Teen Drivers

My son is turning 15-years-old soon. The big question is, should I let him drive?

I am worried because I see a car as a potential weapon. They can be dangerous if put in the wrong hands.

Car accidents are the number one cause of death among teens, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Many of these deaths involve a cell phone.

Driving is important for my son, he wants the independence it will bring, but I need to make sure that he is safe. That is my job as his mother.

So what is my answer? I found a website, teendriving.com, that gave good information on the whole process of getting a drivers liscense, inclusing things parents can do to keep their teens safe on the road.

• Education: Teach them about road safety. Talk to them about the dangers of driving aggressively. Make sure they understand the rules of the road.


• A driving contract. Give the teen written expectations, including consequences for disobeying those expectations. For example, make rules about the cell phone while driving. The website also advises that teens not be allowed to drive with friends or siblings in the car. Put these rules into the driving contract and include consequences for disobeying them.


• Car care: It is important theat the car is running affectively in order to be safe. This includes, oil changes, water maintenance, engine maintenance, clutter inside the car, and tires.

Teenagers having a driver's liscense can be a big relief to the parents. The parents often begin to feel like a taxicab, but it is important to make sure the teen is mature enough to handle the responsibility of driving. It isn't only their life they are putting in danger if they don't obey the rules of the road. Parent's should be sure their teen is ready to take on that responsibility before letting their teen drive, according to teendriving.com.

For more tips on Teen driving go to: http://http//www.teendriving.com/