Safe Driving Tips for Your Teen from Timothy Smith

More than a few parents are justifiably concerned about passing the car keys over to their teenaged driver. More teenagers are killed every year in this country by cars than guns, drugs, alcohol, suicide and violent crimes combined.

Parents fear the worst, yet underrate their responsibility in assuring the driving safety of their children. Many feel it is the responsibility of driver education programs to teach their teens the rules of the road and how to handle a vehicle.

Teenagers need at least 30 to 50 hours behind the wheel before they begin to understand the real dangers of the road and develop safe driving skills. In reality, our teenagers are only getting 1 to 6 hours behind the wheel of a car in driver's ed, in every state. That is barely enough time to understand the laws required to pass the driving test and handle the car in even the most basic traffic situations.

"Parents have the ultimate responsibility to ensure that their teenagers develop safe driving skills and behaviors," according to Timothy C. Smith, author of Crash Proof Your Kids, Make Your Teen a Safer, Smarter Driver. He also adds, "But too many, either underestimating their role or lacking effective methods, have failed to help equip their teen sto handle the single most dangerous thing they will ever do, at their most risky age."

After a rash of fatal car crashes in his neighborhood, all of which involved mistakes by teen drivers, Smith, a father of three teenagers, realized it was time to get involved in helping his own teenagers develop safe driving skills. When he tried to find information on the subject of safe driving, he found there was very little useful information available to teens and parents to take them well beyond basic driver's ed.

Using the talents that made him an award-winning author, coupled with the concerns of a parent and training for race car driving, Smith created the Crashproof Plan. It is designed to be a step by step plan to significantly reduce teen car crashes. Following his blueprint to safe teenage driving gives teenagers the skills needed to survive on the roads today, and successfully deal with adverse driving situations

Here are just a few tips that you can put toward saving your teens life:

Sit down and discuss with your teen all the dangers and issues involved: speeding, road rage, drinking, drugs, distractions, cell phones, passengers, curfews etc. The steps to learning how to drive are complex but signing a Crashproof Contract to outline the boundaries, penalties, and incentives involved for driving decisions will help them understand the process.

Your teen's participation in this process is the key to success. You must both agree to create a plan for your teen to safely assume the responsibility for use of a car. Remember, you're on their side but they need to understand driving is probably the single most dangerous thing they will ever do.

It is important to always remain a positive role model. Your children learn from you, they will emulate the driving habits you have showed them long before it was even time for them to starting thinking about learning. You cannot expect your teenagers to get into the car, use their seat belts, and practice safe driving practices if they don't see you doing the same thing.

Drive within the speed limit, use your turn signals, be a courteous driver and never use a cell phone while driving. Remember, your children are watching you, learning from your behavior and imitating you.

Keep communication lines open. That means try not to take a critical approach, but emphasize the need for safety and everyone's commitment to training them to be safer, smarter drivers. When driving with your teen, set specific goals for each driving lesson and acknowledge accomplishments. Stay calm, focus on constructive comments and making your time together positive.You don't want your teen to stop listening after all.

Use simple exercises that reinforce step by step safe driving habits. Get them behind the wheel in every type of driving condition and help them with the specific hardships they will face in each situation. Practice driving in all types of weather, drive in the dark, in the city and on the highway.

Following these proactive strategies will help your teenagers (and you) become safer, smarter drivers. The Crashproof Plan will better equip them to face any type of driving situation they will encounter when behind the wheel of a car. You will sleep better knowing that you did your part in giving your teenagers the skills they need to return home to you every time they take out the car.

About the Author

For more teen crash proofing ideas from Timothy C. Smith catch his entire enlightening interview with Randy Gilbert host of The Inside Success Show for FREE!

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