Ten Tips for Teen Drivers and their Parents

The day has come, one that many parents dread, and teens celebrate - getting their driver's license.  Prior this day, it is a parents responsibility to educate their teen on the major responsibility that comes with driving a vehicle.  It is not just about their life, it is the lives of thousands of people on the road.

Preparing for this day should be a priority.  Reading educational books, watching video's and taking driving classes can all be part of getting ready to turn that key.

In 2009, 153 teens died in traffic crashes, according to Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) statistics. Teenagers who are 15 to 19 years old have the highest crash rates, and teens are twice as likely to crash as their parents, according to the FHP.

Findlaw.com offers 10 tips to help protect your teen driver from an accident.

1. Practice, practice, practice. During the first 500 miles of driving, teen drivers are 10 times more likely to be in auto crashes than any other age group. Driving requires mental and physical skills that can only be honed with time on the road. That's why it's essential for teen drivers to get professional training and why more states are issuing graduated licenses that require teens to drive with their parents for an extended length of time before being eligible to drive on their own.
2. Create a safe driving contract. Parents should consider creating a safe-driving contract with new drivers to build safe driving habits. Have clear, consistent consequences when your teens do something inappropriate while driving so they understand their boundaries as drivers. The focus of such a contract should be on removing distractions, such as cell phones or eating in the car, which may divert a teen driver's attention from the road, and keeping teen drivers off the roads at particularly risky times of the day (after 10 p.m. and before 6 a.m.).
3. No cell phones. Texting while driving is banned in 26 states and D.C., and an additional eight states prohibit text messaging by minor drivers, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Six states prohibit all drivers from using handheld phones while driving. Make sure you and your teen driver are familiar with your state's laws on mobile devices and driving.
4. Seatbelts. Fifty-five percent of teens killed in automobile accidents in 2008 were not wearing seatbelts, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Wearing a seatbelt is not only a good idea, in a growing number of states, it's the law - 31 states have primary seat belt laws and 18 have secondary laws, according to Findlaw.com.
5. Passenger restriction. Parents should try to limit the number of passengers in their teen's car, especially those younger than 18. Some states even have laws that do not allow minor passengers to be in the vehicle for the first six months after a new teen driver receives his or her license.
6. Curfew. Teens can be more distracted at night. A study done by NHTSA finds that nighttime, especially after 10 p.m., is one of the riskiest times of the day to drive for teens. Check state and local city laws regarding curfews as some states impose curfews on teen driving.
7. No drinking and driving. On average, a drunk driver kills someone every 45 minutes, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Help your teen find other solutions to drinking and driving, especially responding to peer pressure to drink. Lead by example and show your kids it's never okay to drink and drive.
8. Make sure your teen gets sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, most teens need at least nine hours of sleep. Sleep deprived teens can drive like someone who is impaired by a blood alcohol content of .08 percent. Don't let your teen drive if they are feeling drowsy. Offer to drive them or let them sleep more before driving. Drowsy driving causes more than 100,000 car crashes each year.
9. Train teens for poor weather conditions. Your teen will never know what challenges he will face on the road. Make sure he is able to handle snow, wind, and rain. Ride along with her during a storm before she has to face this challenge alone.
10. Make an accident kit. You never know what tools you will need after an accident, and it's better to always be prepared. Some ideas for your accident kit: a disposable camera, flashlight, glowstick, pen and personal info sheet to list all of your insurance information and personal details. You may also include info cards and witness cards to collect license plate numbers, insurance details, and other information from all cars, drivers and witnesses involved in an accident.

To learn about the law and for more information about a parent's liability with their teen drivers, visit www.findlaw.com.
Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens.


Read more.

Sue Scheff: Teen Driver Source - A Must for all PARENTS of Teenage Drivers

Summer is officially here and more teenagers will be getting their drivers permit or license.  In Broward County, the age for a driving permit is 15 years old.  STANDUP is an organization that is working towards raising the teen driving age.  H.R. 1895: Safe Teen and Novice Uniform Protection Act is currently being reviewed by lawmakers.

