parents and teen driving Tag

22 Apr Is Your Teen Driving Yet?

  "Slow down! Watch out for that! What are you doing?" These were frequent phrases out of my mother's mouth when she began teaching me how to drive. That was 22 years ago but I still remember the panic and frustration in my mother's voice as she clutched onto her seat and kept trying to push her right foot down on the imaginary break on the passenger's side floor of the car. Research has shown that parent involvement is very important in keeping your teen driver safe. Studies show, according to research conducted by The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, teens whose parents set rules around driving and are aware of their child's activities in a helpful, caring way are: •half as likely to be in a crash •70 percent less likely to drive while intoxicated •half as likely to speed •twice as likely to wear seat belts •30 percent less likely to use a cell phone while driving