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Crash Proof Your Teens: Safe Driving Techniques by Timothy Smith

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Written by DrProactive, Randy Gilbert, Producer of Inside Suc

Friday, 06 June 2008

by DrProactive,RandyGilbert,ProducerofInsideSuccessRadio

Many parents today are apprehensive about handing over the car keys to their teenager, and rightfully so. Car crashes kill more teenagers every year in this country than guns, drugs, alcohol, suicide and violence combined.

If a parent does not recognize the importance of their own teaching role to insure the safe driving habits of their children, they are right to fear the worst. Unfortunately, many parents feel that driver education programs ought to be enough to teach their teen how to handle a vehicle and the rules of the road.

The reality is that in every state of the U.S., driver's ed programs only provide 1 to 6 hours of 'behind-the-wheel' time. That's hardly enough time to memorize, much less understand the laws and pass the driving exam. In order to competently handle a car in the most common of traffic situations, they should have at least 30 to 50 hours driving time. Only with this extra time, time with a parent or mentor, will they develop the actual skills required for the constant dangers of the real road.

Parents have the ultimate responsibility to ensure their teens are properly educate with the skills and behaviors required to be safe and smart drivers. Timothy Smith, author of Crash Proof Your Kids, Make Your Teen a Safer, Smarter Driver believes "Either underestimating their role and lacking effective methods parents are failing to equip their teenagers with the skills to handle the single most dangerous thing they will ever do in their life and at their most risky age."

Smith, a father of three teenagers, decided it was time to get more involved after a series of fatal car crashes happened in his neighborhood involving mistakes by teen drivers. He began looking for information that would help his own teenagers develop safe driving skills but found little that was cohesive and useful. Nothing seemed to be available beyond basic driver's ed.

Smith, an award-winning author and trained race car driver decided to do further research and created a step by step plan designed to Radically reduce teen automobile crashes. Following the Crashproof Plan he developed will give your teenager the skills needed to be successful drivers and survive in all adverse driving situations.

The following tips might just save your teens life:

Sit down with your teenager and discuss the process of learning to drive, and sign a Crashproof Contract that outlines the boundaries, establishing penalties and incentives for driving decisions and use of the car. Discuss all the issues and risks involved: speeding, road rage, drinking, drugs, distractions, cell phones, passengers, curfews, etc.

Get your teenager's participation in the process and agreement of creating a plan for them to take responsibility of the car. Doing so will help them understand this is about assisting them in handling the single most dangerous thing they will probably ever do.

It is important to always remain a positive role model. Your children learn from you, they will emulate the driving habits you have showed them long before it was even time for them to starting thinking about learning. You cannot expect your teenagers to get into the car, use their seat belts, and practice safe driving practices if they don't see you doing the same thing.

Adhere to the speed limit, signal when turning, be a courteous driver and never use a cell phone while driving. Always keep in mind, your children are watching you, learning from your behavior and imitating you.

Keep communication lines open. That means try not to take a critical approach, but emphasize the need for safety and everyone's commitment to training them to be safer, smarter drivers. When driving with your teen, set specific goals for each driving lesson and acknowledge accomplishments. Stay calm, focus on constructive comments and making your time together positive.You don't want your teen to stop listening after all.

Take it step by step, using simple exercises that reinforce safe driving habits. Go over braking in emergency situations, drive in all types of inclement weather, drive in the dark, in the city and on the highway. Get them behind the wheel in every type of driving condition and help them with the specific challenges each different driving situation presents.

Follow these proactive strategies and help your teenagers (and you) become safer, smarter drivers. The Crashproof Plan will prepare them to face any kind of driving situation that they may encounter when driving a car. You will sleep better at night knowing that you did your part in giving your children the skills they need to return home safely every time they take a drive.

About the Author:

For more teen crash proofing ideas from Timothy C. Smith catch his entire enlightening interview with Randy Gilbert host of The Inside Success Show for FREE!

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