As a parent, knowing your children are safe behind the wheel shouldn’t just stop at thinking about the sorts of driving situations they might find themselves in. In fact, it’s almost impossible to pre-empt any situation these days.
With plenty of wild driving tactics being portrayed (by professional stunt people, mind you!) in action movies, it can be easy even for adults to feel a dash of ‘inspiration’ behind the wheel and potentially start to display some less-than-desirable driving habits! You only need to watch an episode of Highway Patrol to know what we’re talking about!
Seriously though, let’s talk about teenagers. In 2019, there were 73 fatal crashes, 619 serious injury crashes, and 3,086 minor injury crashes involving young drivers (aged 15-24 years old).
In that same year, young drivers were responsible for 65 fatal crashes, 523 serious injury crashes and 2,565 minor injury crashes. [Source]
It’s absolutely terrifying to think about.
Limited experience, distracting devices, other passengers and road users can all contribute to a stressful experience for inexperienced drivers.
While phones are a source of distraction, they may also be a blessing for young drivers since, owing to certain ingenious apps, they allow parents to keep track of how responsible their children are on the road.
While kids may detest the concept of being watched by their parents, the truth is that driving can be a challenge at times, and anything that might make it a bit safer has got to be a good thing.
Ways to help young people stay safe on the road
Drivers with restricted licences are more likely than any other category to be involved in a collision (including learner drivers). The responsibility of parents in guiding and fostering safe driving behaviours is critical.
Set explicit guidelines for when they can drive that are compliant with their driver’s licence criteria to protect them (most likely before 10pm).
When it comes to your own driving, show and explain how you’re making safe choices.
It’s a good idea to enrol in a certified driving skills course. Drivers learn how to recognise potential driving dangers and how to avoid or deal with them. Passing an approved driver’s education course also reduces the amount of time a restricted driver must remain on the road.
Check the transportation arrangements before your adolescents go out. Take your teenagers home if required, regardless of how inconvenient it may be. Teach children that they should never ride with an inebriated driver.
LifeSaver app
LifeSaver is an app that prevents drivers from getting distracted while they’re driving.
When the app technology detects that a car is being driven, it stops the driver from using their phone while driving by showing a ‘keep your eyes on the road’ or ‘locked by LifeSaver’ warning. Love it!
When your teenage driver on the road, the app still allows them to use Google Maps and make hands-free calls, but all other phone capabilities are disabled. How’s that for super safe driving?
When the parental mode is turned on, LifeSaver will alert parents if a motorist attempts to use their phone while driving.
Download LifeSaver on The App Store.
Download LifeSaver on Google Play.