Parents are usually stressed about letting their teen drivers be in charge of their own safety.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, teen drivers aged between 16 and 19 are more likely to get involved in a car crash for every mile driven than drivers aged 20 and older.
While these findings encourage parents to be significantly alert about the safety of their adolescents, there are still other assumptions that are simply wrong.
As in any other controversial topic, there are myths and facts that are keeping us puzzled about safety driving.
With that being said, let’s address few of the most impactful myths and facts about teen drivers so as to keep you more informed about this topic.
My teen is a responsible driver
Of course, most parents have a lot of great things to share about their kids, but are they 100% accurate?
That would be hard to tell and truly depends on the type of relationship that parents have with their teen drivers.
The fact is that all teen drivers are at a high risk when driving as they lack driving experience and judgement that only comes along with practice.
My teen has enough experience on the road
Just because your teen driver had practiced a lot during the learning period and completed the indicated hours of required practice doesn’t mean he is 100% ready for driving without facing any risk.
This is a myth that parents usually have about their teens, which is far from reality.
Taking a driver education course along with real practice is just the initial step to learning how to drive.
Your teen still needs way more practice to enhance their driving skills to a point where they can drive safely.
Driving with friends as passengers
Some parents firmly believe that their teens would be safer if having their friends joining them as passengers, which is a complete myth, if not a negligence.
Letting your teenager drive with passengers increases their chances of getting involved in a car accident owing to the element of distraction.
A well-informed parent would rather see their teenager solo drive until they feel more confident about their driving skills.
Driver’s license requirements for teenagers are good enough
To get a driver’s license in the U.S. you will need to meet the requirements established by your local state, which also includes teen driver schemes such GDL programs.
The problem is that meeting those requirements does not guarantee the new, young driver will be able to drive safely and that’s a common myth.
Driving with siblings
As driving can be a challenge, parents assuming that siblings are safer than other young passengers are simply wrong.
When it comes to safe driving, young drivers may be more vulnerable to certain mistakes, including distracted driving, compared to experienced drivers.
In fact, siblings and other young passengers are equally at risk when letting a teenager drive them around.
Car ownership helps teen drivers become responsible
In today’s world, where many young people are developing an absurd sense of entitlement, some parents try to be creative at teaching their teens how to act responsibly, especially when driving a car.
Though owning a car does not automatically help your teen be more responsible about driving.
The truth is that teen drivers are more vulnerable to crashes when owning a car due to the unlimited access they have to their vehicles, along with the few restrictions parents place on them.