With this in the hands of the justice system, the results could take a very long time.  In the meantime, parents need to take to the streets and insure their teen's driving safety.

Teen Drivers Source is a valuable website with a vast amount of information about teenage driving.  They offer support for the teens as well as the parents.  They have also included a section for educators.  When driving safety is reinforced at home and school, you have better chances of having a safer teen driver, however remember, parenting is key.

Under their FAQ's there is a very common question that is asked and that is:

Q: How can I convince my teen to lower the music and not use a cell phone for talking or texting while driving?

A: When you sit down to talk to your teen about setting house rules, bring up the three-second sequence. Explain to your teen that within a one-second window a driver scans for hazards then has 2 seconds to detect it and decide how to respond in order to avoid or lessen the severity of a crash. Tell your teen that crash risk is four times higher when a driver uses a cell phone, whether or not it's hands-free. Such distractions can cause drivers to take their eyes off the road long enough to have difficulty responding to hazards and staying in their lane.
They also answer many other common questions such as:
Q: My teen is often up late studying for a test. How can I let her drive when she barely had two hours of sleep?

Take the time to educate yourself and your new teen driver.  Learning to drive starts before you get behind the wheel.

Visit www.teendriverssource.org for much more information.

Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens.

Read more.

Sue Scheff: Under YOUR Influence - Parents Your Teens Are Listening

Summer is well on its' way and there will be many new young teenagers anxious to get their drivers permit or drivers license.

Who are they going to listen to?  Driving a vehicle is a big step in life and one that should not be taken lightly.  Preparing for your teen to drive starts well before they get behind the wheel.

At the National PTA Conference, Under YOUR Influence promoted their resources to help educate parents to prepare their teens for this major responsibility called driving.

One very good point is made, if you are not your teen's influence, then who will be?  They could be relying on someone that doesn't know the importance of wearing a seat belt.  Are they aware of the Click It or Ticket law?  

You are your teenager's advocate and influence period.  Parents are key to your teen learning to drive safely.  Under Your Influence offers Practice Tips for Driving with Your Teen - Under Your Influence.

Did you know that 46% of teens admit to texting while driving?  It is imperative you instill to your teen that they drive by the rules and they will be able to keep this privilege.  Driving is a privilege and a responsibility.  If they defy the rules, they will lose their privilege.

Learn more by visiting www.underyourinfluence.org.

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Sue Scheff: Teens Risk Losing their Drivers License if they Drop Out of School or Skip Classes

South Carolina is making headlines with their new proposed bill to revoke driving licenses of teens that drop out of high school or habitually skip their classes until they are 18 years old. At least 20 other states have passed this law, including Florida.

A Florida report shows that of the 8,400 teens whose licenses were suspended in 2007-08 for dropping out or accumulating 15 unexcused absences over 90 days, 96 percent of them re-enrolled.

“It confirms what we thought all along,” Betty Hyle, a team leader in the Florida Department of Education, said of the report. “Driving a car is a great incentive for teenagers.” Source: TandD.com

Years ago the challenge was choosing what college to attend, today many parents are struggling to get their teenager to finish high school.

According to Ad Council, approximately 7,000 high school students drop out every school day, which translates to one in three students. Once students make the decision to drop out, they lack the tools to compete in today’s society and diminish their chances for greater success in the future. But the decision to drop out of school does not happen overnight; it comes after years of frustration and failure. Often, those that drop out have run out of motivation and have no source of support or encouragement in school or at home.

For more information on Florida Teen Driving consequences related to truancy and dropping out of school, visit Florida High School Driver.

Ad Council Campaign, Boost Up helps motivate teens towards graduation!

Be an educated parent, you will have smarter teens! Watch PSA video here. Read more.

Sue Scheff: Alive at 25 Parent Program for Teen Drivers

Driving crashes account for up to 44 percent of all teen deaths and are the leading cause of teenage deaths in the United States, according to recent studies by the National Safety Council.

For more than 50 years, Midas has built peace of mind by offering automotive expertise, value, responsiveness, and safety information to help keep you safely on the road. Today, they are pleased to provide the National Safety Council's Alive at 25 Parent Program online course to parents who have new teen drivers at home.

