This is part of a sponsored safety campaign with DiMe Media and Allstate Foundation. However, all opinions expressed are my own.
As a parent there aren’t many things scarier than handing over the keys to your newly licensed teen driver. They are experiencing a new freedom, and an open road. But with this new freedom comes new challenges, some that can be quite scary. To make sure your teen is prepared (and you can rest easy) here are some tips I picked up from Allstate to help make that transition a little bit easier – and a lot safer -for everyone.
The Parent/Teen Contract. It seems like the biggest problem between teens and their parents is miscommunication. Helping teens, especially when it comes to driving, to know what is expected of them is important. Parents and teens can use the Allstate Parent/Teen contract to come up with agreed-upon rules of the road before they get the keys to the car! The contract also available with teen driving laws based on what state your in.
Be An Example. Did you know parents are the number one influence on teen drivers? That more parents use their phones while driving than teens? That 84% of parents and only 79% of teens admit to speeding? Being a good example by following the traffic laws, slowing down, and not playing on your phone while driving, will give your teen a better example to follow.
The Do’s & Don’ts While Behind the Wheel. Besides being an example, and signing a contract with some rules, be sure to cover anything and everything you’ve ever seen someone else do while driving. From the big things like no texting while driving, to smaller things like messing with the radio, or reaching in the backseat for something needs to be discussed. The first few months after I got my license and was driving on my own my Dad asked that I keep the radio off. I was able to ‘train’ myself to listen for emergency vehicles, as well as concentrate more on what other vehicles near me were doing. Defensive driving can be life saving.
Teach them to Change a Tire & What to do in Emergency Situations . Though this doesn’t have to do with being behind the wheel directly, knowing how to change a tire, and what to do when it happens, can keep your teen safe. Whether it’s getting off the road far enough to be a safe distance from other vehicles, or even driving a bit farther to get to a safe place to change it, teaching them how to handle flats and other breakdown situations can directly effect their safety.
Because Allstate cares about the safety of teen drivers, the Allstate Foundation has launched the #GetThereSafe Campaign.
In the last 10 years, The Allstate Foundation has helped reduce teen driving fatalities by 48%. And they aren’t stopping there.
To mark this milestone, they are sharing 10 safe driving stats and giving away $1,000 each day for 10 days!
For a chance to win $1,000, share your safe driving message. On Twitter and Instagram, just tag @Allstate using #GetThereSafe. On Facebook, comment below the posted stat and tag @Allstate using #GetThereSafe. (ends July 3rd – so hurry and get your entries in!)
Every share is an opportunity to help save a teen’s life!
