By Colleen Benzin | Contributor
Navigating the world of teen drivers can be both exhilarating and daunting. While it’s a relief to reduce your carpool commitments, the thought of your teen behind the wheel can be nerve-wracking. Fortunately, there is a wealth of useful information available to help you guide your child towards becoming a conscientious driver and to prepare your family for this new chapter.
Educate them about distracted driving
For parents, having a teen learn to drive is one of the most anxiety-inducing experiences. While concerns about essential skills such as merging and checking mirrors are important, it’s crucial to discuss one of the leading dangers on the road—distracted driving.
Most people immediately associate distracted driving with texting. However, the reality is that there are numerous distractions that drivers encounter daily without recognizing their impact. Our brains can focus on one task at a time; what we consider “multitasking” is merely rapidly shifting our focus between tasks. Thus, any activity that diverts attention from driving qualifies as distracted driving.
To help ensure your teen remains attentive and safe behind the wheel, consider these three straightforward strategies:
- Be an Example: Demonstrate responsible driving behavior if you wish for your teen to follow suit. Set aside time for practical driving sessions to help cultivate habits that minimize distractions.
- Make Safe Driving Engaging: Encourage good habits by implementing rewards or using eye-catching reminders like a painted fingernail or a red string on the steering wheel. For instance, you might agree that every time you catch one another being distracted, the offender contributes a dollar to a jar aimed at supporting safe driving initiatives.
- Leverage Technology: Utilize apps and devices designed to promote safe driving practices. For example, Bouncie, a feature offered by Apparent Insurance, can alert you if your teen is engaging in risky behavior like hard braking or speeding, which may indicate distraction. Many smartphones also come equipped with features to enhance focus while driving.
Prepare them for an accident
While no one wants to think about accidents, it is vital for teens to know the appropriate steps to take immediately following an incident and in the days that follow.
Keep the following checklist with 10 steps for accident protocol in their glove compartment:
- Move to safety—relocate the vehicle to the roadside or a safe parking lot and turn on hazard lights.
- Switch off the engine.
- Check if anyone requires immediate medical attention.
- Notify the police, even for minor collisions.
- Document the accident scene and capture photos using a mobile device.
- Exchange relevant information with the other driver, including names, contact details, license plate numbers, insurance information, and vehicle details.
- Avoid discussing fault with the other party.
- Contact the car insurance provider promptly.
- Later that day, write down all details regarding the accident and store it where it can be easily accessed.
- As time passes, maintain a file of all documents and correspondence related to the incident, keeping everything organized in one folder.
Reduce the cost of adding them to your policy
It’s common knowledge that adding a teen driver to your insurance policy can lead to significant rate increases. Here are several tips to help manage your expenses effectively:
- Highlight your teen’s academic achievements! Many insurers provide a Good Student Discount for learners maintaining at least a “B” average.
- Insure multiple vehicles. Including another car on your policy is often more affordable than many realize—clients can save as much as 26% with Apparent Insurance by insuring multiple vehicles.
- Investigate accident forgiveness options. Given the tendency for novice drivers to have accidents within their initial driving year, Apparent Insurance offers an upgraded accident forgiveness plan that will not raise your rates after the first accident.
- Consider how frequently they will be driving. Some insurance companies provide discounts for students attending school away from home, which can help mitigate costs when your older teen heads to college.
- Promote safe driving habits. A Diminishing Deductible reduces the collision deductible on your policy by $100 each year if your teen maintains a record of safe driving.
The final takeaway
Driving can induce stress, regardless of one’s experience level. Although your adolescent may be eager to start driving, they may also feel apprehensive. Likewise, you may experience your own share of anxiety. Fortunately, Apparent Insurance offers unique features designed to support both teen drivers and their parents, allowing you to feel more at ease during this significant transition—after all, this auto insurance company was developed by parents for parents.
Editor’s Note: This article was first published in 2020. Colleen Benzin is an insurance expert with Apparent Insurance. For more information, visit ApparentInsurance.com.
