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!
Oof. I’m not sure I’ll do the day my 4 year old goes to get his license. And then there’s the baby girl we’re about to have. I might have a fit!
It scares me that my kids will be driving in a few years, but I will make sure I do everything I can to keep them safe.
Thanks for the great tips. We are in the process of teaching our 18 year old to drive. I am a nerves wreck when I take him our driving.
I love what Allstate is doing to help teen drivers be better on the road. When I see the crazy teenagers zooming by on our street, it makes me sick to think what might happen to them or to my kids.
It’s great AllState is trying to help teen drivers improve. I remember when my kids started driving. They could have used these tips for sure!
This is a great campaign. I am not looking forward to the day my kids can drive! I always try to set a good example in the car for them. Hopefully my good examples will rub off on them.
Great tips! It’s coming up quickly, even tho my oldest is just turning 12 he will be 16 so soon! I need tips!
The idea of my kids driving makes me nauseous but my oldest is already eleven, so these are topics we need to start thinking about. Safety on the road is always our top priority.
I worry about my daughter even though she has been driving for a while now
I remember my mom taking me down to the Safeway parking lot so I could get practice turning corners, parking and learning how important it is to watch for kids, cars, and baskets. I’m impressed with the safe driving tips above.
My kids are well over a decade away from driving and I get scared even thinking about it! I love your tips!
So important teens know how to be safe. Good tips.
What a great campaign and great message for all teen drivers and parents! There’s so many distractions nowadays, it’s so important to be safe on the roads
I don’t know how it happened so quickly, but my nephew turned 16 last week. In addition to crying that I’m aging, now there are worries about his safety. These tips are great!
My daughter hasn’t started learning to drive yet, but her friends have. This is a good reminder for when she does decide to start driving. Thank you for these great tips!
My daughter just turned 16 and is getting ready to get her permit. These are great tips for both of us to follow!
These are really good ideas. It’s important to discuss different driving standards as often as you can. I was so worried when my kids started driving.
I hope that when my kids start driving I can continue to be a good influence on their driving skills.
What a great campaign. I gotta say though I’m not looking forward to the day my kids drive. Scares me!
This is such an awesome campaign. Good luck to everyone that entered!
You are so right about parents being the best example. My niece once commented that me and my brother deive the same. My dad taught us both so i guess we drice like him 🙂
OH, my teen is about to get his permit! I am excited for him and partly scared to death! Thanks so much for the great tips!
Great tips, it’s so hard when teens start driving. I’m not there yet but I know one day I will and I’m scared…lol
These are great tips! I need to be conscience of these tips while my kids are in the car so I can be a good example for them when they start driving.