4 Simple Ways to Ensure Your Teen Doesn't Drive While Distracted

Teen drivers can't wait to get on the road and enjoy the freedom a driver's license brings. Unfortunately, teen drivers lack experience behind the wheel and are more likely to be distracted while driving. To help your teen reach their destination safely, here are four ways you can help minimize the risk that your son or daughter will be a distracted driver.

Pass on Passengers

The more people are in the car, the more possible distractions there are. While there is certainly nothing wrong with a teen driving a friend to school or to catch a movie, try to limit the number of passengers your teen may have in the car at any one time. Too much activity inside the car is likely to draw your teen driver's focus away from the road. Consider starting your teen with a one-passenger limit and increasing that number as they get more experience behind the wheel.

Stow Tech Gear

Technology such as cell phones are gigantic distractions for drivers, and teen drivers greatly underestimate the dangers of texting and driving. Teach your teen to stash their cell phone in the glove box, trunk or in another part of the car they can't reach from the driver's seat. Ask them to make calls and answer them only after pulling over in a safe place. Test them by calling them when you know they are driving to ensure that they don't answer the phone but instead return your call later.

Get the Numbers

Make sure your teen understands that distracted driving increases the odds of a collision. If they do unfortunately end up in a collision, go talk to an insurance agent from AALL Insurance or another reputable company. Have the agent show your teen the numbers, explaining just how much insurance costs jump after a collision. This is particularly effective if your teen pays for their own car insurance. Making the consequences of distracted driving tangible will help prevent the temptation.

Model Good Behavior

While teaching their teen to drive, parents often realize that they too have picked up some bad driving habits. Discourage your teen from driving distracted by making sure you don't do it either. Make sure your teen sees you set your GPS before you start driving and pull over before texting or calling anyone on your cell phone. Never eat or drink behind the wheel so your teen sees how seriously you take distracted driving. Education is your best weapon against distracted driving. Make sure your teen understands what it is and how dangerous it is. Model good behaviors yourself and don't be afraid to do whatever it takes to keep your teen on course, even if it means taking cell phones and other distractions away or taking away the car keys for a time.