Teaching Your Teen to Be a Good Driver

Teen drivers have the highest injury and fatality rates of any age group. If you're the parent of a young driver, you can help protect your teenager by learning about the problem and taking steps to decrease your teenager’s risk of sustaining an injury or dying in a car crash. 

According to the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) [1] young drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 years of age have the highest rates of motor vehicle collisions (MVC). In 2013, this age group represented 21% of all MVC on Quebec roads.

• Buckle up: Wear a seat belt at all times. 30% of drivers who die in a MVC on Quebec roads were not wearing a seat belt (SAAQ, 2015).
• A zero-tolerance rule about drinking and driving.  
• Don't let a teen drive while using a cell phone, eating or playing loud music.
• Give your teenager lots of time to practice. Once your teenager has a learning permit, drive with the teenager often and in all possible driving conditions. 
• Before setting out, plan the route and discuss it with your teen. Begin with 15- to 20-minute sessions and gradually increase the time to an hour. Give positive feedback. Give specific instructions. 
• Set a curfew time for night driving. More than 60 percent of teen motor-vehicle deaths occur between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
• Parents, be good drivers yourselves. Teens learn to drive from their parents, be sure you're teaching them good technical driving skills, respect for other drivers and good judgment.
• Have your teen pay for some or all of the insurance, car payment, gas and maintenance. Teens who contribute are more likely to drive responsibly.
• Choose your teen's car with care. Avoid sports cars with performance images; and small or older cars that offer little crash protection. Instead, look for a midsized or full-sized vehicle with a sedate image and a smaller motor.
• Responsibility. Know your teen. Make sure he/she is responsible on the road.