that you set strict ground rules for texting and talking while driving. A good rule is to require your teenage driver to never talk or text while the car is in drive.
- Have a Candid Talk about Drinking and Driving – The topic of drinking and driving should not be approached just once. Instead, it should be an ongoing dialogue between teenage drivers and parents. Talk about the consequences, talk about the dangers, and talk about ways to avoid this potentially deadly situation. Your teenager may roll his or her eyes at you, but in the end, ongoing discussions are highly effective at preventing teenagers from drinking and driving.
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