This interactive program typically costs $25, but is being provided by Midas free of charge (while supplies last). We're hoping to get parents involved in training their teens to become safe, responsible and defensive drivers.

Driving is a privilege. A driver's license gives you a certain level of freedom, but it also gives you an enormous amount of responsibility.

With almost all teens having cell phones today, it is critical we talk about the dangers of texting and driving as well as talking and driving. This is all distracted driving that can cause serious accidents and end lives.

Wearing your seatbelt is the law. It not only could potentially save your life, you will get a ticket if you don't click it! In Florida learn more about our Click It or Ticket program.

Learn about the Alive at 25 Parent Program today!

Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens!

Read more.

Sue Scheff: Driving Tips That May Save Your Teen’s Life Over the Holidays

After just finishing a 10-part series inside Dr. Michele Borba’s BIG Book of Parenting Solutions, I can officially say it is one of the most comprehensive parenting books I have ever reviewed and fortunately own. My daughter (a mother herself) will be receiving a copy under the tree this holiday season! I cannot express enough what a magnificient gift this is for anyone that works with children, moms-to-be, daycare providers, coaches and more.

This week Michele Borba posted a timely Blog as many are traveling and I especially think of our kids/teens traveling home from school for the holidays. Take the time to be an educated parent and learn how to prepare yourself and your teen before they get behind the wheel!
Happy Thanksgiving and make it a safe one!

By Michele Borba

REALITY CHECK: Nearly 10,000 youths have died as passengers in car crashes. Of those crashes, 54% were riding with a teen driver. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for tweens and teens.

Michele Borba: Driving Tips That May Save Your Teen’s Life Over the Holidays
This week yet there were more sobering headlines in our local papers: two more horrific car crashes involved teens from our local high schools. Both crashes happened within a few days of one another. Three teens lives were cut short. Others are in critical condition. And once again I shutter, and then I cry.

I’ve had five close friends over the last ten years lose their beautiful teen sons in driving fatalities. All were the most loving of parents, all the boys were wonderful, glorious, and good, and each parent would have read this prior to the worst day of their life, and said, “Not my kid.”
But the stark reality is such a tragedy could happen to your child. So please read this carefully and take this very seriously — especially as these holiday approach and teens have more driving time. Knowing the risks just may save your child or their friend.

Here are study highlights found by Dr. Flaura Koplin Winston from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia revealing the most dangerous driving circumstances for youth:

Driving with inexperienced (less than a year driver) on high-speed roads (more than three-quarters of the fatal crashes occurred on roads with speed limits higher than 45 mph)
Driving without a seatbelt: nearly two-thirds of youth passengers were not wearing seat belts
Driving with a male teen driver who had been drinking and on weekends: 72% of crashes happened between 6 am to 10 pm.

Here are a few essential Dos and Don’ts parenting solutions based on research findings that just may keep your teen safer. I know some of these are “easier said than done,” but that’s where talking, talking and talking to your teen over and over and over come in — as well as monitoring, monitoring, and more monitoring.

Do NOT let your teen drive with a teen with less than a year’s driving experience. The risk is too great. I know this is going to be inconvenient. But please review those research studies carefully. Please!

Do NOT let your inexperienced teen drive over 40 mph. This one is tough to uphold but monitor. There are new devices that parents are installing in their cars so they can watch their teen’s driving habits.

Do NOT let your child get into a car without wearing a seat belt. Make sure you mandate wearing them in your own car. And talk, talk, talk about the life-saving feature of wearing those belts.

DO NOT let your kid use that darn cell phone when driving. Figure out a way that he doesn’t have to go switching channels on his Ipod when driving.

DO teach your teen how to bulk peer pressure. A study by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America of over 46,000 teens revealed that peer pressure is one of the biggest issues they face and that “Just say no stuff”does not work. Teens want you to teach them specific things they can do and say to counter that peer pressure.

DO give your teen (and each of his friends) a card with phone numbers of taxicab services to call. Put emergency cab fare money (like fifty dollars) in a drawer and tell your teen it is “Just in case you ever need a taxi cab.”Make sure your kid has a safe way home in case of drinking or sleep deprivation. Driving home late and sleepy killed two of my friends’ sons. They were not drinking.

