Your teen is driving. Fantastic. Most parents’ worst nightmare is the day their teen takes the car out for the first time after getting their driver’s license. According to the CDC, the chances of drivers aged 16-19 being in a fatal crash is THREE times higher than those, aged 20 and up. That statistic alone is enough to send most parents into an immediate anxiety attack, but it doesn’t have to. By arming teens with the knowledge and tools they need to be safe, successful drivers, parents can rest more peacefully when their teen takes the car.
So, what can parents do to ensure the safety of their teen drivers and increase their chances of surviving an accident?
- Encourage teens to take a defensive driving course. Not only will this make them more aware of other drivers and how to avoid an accident before it happens, most insurance companies offer discounts to new drivers who have taken the course.
- Ensure teens can change a flat tire. Make sure the vehicle is equipped with the tools needed to perform a tire change should the need arise. Empowering teens with the knowledge to help themselves minimizes risks associated with having to obtain aid from strangers.
- Educate teens about the dangers of texting and driving. No text or call is so important that they should put their lives and the lives of passengers on the line. It can wait!
- Provide teen drivers with safety products that save lives. With so many products on the market today, it’s hard to know which ones to choose. Here are several choices that are multi-functional and easily purchased online.
- ChargeHub V2 – Not only is the ChargeHub V2 a powerful, in-car charger, it is also equipped with a seatbelt cutter and a tungsten steel window punch.
- JumpSmart – This “smart” tool will not only charge a phone/laptop, it will jumpstart a vehicle. It also includes a 4-mode LED flashlight.
- Wagan Original FRED Flashing Roadside Emergency Disc. Road flares are great for providing the visibility needed to stay safe at the side of the road, but their single-use application and dangerous flames don’t make them the smartest choice for teen girls. The Wagan Flashing Roadside Emergency Discs are bright, rugged and waterproof, and they can run up to 38 hours off of three AAA batteries.
