Rules of the Road for Teen Drivers

The Ground Rules

A few areas to consider:

• Distractions. It's wise to prohibit multitasking while behind the wheel, whether it's text messaging, making phone calls, or operating MP3 players. Give your teen alternatives to these bad habits, like pulling into a parking lot to answer and make calls and getting directions before leaving for an unfamiliar place. And be sure to set a good example in the way you handle distractions while driving.
• Passengers. Many states restrict the number or ages of passengers that teens can have when they first get their license. Learn the rules in your state and consider adding others based on your child's driving experience, temperament, and the driving situations likely to occur. You may want to start by prohibiting your teen from driving with peers, then loosening the restriction as your teen gains experience and comfort.
• Nighttime driving. Ease teens into driving after dark. While many states' provisional licenses don't require teens to be home until midnight, you might want to set an earlier curfew, then extend it as you see fit.
• Speeding. Make sure that your teen driver understands the consequences of speeding — how it can lead to accidents, costly tickets, demerit points associated with tickets, and revoked driving privileges. You might want to make your young driver responsible for paying speeding tickets and any insurance rate hikes they cause.
• Making seatbelts mandatory. Studies show that teens are the least likely age group to wear safety belts, so it's important to stress the importance of wearing them. Make buckling up a rule for your teen and all passengers. Nearly every state fines drivers and passengers for not wearing seatbelts, sometimes as much as $200!
• Drinking and driving. Teens should understand that driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol — or getting in the car with someone who is — can be a fatal mistake. Encourage teens to call for a ride — regardless of the time or whether they're somewhere off-limits — when in a situation where the driver has been drinking, and promise to withhold punishment and questions.
• Maintenance. Teach your teen basic car maintenance that will keep the car safe and prevent breakdowns, such as:
  • checking the gas tank
  • checking fluids (oil and fluids for the brakes, steering column, and windshield washers)
  • oil change every 3,000 miles
  • tire air pressure — tires should be inspected and checked every time the vehicle is driven
  • maintaining clean windows (inside and out) and mirrors

Review tasks like reading a tire gauge and checking oil — first demonstrating, then supervising as your teen does it. Keep a notebook in the glove compartment to keep track of when oils, fluids, and air pressure are checked.

• Maintaining schoolwork and other responsibilities. Consider whether you want to make driving privileges contingent on maintaining a certain GPA or other responsibilities, like doing chores.
• Weather conditions. Set ground rules with your teen about which conditions are OK to drive in and which aren't. Explain that if he or she is driving and a strong storm starts, it makes sense to pull over and wait it out — even if curfew is compromised because of bad weather, safety always comes first.

Consider putting the rules in writing by creating a Driver Agreement that clearly states the rules and the consequences for not following them. This eliminates gray areas and stresses that you take the rules seriously and your teen should too.

And from time to time, get in the passenger seat while your teen drives. This will give you a sense of how comfortable he or she is behind the wheel — and how comfortable you are handing over the keys. Creating rules for the road now can help build a foundation for safe driving that your teen will have forever.