By Colleen Benzin | Contributor
Teen drivers bring a mix of excitement and anxiety. While having a teen behind the wheel means fewer carpools for parents, it also comes with the worry of their safety. Thankfully, there are many resources available to help prepare your child for responsible driving and ease the transition for your family as they embrace this new stage.
Educate Them About Distracted Driving
As a parent of a teenage driver, one of the most daunting moments is when they begin their driving lessons. It’s natural to be concerned about their ability to master techniques such as merging and checking mirrors, but it’s crucial to also stress the dangers of distracted driving.
When we mention “distracted driving,” many immediately think of texting. However, distractions can come from a variety of sources, often without drivers even recognizing them. The reality is that the brain can only focus on one task at a time; thus, what we consider “multitasking” is merely switching between tasks rapidly. This means that any diversion from the road constitutes distracted driving.
To ensure your teen remains attentive on the road, encourage safe driving habits by implementing these three strategies:
- Set a Good Example: If you want your teen to drive responsibly, you must model that behavior yourself. Dedicate time for practice to help them develop habits that minimize distractions.
- Make Safe Driving Engaging: Encourage positive behaviors by offering rewards and eye-catching reminders—like a red nail polish or a red string tied to the steering wheel. You might also create a fun challenge where a distracted driver has to contribute money to a jar that will be donated to a safe driving initiative.
- Leverage Technology: There are plenty of apps and devices that you and your teen can use to promote safe driving practices. For instance, Bouncie, a feature available through Apparent Insurance, alerts you if your teen is speeding or braking too hard, indicating possible distractions. Many smartphones also include functions to help maintain focus while driving.
Prepare Them for an Accident
While we all wish that accidents would never happen, it’s essential for teens to understand the steps to take immediately and afterward if an accident does occur.
Keep this checklist of 10 actions to take in the event of an accident in their glove compartment:
- Get to a safe location—move the vehicle to the roadside or a nearby parking lot and activate the hazard lights.
- Turn off the engine.
- Check on everyone involved to ensure they do not require urgent medical help.
- Contact the police, even for minor collisions.
- Document the accident scene and take photographs using a phone.
- Swap information with the other driver: names of drivers/passengers, contact details, license plate numbers, insurance information, and make/model of the vehicles.
- Avoid discussing fault with the other party.
- Reach out to the auto insurance company as soon as possible.
- Later that day, record all relevant details about the incident and store this information in an accessible location.
- Keep a file of all related documents and communications as time goes on, ensuring everything is organized in one place.
Reduce the Costs of Adding Them to Your Policy
It’s well-known that adding a teen driver to your insurance can significantly raise your premiums. Here are several tips to help keep your costs manageable while avoiding surprises:
- Highlight Your Teen’s Academic Achievements! Many insurers provide a Good Student Discount for students maintaining a “B” average or higher.
- Consider Multi-Car Policies. Adding another vehicle to your insurance is frequently more economical than people tend to realize—Apparent Insurance customers can save up to 26% when insuring multiple cars.
- Look for Accident Forgiveness Policies. Teens are statistically more likely to get into an accident during their first year of driving, and Apparent Insurance offers upgraded accident forgiveness, meaning the first accident won’t affect your rates.
- Be Aware of Their Driving Frequency. Some insurance providers offer a student-away-at-school discount, which can result in savings when older teens go off to college.
- Promote Safe Driving Practices. A Diminishing Deductible can decrease your collision deductible by $100 each year simply for safe driving.
The Bottom Line
Driving can be a nerve-racking experience, no matter how experienced you are. Even though your teen may be thrilled to learn to drive, they might also feel anxious. While this can be a stressful period for you as a parent, Apparent Insurance is here to help ease your worries with unique offerings designed for teen drivers and their parents—because the auto insurance company is made by parents, for parents.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2020. Colleen Benzin is an insurance specialist with Apparent Insurance. For more information, visit ApparentInsurance.com.
