Like father like son, like mother like daughter. It turns out these are true statements when it comes to teen driving behavior. A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety confirms our suspicion that, "Do as I say, not as I do," is not an effective concept while mentoring your teen driver.
Teens whose parents had three or more violations on their records were 38% more likely to receive a violation themselves compared to teens whose parents didn't have any violations. The same holds true with parents that have three or more crashes on their record; their teens have a 22% high risk of crashing then teens whose parents are accident free.
Similarly, parents who regularly wear their seat belt have a positive influence on their teens. Parents who are not regular seat belt users tend to raise teens who also don't wear seat belts.
Another thing for parents to remember is that teens start observing your driving behavior before they are even teens. Parents can help themselves by remembering to practice good driving habits anytime children are present in the car. During a safe driving program conducted in Orange County new teen drivers were asked about poor driving behaviors they have observed their parents practice. The common responses were distracted driving (including texting and cell phone use), frequent speeding, aggressive driving, following too closely, yelling at other drivers and other actions which increase crash rates and the chance of receiving a citation.
We need to remember that, as mentors, we have many more years of driving experience than a new driver. It's easy for us to take for granted the complexities needed to safely operate a motor vehicle. Although teens may intellectually understand this, they are still likely mimic adult driving patterns...both good and bad.
What can parents do to set a good example for their teens? Here are a few suggestions:
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Always wear a seat belt and insist that everyone in the car does likewise.
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Understand that a major cause of collisions for new drivers is distractions; limit or eliminate them while driving.
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Watch your speed, your children do.
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Practice courteous driving.
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Avoid verbal hostilities toward other drivers.
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Watch common driving issues like following too closely, stopping at stop signs and using your turn signals.
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And finally drive like you want your son or daughter to drive when you are not looking!
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