Safe Driving Plan for Teenagers by Timothy Smith

More than a few parents are justifiably concerned about passing the car keys over to their teenaged driver. More teenagers are killed every year in this country by cars than guns, drugs, alcohol, suicide and violent crimes combined.

Parents underrate their responsibility in assuring the driving safety of their children while fearing the worst. Most look to the driver education programs to teach their teens the rules of the road and how to handle an automobile.

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.

Using the talents that made him an award-winning author, coupled with the concerns of a parent and training for race car driving, Smith created the Crashproof Plan. It is designed to be a step by step plan to significantly reduce teen car crashes. Following his blueprint to safe teenage driving gives teenagers the skills needed to survive on the roads today, and successfully deal with adverse driving situations

Here are just a few tips that you can put toward saving 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.

You're being watched! Your kids watch the way you drive every day and have been familiar with your driving habits for a long time. If you don't fasten your seat belt, don't expect your teen to. An important aspect of the plan is yourself, the parent, becoming a positive role model.

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.

Communicate with your children about becoming safer and smarter drivers. Take an approach that does not criticize your teen, but emphasizes the measures needed for driving safely. Remain calm while driving with your teen, and focus on constructive ways to focus on their driving more effectively. You don't want your teenagers to turn you off, so make your time together and your lessons positive, with specific goals for each driving session.

Use simple exercises that reinforce step by step safe driving habits. Get them behind the wheel in every type of driving condition and help them with the specific hardships they will face in each situation. Practice driving in all types of weather, drive in the dark, in the city and on the highway.

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.