How to help teen drivers stay safe on the road

For many teenagers, obtaining your driver's license is seen as a rite of passage. However, with great power comes great responsibility — and an even greater risk.

Due to the increase in motor vehicle crashes among teens many schools implement driver’s education courses, mock crash/safety demonstrations and guest speaker programs. Indiana University School of Medicine Resident Indigo D. Yeager breaks down ways in which parents and teenagers can work hand-in-hand to stay safe on the roads.

Question: From a medical standpoint, what are some of the biggest health and safety risks for teen driving?

Indigo D. Yeager: Teens are already a high-risk group for motor vehicle-related injury. In fact, motor vehicle crashes are the second leading cause of death in those ages 15-19. Novice adolescent drivers have four times the overall risk of crash or near-crash events, but there are ways that we can work to reduce this risk. We can work to increase driving experience for teen drivers with increased supervised driving time, practicing under many conditions and in many environments. For example, driving when it is sunny out and when it is raining, driving in a parking lot and on a residential road. Driving is a complicated activity, and we can get used to it by practicing it more. We can also reduce other distractions by putting our cell phones away in the glove compartment or turning the radio down low.

Q: What are some ways parents can help ensure their teen stays safe on the road? Are there important safe driving tips you’d give to a teen?

Yeager: There are several ways that parents and other adults can help protect teen drivers.
One important thing you can do is talk to teens before they leave the home, about their plan and how they will be getting around to ensure it is safe. We want to encourage these behaviors for our teens and part of this is planning ahead by discussing your options. Having a back-up plan for a parent or experienced and trusted driver to pick someone up if they ever feel uncomfortable driving or uncomfortable riding with someone else is also an option.

Another great way we can manage risks is by reducing the number of other teens in the car. The number of other teens in the car increases risk of crashes alone, as well as contributing to overall distraction. Lastly, parents can make a plan for getting home with their teen and offer that a more experiences driver drives home if need be. The majority of teen crashes at night actually occur between the hours of 9-11 p.m. I think a key point here is to include your teen in the conversation — driving is a big step in a young adult’s independence and involving them in the conversation is important!

Q: Are there any particular unsafe behaviors you see more often in teen drivers?

Yeager: Traffic fatalities increase for a teen driver with each additional teen passenger present in the vehicle. Thus, more teens present in the vehicle is an increased risk for crashes. This can also contribute to distracted driving. We can think of distracted driving having several components: things that take our eyes off the road, things that take our hands off the steering wheel, and things that reduce our attention to driving. Working to reduce these aspects of distraction can help prevent distracted driving.

Overall, we also see that teen drivers often speed, which is risky for several reasons. Traveling at a higher speed requires greater control of the vehicle, and often teens may drive closer to the car in front of them when speeding, which can increase the risk of a crash. We can work to reduce these risks by talking about these things with teens and practicing safe driving.

Q: Are there any health or safety items you’d recommend teens carry in their car, like first-aid kits or emergency contact info?

Yeager: We always hope that this doesn’t happen, but it is important to talk about what to do if there is an emergency. Many cars now are equipped with technology — or you can add technology — to help detect a crash and can even call emergency services. However, not all cars have this, and technology can fail. Teens can carry an emergency information card that has their name, emergency contact, insurance information, etc. on it. Some of these even have helpful tips on the back for what to do if you are in a crash or pulled over. While it can be helpful to carry a first-aid kit, if there is a crash and anyone is injured, call 911 and follow their instructions.

Q: Do you advise any kind of physical check-ins, like making sure teens are well-rested and alert before going out on the road?

Yeager: That sounds like a great idea! I would strongly encourage parents to talk with their teens about the risks of driving, and particularly about the risks of driving at night. Forming a plan with your teen allows them to be involved in the process and helps build their independence while fostering the relationship between teen and parent as well.