DO tell your teen that if he ever abuses your car rules those keys will be removed. One of my girlfriend’s sons lost the car privilege for a year (and learned his lesson); another hid her son’s car in another friend’s garage to ensure her child could access it. Yes MOM!!!

DO have your teen sign a contract specifying that passengers must wear seat belts, which roads he may drive on, speed limits he must adhere to and of course never drink. Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD – and founded as Students Against Driving Drunk) is an organization you may want to connect with. If also provides a free online contract you can download.

DO get on board with other parents. Introduce yourself. Exchange phone numbers. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is a great organization that mobilizes parents.

DO set up a secret code in your family. In our house if one of my sons ever called any time and said, “Mom, I think I’m getting the flu” it was my signal to drop everything and go pick up my child. It meant he was in a tough situation and needed a “rescue.” Turns out he was at a party that was supposed to be supervised by parents who decided to be “cool” and supply kegs while they left the kids. Those parents should have been arrested, but I was so glad we had that secret code. I also have a pack with my girlfriend that if she’s not available I will pick up her kids, and she mine.

We’ve only had to do so once and we still are so grateful we had that pact. Also set up a secret text code such as 111 or 333–something so simple and memorable that your child could instantly text you that code and you would know to drive and pick up your teen, ASAP.

DO carefully think through if your teen really is ready to drive at age sixteen. Every study shows that most kids that age are not mature enough to get behind that wheel. Remember this isn’t about your convenience, but your child’s life.

Keep your teen safe! Please! This is life and death stuff. Nothing is more precious than our children. Please pass this information on to another parent. Let’s save our kids together!

For more information and specific tips on how to reduce risky behaviors refer to The Book of Book of Parenting Solutions especially the chapters on drinking, steroids, peer pressure and sex. Research shows that while there is no silver bullet that protects our kids, moms and dads who are “hands-on” in their parenting approach (adhere to a curfew, know their kids friends, voice their concerns about drinking and drugs, monitor their teens’ comings and goings and are not afraid to SAY NO) greatly reduce their teens’ risky behaviors. When it comes to drinking and driving, please tune up your “hands-on parenting.” This is a matter of life and death.

Sue Scheff: New Teen Drivers

When your teen becomes of age to get their driving permit, then their license, it can be one of the most stressful times of parenting. Recently I read a book that is a wealth of information and helps you prepare your teen for the major responsibility called – driving. Crash-Proof Your Kids by Timothy C. Smith is a must read “before” your teen gets behind the wheel.

This past week Connect with Kids also posted an article with parenting tips and revealing studies regarding teenage drivers. Be an educated parent, you will have a safer teenage.

Source: Connect with Kids

Keeping New Drivers Safe

“States with a restricted graduated driver’s license program are reducing the teen crashes by 21 percent. That is huge. That represents thousands of teenage lives that we are saving, and tens of thousands of serious injuries that we are preventing.”

– Robert J. Wilson, National Safety Council

Teenagers who own their own car are two and a half times more likely to get into a car accident than kids who share a car with their mom or dad. Those are the results of a new study funded by the State Farm Insurance Company. How else can you keep your new driver safe behind the wheel?

Last year, 19-year-old Rafael was arrested for street racing.

“You know, I opened the window,” says Rafael, “I see the cop next to me and he says, ‘Please get out of the car, you’re under arrest.’ And I said, ‘Oh, no man, I’m sorry, you know, I’m sorry.’ Cause I wasn’t thinking! “

He was sentenced to community service and three months of driving restrictions. “I was only allowed to drive from school, community service, and work,” says Rafael. “That was about it. Anywhere else I went, and the cops saw me, I would have been in big trouble.”

47 states have similar restrictions like this on all new drivers. Many 16-year-olds can only drive to school, can’t drive with passengers, or not past 10 o’clock at night.

“States with a restricted graduated driver’s license program are reducing the teen crashes by 21 percent,” says Robert Wilson, with the National Safety Council. “That is huge. That represents thousands of teenage lives that we are saving, and tens of thousands of serious injuries that we are preventing.”

