Teen Driving

Take a quick look at the information and tools you can use to help you and your teen move through the learning-to-drive process. We cover it all from before they start driving, driving with supervision, and driving on their own. We also have a site just for teens.

New Drivers

Novice drivers are more likely to be killed in crashes than adults. In fact, the per–mile fatality rate for 16–year–olds is approximately 10 times that of adults.

• New drivers learn both good and bad driving habits mostly through experience.
• Novice drivers are less likely to stay focused, scan their surroundings effectively, identify potential hazards early, and make tough decisions quickly.
• Teen drivers perceive less risk in specific violations and dangerous situations, but more risk in relatively routine situations.
• Novice drivers usually drive too fast and too close to others, have unrealistic confidence in their own abilities, and leave inadequate safety margins in traffic.
• Teen drivers are less likely to wear their safety belts because they don't view preventive measures as important.
• Teen drivers are more likely to get in a crash when drinking and driving because their lack of experience behind the wheel cannot compensate for their impaired senses and judgment.
• Teens are more likely to overload a car, leading to high fatalities in a crash. Sixty–three percent of fatally injured teen passengers were killed in cars driven by other teens.
• Peer pressure and driver overconfidence lead teens to believe risky driving is rewarding and cool.

10 Common Driving Mistakes

1. Inattention
2. Excessive speed
3. Failure to wear seat belt
4. Distraction inside the vehicle
5. Inadequate defensive driving techniques
6. Incorrect assumptions about other roadway users
7. Tailgating or not leaving enough space between vehicles
8. Driving while fatigued, angry, or impaired by alcohol or other drugs
9. Failure to check blind spot before changing lanes
10. Failure to allow enough time or space to merge, leave, or cross traffic.

Dare to Prepare: A Pre-Permit Program for Parents and Teens

This 90–minute workshop is designed for 14– 15–year–olds and their parents to initiate conversation about safe driving before driver's education classes are taken or their permit is obtained. It discusses the ins and outs of driver education, including the guidelines for getting a permit and later a driver's license.

The workshop's objective is for everyone to be educated with the same information. Attendees receive beneficial reference materials such as sample parent–teen contracts and practical tips on teaching a teen to drive.

For more information contact the AAA Southern New England Public Affairs Department at (401) 868-2000 x2126.

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Teaching Your Teens To Drive: A Partnership For Survival

Driving is a complex and often demanding task, even for the best of drivers. A safe driver must control a vehicle; comply with traffic laws and regulations; constantly monitor traffic conditions; watch the behavior of other drivers; keep an eye out for children, pedestrians, animals and cyclists; and maneuver in all kinds of weather and road conditions. And these are just the routine requirements.

AAA's Teaching Your Teens to Drive: A Partnership for Survival program helps parents provide supervised driving experience to novice drivers. The program materials include a colorfully illustrated handbook and live–action video. An interactive CD–ROM is available as well.

Through the interactive CD–ROM or the 60-minute video, coupled with the handbook, parents can help their new drivers develop the following skills:

• Basic vehicle control
• Positioning and speed adjustment
• Passing and off–road maneuvers
• Visual search habits
• Freeway and night driving
• Driving on slippery surfaces
• Reducing risks

Any of the Teaching Your Teens To Drive materials are available to AAA Southern New England members.

Welcoming Your New Driver

Interactive Training Program For Teens

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently released an update of its popular educational tool for parents and teens, the interactive DVD, Driver–Zed. Realistic full motion graphics, exciting footage filmed from the driver's perspective and other details create a high–end computer gaming experience. Teens will be challenged as they face a wide range of risks, from a child chasing a ball into the street to aggressive, tail–gating drivers. Driver–Zed 3.0 will help teens become safer drivers and avoid life threatening vehicle crashes.
$9.00

AAA Southern New England members can obtain Driver–Zed by contacting our Public Affairs Department at (401) 868-2000, ext. 2126, or e–mail Diana Dias at ddias@aaasne.com.