There are over 8.3 million teenage drivers aged 16-19 in the US, which is around 3.7% of the nation’s drivers. Learning to drive is an exciting rite of passage for teenagers, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. As a parent, it's important to have open and honest conversations with your teen about safe driving habits before you hand over the keys.

Here are some of the most important things all parents should tell their teens.

The Dangers of Distracted Driving

The number one thing to stress to your teen is the extreme danger of distracted driving. Texting, talking on the phone, changing the radio station, eating, or even just looking away from the road for a few seconds all count as distractions. And as an experienced car accident lawyer like Attorney John C. Austin can attest, they all increase the risk of a serious or even fatal car accident. 

Around 3,000 people die each year because of distracted drivers, and distracted driving causes 8.5% of all fatal collisions on US roads. 12% of fatal car accidents in 2019 involved a teenage driver, and distracted driving is a major contributor.

Don't sugarcoat the risk of distracted driving or assume they already know better – lay out clearly and sternly the rules about no phone use whatsoever while driving, even at stoplights.

Their Brain Is Still Developing

Explain that the teen brain is not fully developed yet, especially the parts that control judgment, decision making and assessing risk. This means they need to be extra vigilant to compensate. Let them know you understand driving requires a lot of multi-tasking and quick reflexes, two things teenagers tend to struggle with. Knowing the limitations of their still-developing brain can help them take it slow as they learn.

The Dangers of Impaired Driving

Have a frank conversation about the severe legal, safety, and personal consequences of driving while impaired in any way. This includes alcohol and marijuana use of course, but also lack of sleep, emotional distress, or medications that might cause drowsiness. Make sure they feel comfortable coming to you for a ride home, no questions asked, if they ever feel it would be unsafe for them to drive.

In 2019, 24% of teen drivers tested positive for blood alcohol. In 2021, 27% of young drivers involved in fatal car accidents had blood alcohol readings of 0.1 g/dL or higher. Don’t let your teen be one of these drivers.

How to Handle Slippery Roads

If your teen is learning to drive somewhere with winter weather, have them practice braking carefully on wet, snowy or icy roads before venturing out on their own. Explain that slippery roads require them to increase following distance exponentially and avoid sudden braking or acceleration. Share any relevant bad weather driving experiences you’ve learned from over the years.

You Are Responsible for Your Passengers' Safety Too

When your teen starts driving friends around, make sure they understand they are responsible for the safety of passengers too. That means enforcing the same rules about phones, distractions, impaired driving, and risky behavior for everyone in the car. If they ever feel pressured by peers to drive unsafely, they should pull over and call you.

Reassure your teen that driving becomes second nature over time. But in these early years, it requires their full, vigilant attention. Expecting and accepting that now will lead to many years of safe, confident driving ahead.