Teenage Driver Car = Potential Accident
It's amazing how much expertise comes with the picture ID from the DMV.
We are on our third (and last) teenage driver and wanted to share our strategies and tips on how we kept them safe from accidents that usually accompany young drivers.
We still have one more to leave the nest, but so far we have been successful in keeping the same car through all three children. Of course, like other parents, we tried to appeal to their sense of responsibility and level of maturity needed to get a seat behind the wheel.
Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.
Our thought process was simple, if they were responsible for the cost of gas and insurance, they would be more likely to appreciate the opportunity given them. Hopefully, thinking twice about speeding or driving like idiots for fear of getting a ticket and the cost of insurance going through the roof.
In addition, tickets would be their responsibility. The cost of gas also played into the strategy since they had to fill the tank, they thought twice about driving in the first place, thereby reducing the number of frivolous road trips.
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But Dad, It's Ugly.
The Family Wagon
As many did in our generation, we both grew up in working class environments, having to pay for everything we wanted. We did not have the ability to tap into parental resources as some kids do today. We learned to appreciate what we had simply because we had blood, sweat and tears vested into them.My first car was no exception. It was a 1966 Chevy Impala, a huge white Boat of a car, but it was all mine. I had saved for months working as a paper boy/busboy to be able to afford the purchase and ongoing monthly insurance, gas and repair bills. Of course, once I owned such a stunning piece of machinery, I had to care, feed and add my special touches to my symbol of independence, all of course coming out of my own pocket.
Now to be fair, we could have made our first born purchase his own car. But like many parents, we were tied to the notion that "our kids should have a better life than we did". However, we struggled with this idea as well as; "What was good enough for us should be good enough for him".
So, instead of making him purchase his own vehicle, we decided to compromise, and allow him to drive the family station wagon. Keep in mind that this car was not the large buick that our grandparents drove, but a safe, practical car that provided basic transportation and already paid for. The basic criteria was that it had to have airbags and seatbelts, of course. It had the added feature of being all wheel drive so it handled better than most cars in inclement weather.
Based on its Crash Test Safety Rating, it was a good choice and we felt this was the best candidate for him to drive. Of course, the idea of driving the family wagon was detrimental to his coolness, but it was either that or walk. We thought the choice was obvious.
Safe Driving Information
The Worst Parents Ever
Sticking to our guns
Continuing this strategy with our other two children we have had the same successes, although it has been a struggle to receive insurance payments, on a regular basis, we do give them some slack now and again.
Teenage Accidents
Top reasons Teens Get into Accidents

Inexperience/Immaturity along with speeding
Drinking/Drug Usage and driving
Lack of seat belt Use
Distracted driving -
(cell phone,loud music,teen passengers)
Driving during Late Night
Safety considerations for Your Teenager
- Car Color may effect your Safety
- White has topped some lists as the safest color as it can be seen under various conditions.
- Traffic fatalities decrease 10% this year - USATODAY.com
- Traffic fatalities on the nation's roads are down nearly 10% over last year and the number of people killed in crashes this year is expected to reach the lowest level since the government began tracking them in 1966, Transportation Secretary Mary...
- Device disables cell phones to prevent use behind the wheel - Teenagers Watchout
- New device that prevents cellphone usage while driving.
Driving ages for Teens
The IIHS Report on changing the Driving Age:
Status Report, Vol. 43, No. 7, Sept. 9, 2008 3
WHEN TEENAGERS CAN GET LICENSES in United States
South Dakota 14 1/2
Idaho 15
Montana 15
Mississippi 15 1/2
New Mexico 15 1/2
South Carolina 15 1/2
Indiana 16 1/2
Maryland 16 1/2
Virginia 16 1/2
Connecticut 16 1/2
Delaware 16 1/2
District of Columbia 16 1/2
Kentucky 16 1/2
Massachusetts 16 1/2
New York 16 1/2
Pennsylvania 16 1/2
Rhode Island 16 1/2
New Jersey 17
Other US states 16
Teen Driver Poll
Recent blog posts about drivers ed driving game
- Victoria Launches Keys2Drive Driver Education Program | Gov Monitor
- The Victorian rollout of keys2drive - an innovative driver education program which will provide up to 50000 free driving lessons to learner drivers and their parents - has begun. ... Provides an interactive website offering short instructional videos, educational games and the location of their nearest accredited driving instructor; and. Delivers the country's first ever national accreditation scheme for driving instructors. The program is a practical way of equipping ...
- Nintendo World Report - DS Review: C.O.P. The Recruit
- C.O.P. is mostly just a driving game. The majority of missions ask you to either ram fleeing cars into submission, follow a fleeing car without falling too far behind, or racing from checkpoint to checkpoint within a defined time limit. When you're not in missions ... There is no voice acting to speak of, with the exception of the screaming pedestrians who you are subjecting to your drivers ed gone wrong. The music is technically fine, but just unpleasant to listen to. ...
- Drivers Ed 2
- Choose your instructor and practice your driving skills, don't make to many mistakes or your driving instructor will get mad at you. Play the best car games, racing games, stunt games, dirt bike games, motorbike games, ...
- Free Online Drivers Ed Resources | Homeschooling High School
- Free Online Drivers Ed Resources. Today you'll find several good and free :) online resources for teaching Driver's Education. These resources are perfect for homeschooled teens. Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) by Ford ... Four study modules , a quiz, car care videos, interactive games, and enhanced curriculum noting the importance of eco-driving to personal safety and the environment. Free Educator Packet that can be used by students and parents at home, ...
Teen Driver Books
Recommended for the Parents of Teenage Drivers
Teaching Your Teen Behind the Wheel: A Parent's Guide for their Teenage Driver
Amazon Price: $13.95 (as of 11/26/2009) ![]()
List Price: $13.95
Usually ships in 24 hours
Passing the Written DMV Test
Release Date: 05/15/2007
The Driving Book: Everything New Drivers Need to Know but Don't Know to Ask
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 11/26/2009) ![]()
List Price: $16.95
Usually ships in 24 hours
Reader Feedback
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Reply
- defensivedriver defensivedriver Nov 12, 2009 @ 1:46 pm
- I love your emphasis on the issues faced by teen drivers and their parents. I think that everyone with kids learning to drive should spend a good deal of time thinking about how they are going to teach safety first behind the wheel. I recommend putting teens through an online defensive driving course such as this one: http://teendriving.defensivedriving.com/ (of course the course your teen takes will depend on the state you live in). Computer-based courses keep teens involved in the learning process and have been proven to improve driver safety.