Experts say parents should restrict new drivers when the state doesn’t.

They advise to delay driving until age 17, have teens get 30 hours of practice behind the wheel, and keep a learner’s permit for three months before applying for a license.

“A lot of the restrictions can be eased gradually,” says Wilson. “It’s not an all or none situation. So I would say a beginning driver shouldn’t drive at all at night at first unsupervised, and then gradually extend the time-nine o’clock, ten o’clock, midnight.”

As for Rafael, the arrest taught him a lesson.

“That night we were going really fast,” says Rafael, “I could have died, seriously, at the speed I was going.”

Research shows the states that put at least five restrictions on new drivers have the lowest teen crash rates.

Driving is a risky proposition for many American teenagers. Despite spending less time driving than all other age groups (except the elderly), teenage drivers have disproportionately high rates of crashes and fatalities. Experts say that the high accident rates for teens are caused by a combination of factors, most notably teenagers’ immaturity and lack of driving experience. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System collected the following data about teenage drivers:

•Crashes are the leading cause of death among 16- to 19-year-olds.
•The majority of teenage passenger deaths occur when another teen is driving.
•Two-thirds of teens killed in motor vehicle crashes are male.
•Among teenage drivers, alcohol is a factor in 23 percent of fatal accidents involving males, 10 percent of fatal accidents involving females.
•More than half of the teenage motor vehicle deaths occur on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Of those deaths, 41 percent occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Tips for Parents
The risks involved in letting a teenager get behind the wheel of a car are very real, but there are safety measures parents can take to improve the odds for beginning drivers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety offers these tips:

•Don’t rely solely on driver education. High school driving courses may be the most convenient way to teach driving skills, but they don’t produce safer drivers.
•Supervise practice driving. Take an active role in helping your teen learn how to drive. Supervised practice should be spread over at least six months and continue even after your teen graduates from a learner’s permit to a restricted or full license.
•Remember, you are a role model. New drivers learn by example, so you must practice safe driving. Teens with crashes and violations often have parents with poor driving records.
•Restrict night driving. Most nighttime fatal crashes among young drivers occur between 9 p.m. and midnight, so your teen shouldn’t be driving much later than 9 p.m.
•Restrict passengers. Teenage passengers in a vehicle can distract a new driver and/or lead to greater risk-taking. The best policy is to restrict the number of teenage passengers your teen is allowed to transport.
•Require safety belts. Don’t assume that your teen is using a safety belt when he’s with his friends, just because he uses it when you’re together.
•Research shows that safety belt use is lower among teens than older people. Insist that your teen use a safety belt at all times.
•Prohibit driving after drinking. Make it clear that it is illegal and highly dangerous for a teen to drive after drinking alcohol or using any other drug.
•While alcohol isn’t a factor in most crashes of teenagers, even small amounts of alcohol are impairing for teens.
•Choose vehicles for safety, not image. Teens should drive vehicles that reduce their chances of a crash and offer protection in case they do crash. For example, small cars don’t offer the best protection in a crash. Avoid cars with performance images that might encourage speeding. Avoid trucks and sport utility vehicles, particularly the smaller ones, which are more prone to roll over.

References
•Drive Home Safe
•Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
•National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
•Safe America Foundation

Sue Scheff: Teen Drivers - Crash Factors

School is opening, will your teen be driving to school? Be an educated parent, learn about teen driving safety - it can save lives.

Source: Connect with Kids

“They’ve got the stickers on their cars ‘no fear’ it’s absolutely true, they don’t stop to think about it.”

– Robert Ruede, son Dan was scarred when the car his friend was driving hit a tree.

In terms of car crashes, we are about to enter the most dangerous month of the year: September. The highest number of accidents happen in September, the worst day is Saturday and the worst time are the hours just before midnight.

“Went into a tree at about 50 miles per hour,” says 19-year-old Dan Ruede, describing how the friend he was driving with last February lost control of the car and went off the road.

Now, two months after the accident, Dan’s face is still streaked with scars from the shattered windshield.

