What Every Parent Should Know About Young Drivers
Obtaining ones driver’s licenseis the most exciting experiences for teens becoming young adults. It is also one of the more dangerous periods of their lives. In Britain it is estimated that over 3000 car drivers under the age of 25 are killed or severely injured in an accident. Knowing the facts will help you set limits with your own children to keep them safe on the roads.
Make sure they are well insured. Insurance for young drivers can be prohibitively expensive and many young people do not bother.There are some new alternatives. New insurance companies like Coverbox are offering cheap insurance to young drivers based on the pay as you drive insurance model.. By making driving between 11pm and 6am much more expensive it puts young people off driving during this most hazardous time.
Young adults at age 18 are three times more likely to get into an accident than a driver at the age of 45. Young drivers simply do not have the experience to deal with dangerous situations. Even if they drive safely it does not mean that others on the road are being just as cautious. Looking out for other road users is one of the main lessons to becoming a better driver!
However rawness isn’t the single thing that sets apart younger drivers from the elders. A big part of reckless driving behaviour is attitude. In particular young men are often over confident and take on extra risks. Statistically, if a young driver has friends in the car with them they are twice as likely to attempt hazardous driving to make an impression. Jerky driving, dangerous overtaking and general speeding are the most common feats. Men are twice as likely to perform these stunts and over 33% of them end up in car accidents two years after acquiring their license.
Young drivers are not entirely to blame. Parents, as role models, play an important part through their own driving behaviour. They need to talk to their children about driving safely show their offspring the proper ways to deal with difficult driving situations. Set your limits and rules with your children and hold them to it for their own safety and future.
