Ways to Crash Proof Your Teen Driver

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Learning to drive is an exciting time in a teen’s life and is also a nerve-racking time for most parents. This is especially true when you look at teen driving statistics. According to the CDC- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, in 2015 there were 2,333 teens, between the ages of 16 and 19, who were killed in the U.S. due to motor vehicle crashes. The sad part is that most of these accidents could have been prevented! The good news is that, as a parent, you have the power to help reduce these grim statistics, especially when it comes to your teen driver!

Choose the right driver education program – The cheapest or the closest driving school may not necessarily be the best choice for your teen. It is important that you choose a school that is licensed by the Division of Motor Vehicles in your state. Also, you’ll want to ensure the instructors at the school are certified and licensed driving instructors. In addition, the driving school should offer a minimum of 36 hours of instruction time and a minimum of 6 hours of on-the-road training.

Choose a safe & reliable vehicle for your teen – One of the best ways to crash proof your teen driver is to ensure they are driving a vehicle that is safe and reliable. U.S. News & World Report released its 2017 list of Best New Cars for Teens, which include the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze, the 2017 Toyota Corolla and the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety unveiled their list of Safest Used Vehicles for Teenaged Drivers. Among large vehicles, the IIHS recommends the Volvo S80. In other categories, they recommend the Dodge Avenger for a mid-size car, the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport for a small SUV and the Volvo XC90 for a mid-size SUV.

Monitor your teen from behind the wheel – While your teen does need some level of privacy, it is also important that you keep track of their behavior while they are behind the wheel. There are several mobile apps and in-car devices to help you do just that!

• Family Orbit – Family Orbit is an app that is available through the Google Play Store and the iTunes App Store. It features GPS tracking, so you always know where your teen is, ensuring their safety. The app also features a Geofence, which will alert you if your teen goes where they aren’t supposed to.
• True Motion – True Motion is an app that promotes safe driving habits. With the app, you can see not only where your teen is currently at, but also where they have previously been. In addition, the app provides you with important details, like if they were texting while driving and if they were driving over the speed limit.
• Motosafety – Motosafety is an in-car device that easily plugs into your vehicle’s On-Board Diagnostics II Port. With this device, you can receive alerts if your teen engages in unsafe behaviors behind the wheel, such as harsh braking, rapid acceleration and speeding. The device also provides you with your teen’s real-time GPS tracking.

Head over to East Hills Chevrolet of Freeport to find a car that fits your needs!