“He’s scarred. That’s never going to go away,” says Dan’s father Robert, “His eye need more surgery. His eyelashes are growing into his eye.”

The factors that likely contributed to Dan’s crash are all too common.

One, it happened at night, when nearly two thirds of accidents involving 16 t0 19 year olds occur.

“What you have to recognize is that it’s more difficult to drive at night and that parents and teenagers need to practice nighttime driving,” says Len Pagano with the Safe America Foundation, “not just assume that you know, once they have a license they should be able to drive 24-7.”

Two, Dan was with a friend, and adding one teenager in a car doubles the chance of a serious accident.

“You better have a pretty good idea of whether or not they can handle the distraction of having other passengers. And if they’re not up to it, then you shouldn’t allow them to travel with other teens,” says Pagano.

Three, Dan and his friend were driving on a narrow, tree-lined street where the margin for error is small.

“Parents need to be thinking about identifying where they know there are hazards on those roads and try to work with the teen to say, you know it wouldn’t take a whole lot for you to end up in a tree,” says Pagano.

He says when a driver is inexperienced, parents should map out safe routes. And… drive with your child on every kind of road and condition before ever letting them handle it on their own.

“At the end of the day most kids recognize they do have a lack of knowledge,” he says.

But , Dan adds… an excess of confidence, “until the crash actually happened it was never… I kind of seemed invincible.”

Tips for Parents

Driving is a risky proposition for many American teenagers. Despite spending less time driving than all other age groups (except the elderly), teenage drivers have disproportionately high rates of crashes and fatalities. Experts say that the high accident rates for teens are caused by a combination of factors, most notably teenagers’ immaturity and lack of driving experience. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System collected the following data about teenage drivers:

■Crashes are the leading cause of death among 16- to 19-year-olds.
■The majority of teenage passenger deaths occur when another teen is driving.
■Two-thirds of teens killed in motor vehicle crashes are male.
■Among teenage drivers, alcohol is a factor in 23 percent of fatal accidents involving males, 10 percent of fatal accidents involving females.
■More than half of the teenage motor vehicle deaths occur on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Of those deaths, 41 percent occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The risks involved in letting a teenager get behind the wheel of a car are very real, but there are safety measures parents can take to improve the odds for beginning drivers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety offers these tips:

■Don’t rely solely on driver education. High school driving courses may be the most convenient way to teach driving skills, but they don’t produce safer drivers.
■Supervise practice driving. Take an active role in helping your teen learn how to drive. Supervised practice should be spread over at least six months and continue even after your teen graduates from a learner’s permit to a restricted or full license.
■Remember, you are a role model. New drivers learn by example, so you must practice safe driving. Teens with crashes and violations often have parents with poor driving records.
■Restrict night driving. Most nighttime fatal crashes among young drivers occur between 9 p.m. and midnight, so your teen shouldn’t be driving much later than 9 p.m.
■Restrict passengers. Teenage passengers in a vehicle can distract a new driver and/or lead to greater risk-taking. The best policy is to restrict the number of teenage passengers your teen is allowed to transport.
■Require safety belts. Don’t assume that your teen is using a safety belt when he’s with his friends, just because he uses it when you’re together. Research shows that safety belt use is lower among teens than older people. Insist that your teen use a safety belt at all times.
■Prohibit driving after drinking. Make it clear that it is illegal and highly dangerous for a teen to drive after drinking alcohol or using any other drug. While alcohol isn’t a factor in most crashes of teenagers, even small amounts of alcohol are impairing for teens.
■Choose vehicles for safety, not image. Teens should drive vehicles that reduce their chances of a crash and offer protection in case they do crash. For example, small cars don’t offer the best protection in a crash. Avoid cars with performance images that might encourage speeding. Avoid trucks and sport utility vehicles, particularly the smaller ones, which are more prone to roll over.
References
■Drive Home Safe
■Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
■National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Sue Scheff: Safe Teen Driving Club

The Safe Teen Driving Club, Inc., based in Atlanta, Georgia has been chartered to help parents educate, mentor, manage and monitor their teen drivers. We provide parents of teen drivers with tools, services and technology solutions they need to monitor the driving habits of their young drivers. With the help of parents, teen drivers can enjoy enhanced safety, security and protection.

