On the road, there can be a lot of distractions, and that can be dangerous -- even deadly.
On top of that, inexperience behind the wheel can make new drivers more prone to car accidents.
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for U.S. teens ages 15 to 18, and in 2022, more than 2,500 people were killed in crashes involving young drivers ages 15 to 18.
“There are a lot of options for parents who want to keep their teen driver safe,” said Dr. Maneesha Agarwal, a pediatric emergency medicine physician with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Agarwal said teaching teens good driving happens starts long before they’re old enough to get a license. Parents need to set an example for their children, she said.
“Don’t text and drive, always buckle your seat belt. Make sure that when you’re driving, you are paying attention to the road and you’re not participating in risky activities like speeding or tailgating,” Agarwal said.
Once they’re old enough to get behind the wheel, Agarwal said teens should practice as much as possible with parents next to them in the vehicle.
“We also know that things like parent teen driving contracts can make a huge difference in keeping teens safe,” Agarwal said.
That’s a way for parents to set rules and expectations for a licensed teenaged driver, including night driving restrictions, restricting passengers, prohibiting phones and devices while driving, and requiring seat belt use at all times.
And Agarwal said it’s also important to follow state laws.
In Florida, teens with a learner’s license can drive only in daylight hours for the first three months and only until 10 p.m. after three months. Once they have their license, 16-year-old drivers can only be on the road between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. and 17-year-old driers can drive between 5 a.m. and 1 a.m. Click here for more specifics on teen driving restrictions.
“We know that when teens drive late at night, when they’re driving with more than one passenger, those are all things that increase their risk of getting in a crash,” Agarwal said.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it’s also important for parents to talk to their children about the dangers of drug and alcohol use. Remind them that it’s against the law to drink under the age of 21, and it’s illegal -- and deadly -- to be under the influence while driving.