One for the Road
When teens drive with teens, the person riding shotgun may be the one to cause a scene.
A recent study found that when a teenager sits in the passenger-side front seat, a teen driver becomes more careless. Talk with your children--even if they don't drive--about how passengers can cause distractions, which can lead to accidents.
To keep your kids safe while others are driving, encourage them to speak up. Role-playing can help your kids understand what to say and when to say it.
The presence of a teenage boy in the front-passenger seat increases the likelihood of reckless driving. Researchers followed student drivers from 10 different high schools as they left the school parking lot. Although both male and female students tended to tailgate and drove faster than the speed limit, the most reckless driving occurred when a boy was sitting in the front passenger seat. Observers also determined that the most dangerous driving occurred with a teen male driver/teen male passenger combination.
Knowing exactly what goes on in the family car when your child takes it for a spin is extremely difficult. If your children drive or ride with teen drivers, make every effort to be aware of their whereabouts, and with whom they are sharing rides. Regularly review the rules of the road or sign them up for a defensive-driving course to improve their skills.
