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5 Tips to Help Your Teenager Drive Smarter


teen driver

HAMILTON, Ontario--May 20, 2014: Road crashes continue to be a leading cause of death among teenagers in Ontario. One element that has been proven to make a difference is the active involvement of parents in properly educating their teen on the topic of safe driving.

G1.ca would like to encourage parents and teens to sign the Parent Driver Contract. The downloadable contract can be found on the G1.ca website. This contract will remind parents to review the rules of the road, the importance of not driving distracted, what it means to be a responsible driver, and the consequences that will be imposed if the rules in the contract are not followed. Below are 5 tips that parents can use to help their teens drive smarter:

1. Lead by example – as the parents of a teenager, it will be more important to model the correct behavior. Follow the rules of the road. Always wear a seat belt. Don’t talk or text on a cellphone while driving.

2. Keep the lines of communication open – ensure that your teen feels completely comfortable coming to you with their driving concerns. Teens need to know and understand that being honest about where they are going is important for their safety.

3. Set reasonable curfews – research shows that most accidents occur between 9 pm and 6 am. Be sure to set the appropriate curfew for your child and request that the keys are given directly to you when they come home.

4. Limit the number of passengers - put a cap on the number of passengers allowed in your teen's car. For teenagers, the relative risk of a fatal crash increases as the number of passengers increases.

5. Speak up - encourage teenage drivers to exercise their rights as passengers. Only 44 percent of teens say they would speak up if someone were driving in a way that scared them.

Did you know?

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 16 to 25 year olds, and alcohol and/or drugs are a factor in 55% of those crashes. (MADD Canada Statistics)