To that end we are involved in several initiatives.

Products and Services-- Using various technologies and systems that report driving behavior, as well as legal and roadside assistance programs, parents can not only manage their teen's driving performance; they can also defend and protect their teens when driving incidents occur.

Education and Teen Advocacy-- Simultaneously, the Club delivers persuasive, educational content to teens to further drive home important ideas that can change attitudes and perceptions of young people leading to changes in behavior. We believe that teens talking to teens about safe driving is an effective way to improve actual on-the-road behavior. To that end, teen advocacy programs designed to meet that goal are planned in connection with high schools, driving schools, educators, parents, teens and others who share concerns about the high fatality rate among our young drivers.

Research -- In 2005 the Club conducted a web-based survey of parents with teens - both teen drivers and those about to begin driving. The survey provided important qualitative data reflecting parental attitudes toward teen driving. Additional periodic surveys are planned to evaluate the impact Safe Teen Driving Club initiatives have on teen accident and fatality rates.

We encourage members of the Club to contribute their views during these occasional surveys.

Outreach and Community Support-- Finally, the Safe Teen Driving Club has chosen to support not-for-profit organizations that help and support young people and their families. The Club reviews candidate organizations periodically, and supports those chosen by donating a portion of its annual income. As a member of the Club, you can feel confident that your purchases are supporting charitable organizations doing important work with young people.

Read more: http://www.safeteendrivingclub.org/about_us.php#ixzz0LhqYABLR

Sue Scheff: Texting and Driving (and Teens)

Source: Tangerine Times

Texting and driving is something that just won’t go away. I’ve already written about it several times. Sorry if it is getting to be an old topic for my reader. It bugs me when I’m driving to see people doing it and it concerns me A LOT about my teens and their driving. My daughter doesn’t have her license to drive by herself yet but I know the temptation to answer the text or the phone will be huge.

The Today Show recently featured a test of someone driving while texting.

They demonstrated that texting while driving is in fact more dangerous than driving DRUNK. Scary, huh? I see it every day. It’s adults too. In fact, they are the worst. I tell my kids not to text me when I’m driving (they know my driving schedule) but rather to make a phone call. I have hands-free and although I don’t usually initiate phone calls or want to have long phone calls while driving on the highway to pick my son up, I know there are times when my kids (or husband) do need to reach me. It’s much safer for me to talk to them over speaker-phone. How can I possibly answer a text while driving 70 mph on a freeway?? But, I see people do it every day.

There is NO text or phone call as important as staying ALIVE. There is a gadget (actually there are several on the market) available that can stop you from calling or texting while driving. I think trying to use this to monitor my teenagers won’t work. Maybe it will work for someone else’s family, in which case, go for it. But in my house, my kids would figure out a way to disable the Bluetooth receiver on their phone so that they wouldn’t have to deal with the problem. You need to consider the level of technical sophistication your teen has before buying a monitoring product.We can try to teach our teens self-control. They may listen. But, what about the adults driving around doing the same thing? Where is this going?? It’s crazy out there…

Follow Tangerine Times on Twitter at @BBerryMom

Sue Scheff: Driving While High

Source: Connect with Kids

“Pot is the sneakiest of drugs because it takes out your functioning. It decreases reaction time. It messes up judgment. It messes up driving,”

– Steven Jaffe, MD, psychiatrist

For a young driver, there are so many dangers: speed, ego, inexperience and another often ignored danger: drugs.

“I think it’s very irresponsible and it could lead to a lot of dangerous accidents. It’s just as bad as driving drunk – quite possible even worse,” says 17-year-old Allison Meisburg.

Researchers from the University of Montreal studied the habits of 83 male drivers. They found that nearly 20 percent have been high behind the wheel.

“…and I would estimate at least two or three times that number have been in the car in which the driver was stoned,” says Dr. Steven Jaffe, a psychiatrist, who specializes in substance abuse issues.

