Helping Teens Become Safe Drivers

Getting a driver's license is a major milestone—for your teen, it represents freedom and adulthood. For you, it may represent one of the most anxious periods of parenting. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers, and the statistics can be terrifying.

But here's what you need to know: Parent involvement dramatically reduces teen crash risk. How you teach them to drive, what rules you set, and how much practice they get matters enormously. You have more power to keep your teen safe than you might think.

Understanding the Risks AAP

The first years of driving are the most dangerous. Understanding why helps you address the specific risks.

Why teen drivers crash more:

• Inexperience recognizing and responding to hazards
• Still-developing brains (judgment, impulse control)
• Overconfidence in their abilities
• Greater susceptibility to distraction
• More likely to drive at night and with passengers
• More likely to speed and take risks

The statistics:

• 16-19 year olds have the highest crash rate of any age group
• Risk is highest in the first months after licensure
• Male teens have higher crash rates than female teens
• Most teen crashes involve driver error, not bad luck
• Nighttime and passenger presence dramatically increase risk

Good news:

• Crash rates drop significantly with experience
• Graduated licensing laws have reduced teen crashes
• Parent involvement during learning reduces risk
• Setting and enforcing rules makes a difference

The Learning Phase: Supervised Practice AAP

How your teen learns to drive sets the foundation for their safety.

How much practice is enough:

• Most experts recommend 50-100 hours of supervised practice
• State requirements are minimums, not ideals
• More practice = safer driver
• Spread practice over different conditions and times

What to practice:

• All types of roads (neighborhood, highway, rural)
• All weather conditions (rain, at least some snow if applicable)
• Day and night driving
• Heavy traffic and light traffic
• Parking (lots, parallel, backing up)
• Challenging situations (construction, lane changes, merging)

Being a good teacher:

• Stay calm—your panic makes them panic
• Give clear, advance directions
• Critique technique, not the person
• Practice frequently in short sessions
• Build gradually from easy to difficult
• Let them make (safe) mistakes they can learn from

Common parent mistakes:

• Grabbing the wheel or yelling
• Not enough practice hours
• Only practicing in easy conditions
• Not addressing bad habits early
• Letting them practice with other adults too (consistency matters)

Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) AAP

Most states have graduated licensing programs that limit high-risk situations for new drivers. These laws save lives.

Typical GDL phases:

Learner's permit:

• Must have licensed adult in car
• Night driving restrictions
• No or limited passengers
• Zero alcohol tolerance

Intermediate license:

• Can drive unsupervised
• Night driving restrictions continue
• Passenger limits
• Cell phone restrictions

Full license:

• Fewer restrictions
• Usually at 18 or after period without violations

Why GDL works:

• Limits driving in highest-risk situations (night, with passengers)
• Provides supervised practice time
• Gradually introduces independence
• Teen crashes have dropped since GDL laws

Your job:

• Know your state's specific laws
• Enforce them (and add your own if needed)
• Don't sign off on practice hours they didn't complete
• Follow the spirit, not just the letter

Setting Family Rules AAP

Beyond state laws, your family rules matter. Be specific and clear before handing over the keys.

Key rules to consider:

Passengers:

• Most crashes involve teen passengers
• Consider no passengers for first 6-12 months
• Limit number of passengers (one is much safer than three)
• No passengers without advance permission

Night driving:

• Most teen fatal crashes occur at night
• Consider earlier curfews than state law requires
• Be especially strict in first months

Cell phones and distraction:

• Absolutely no phone use while driving (not even hands-free for new drivers)
• Phone in glove box or trunk
• Texting while driving increases crash risk 23x
• This is non-negotiable

Alcohol and drugs:

• Zero tolerance, period
• Impaired driving is potentially fatal and life-altering
• Have a plan for getting home if others are impaired
• The "safe call" applies here too

Seat belts:

• Always, everyone, no exceptions
• Driver ensures all passengers buckle up
• Not negotiable

Speed:

• Follow posted limits
• Speeding is a factor in many teen crashes
• Going with traffic flow on highways

Car use:

• When can they use the car?
• How do they request permission?
• Who pays for gas and insurance?
• What about driving others' cars?

The Parent-Teen Driving Agreement

A written contract reinforces expectations and consequences. Discuss and sign it together.

Agreement should include:

• All family rules clearly stated
• Consequences for violations (specific and enforced)
• Responsibility for insurance, gas, maintenance
• Process for earning more privileges over time
• Commitment to safe driving

Consequences that work:

• Losing driving privileges for a set time
• Earlier curfews
• Increased supervision
• Paying for tickets and increased insurance
• Consistent enforcement (every time)

Why this helps:

• Puts expectations in writing
• Creates accountability
• Removes some of the in-the-moment arguing
• Shows you take this seriously

Specific Safety Issues

Distracted driving:

• It's not just phones—eating, adjusting music, emotional conversations
• Phones are the biggest risk
• Apps can disable phone while driving
• Model this yourself (they're watching)

Drowsy driving:

• Teens are often sleep-deprived
• Drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving
• No driving when exhausted
• Know the signs (trouble focusing, lane drifting, yawning)

Peer pressure:

• Friends may encourage risk-taking
• Practice saying no
• Have code words if they need an excuse to not drive
• Don't be afraid to say "my parents are strict"

Aggressive driving:

• Tailgating, speeding, weaving
• Address immediately if you see it
• Often a sign of emotional state—address that too

Impaired driving:

• By far the most dangerous behavior
• Zero tolerance
• They should never drive impaired or ride with an impaired driver
• Always have a backup plan

When They Break the Rules

How you respond to violations matters.

For minor violations:

• Address it calmly but seriously
• Enforce the agreed-upon consequence
• Discuss what happened and why the rule exists
• Move on once the consequence is served

For serious violations:

• Suspend driving privileges immediately
• Have a serious conversation
• Longer consequences
• May require earning back trust gradually
• Consider whether they're ready to drive

For crashes:

• First, make sure they're okay
• Understand what happened without excessive blame
• Address any rule violations that contributed
• Use it as a learning opportunity
• Consider additional practice before resuming independent driving

Being a Good Role Model

Your driving behavior is the most powerful teacher.

Model what you expect:

• No phone use while driving
• Always wear your seat belt
• Follow speed limits
• Don't drive impaired or drowsy
• Stay calm in frustrating traffic

Admit your mistakes:

• "I shouldn't have checked that text. Don't do what I just did."
• Point out what you're doing right too
• Narrate your driving decisions

The Ongoing Conversation

Your involvement doesn't end when they get their license.

Keep talking:

• Check in about their driving regularly
• Ask about close calls or difficult situations
• Adjust rules as they demonstrate responsibility
• Stay aware of where they're going and when

Technology that can help:

• GPS tracking (with their knowledge)
• Apps that monitor driving behavior
• Dash cams
• These are tools for accountability, not spying

The Bottom Line

Teaching your teenager to drive is one of the most important safety tasks of parenthood. The time you invest in practice, the rules you set and enforce, and the example you model all contribute to their safety.

Yes, they'll push back on restrictions. Yes, the rules may feel strict. But these early months and years of driving are genuinely dangerous, and your involvement can save their life.

Give them lots of practice. Set clear rules. Enforce them consistently. Model safe driving yourself. And gradually give them more freedom as they prove themselves.

Clara is here to help you navigate teaching your teen to drive safely.