Here are some facts about teens and driving:

-Motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 cause of teen death in the United States
-Six thousand teens die each year in traffic accidents.
-Teens are 10 times more likely to die in a vehicle accident than the average driver.
-a teenager is injured in a motor vehicle accident every 15 minutes.

The best way for a teenager to learn to drive, is to practice “avoidance and survivability.”

“Avoidance” means to avoid distractions when driving — talking or texting on cell phones, talking to a friend in the car, eating or paying more attention to the stereo.

“Survivability” is simple….”Buckle Up”! In many accidents involving teens, the teen has been ejected through the windshield because they were not wearing their seat belts

The standards for teens to get a drivers license is higher today than it was when we were learning to drive. Many states now require at least 30 hours behind the wheel before issuing a license. (Most veteran driving instructors suggest at least 40 hours practice). Since most schools provide only about 5-6 hours of driving training most of the responsibility is on the parent.

Here are some tips to help you help your teen become a better driver.

When you first take your teen out, start in an area where there is very little traffic. Picking a familiar area makes it easier and more comfortable for the driver and teacher. Avoid talking down to your student or loosing patience with them, the extra stress can only hurt the learning process. Give directions well in advance. As your teen becomes more comfortable behind the wheel, less instruction will be needed and you can increase the responsibilities of your teen. Eventually taking them driving at night and then in poor weather.

Teaching your teen to drive starts before your teen even starts to drive. Hopefully, by watching your driving techniques your child should have already picked up some ‘good’ habits. Ultimately, parents should make the best teachers for their kids, but if this is not possible, there are many public and private companies offering driving instruction.