“[Driving while high] is not as bad as drinking and driving, but it is still bad of course, because you know your reflexes are delayed and all that jazz,” says 16-year old Justin.

Experts say teens simply don’t realize the dangers.

It’s hard to believe, but some kids believe pot helps them driver better.

“They really think they do,” says Dr. Jaffe. “But they don’t. They really don’t. They don’t realize they are impaired. Pot is the sneakiest of drugs because it takes out your functioning. It decreases reaction time. It messes up their judgment. It messes up driving.”

Dr. Jaffe says parents should adopt a zero-tolerance attitude. Remind your kids that pot is a mind-altering drug and not to ride with drivers who are high on any drug. Then, remind them of the consequences.

“The biggest consequence would be you run into another on-coming car during traffic and you kill them and yourself. That’d be the biggest consequence,” says Reggie, 17.

Dr. Jaffe concurs. “It only takes one time to kill yourself and kill somebody else.”


Tips for Parents

According to government studies, nearly 11 million Americans, including one in five 21-year-olds, have driven while under the influence of illegal drugs. Young adults don’t consider driving while high to be as dangerous as driving while under the influence of alcohol, according to John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Therefore, his office is starting a campaign warning teens about driving while smoking marijuana. Concentration, perception, coordination and reaction time can all be affected for up to 24 hours after smoking marijuana, Walters said.

So how can you determine if your teen has been using drugs, namely marijuana? The experts at the National Institute on Drug Abuse suggest looking for these trouble signs in your teen. He/she may:

Seem dizzy and have trouble walking
Seem silly and giggly for no reason
Have very red, bloodshot eyes
Have a hard time remembering things that just happened
Seem very sleepy or groggy (after the early effects fade, sleepiness may occur)
In addition to these signs, parents should also be alert to changes in any of the following:

Behavior, such as withdrawal, depression, fatigue, carelessness with grooming, hostility and deteriorating relationships with friends and family
Academic performance, including absenteeism and truancy
Loss of interest in sports or other favorite hobbies
Eating or sleeping patterns
Also be on the lookout for:

Signs of drugs and drug paraphernalia
Odor on clothes and in bedroom
Use of incense and other deodorizers
Use of eye drops
Clothing, posters, jewelry, etc., promoting drug use

References
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Parents. The Anti-Drug.
Office of National Drug Control Policy
University of Montreal

Sue Scheff: Safe Teen Driving Club

Are you a parent of a new teenage driver or is your teen about to take the wheel? Be an educated parent - learn more here on this valuable website promoting Safe Teen Driving!
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Our mission is to educate parents and provide them services they can use to keep their teen safe and alive while driving. It's pretty well known that driving crashes are the #1 cause of teen injury and death, taking a back seat to suicide, homocide, drugs, alcohol and all other causes.Feel free to visit our site at http://www.safeteendrivingclub.org/, or our blog at http://safeteendrivingclub.wordpress.com/.

You'll find safety tips, information on our Crash Free America educational program for parents and services and products that are proven to reduce the chances of a crash with your teen.
You can also see a short video about the Club and other media coverage at http://www.safeteendrivingclub.org/stdc_page2.php?page_ID=1193759997.

Sue Scheff: Teenage Drivers

By Connect with Kids


Behind The Wheel

When kids get their license, it opens up a world of freedom, and a world of risks. More teens die driving than any other age group. While we can’t protect our teenagers from everything on the road, we have to at least try to protect them from themselves – young drivers are inexperienced, easily distracted and typically drive as if they are invincible.

Children won’t always listen to adults. That’s why our programs always feature real kids that your kids can relate to. In Behind the Wheel, teens share their true stories about driving and crashing – broken bones, broken trust, shattered dreams. Watch this compelling program as a family, and suddenly you won’t be talking at your kids... you’ll be talking with them.

With a team of experts, you’ll learn many ways that parents can help keep kids safe on the road. You’ll explore driving contracts, cell phone use and new technology that helps parents to keep tabs on their kids’ driving. Don’t miss this chance to see what real teen drivers are doing on the road…to show your own kids the incredible dangers… and to learn how you can help them be safe before it’s too late.