Audrey Griffin

Kendall Jenner Gets a New Range Rover For Her Sweet 16

Let’s face it, whether it is to get to and from school, practice, the mall, or to a friend’s house, sooner or later your teen will eventually want four wheels of his or her own to roll around town in.  The question is when will he or she be ready?  I am having to ask myself a lot of these questions as of late, especially since my oldest daughter has been counting down the days to when she can start driving and we are closing in on that date within a few months.  Oh and she has even picked out a car too, but I kindly had to remind her this wasn’t going to be a re-enactment of Kendall Jenner’s sweet sixteen, so don’t go looking for a Range Rover like mine in the driveway… in due time.  I am sure we will equip her with a safe, reliable and cute car when the time is right, but when will the time be right?

You have to ask does your teen need a car? If so why?  Will it save you numerous car trips to and from school?  What will the costs be and will it be too much?  Will your teen need to work to pay a car note, insurance or gas?  Will she be working just to keep the car and how will this effect their schooling?  I don’t believe the car should be given free and clear perhaps a part-time weekend job to pick up some of the responsibilities of having a car, but will mom and dad be able to carry the remaining expense? However it may work, if it is going to interfere with their grades perhaps it is not worth it.  Everyone must discuss, know and understand that this is a huge responsibility that is and should be taken seriously, because there are no free rides in the real world.

Now every kid matures at different levels and it will truly be the parents final judgment on when they are ready.  Here are some guidelines on whether you can realistically say your child is ready.  One that is not skewed, whether you think they are still your little babies in your head, or whether you spoil them rotten and believe they can pretty much get whatever they want.  If you ask yourself these questions and the majority of the answers are yes, it is probably safe to say that your teen is probably ready for an automobile:

1.  Are they getting good grades?

2. Do they do what they should do with out you asking the majority of the time?  (Not all the time, they are still teenagers)

3.  Are they respectful of the rules and regulations you set in the house and at school and do they do what they are supposed to do? (Even when their friends are around)

4.  Did they take and pass a driver’s education course, whether it is through the school or the DMV?

5. Most importantly, how are your driving habits?

**If you think your teen couldn’t care less about what you’re doing (or that they don’t even notice), here are a few numbers – and these are for you:

• 66% of teens say they care what their parents think about cell-phone use while driving.

• 53% of teens say they’ve seen someone drive while impaired (maybe it’s a friend, maybe it was you).

• 56% of teens say they depend on their parents for driving instruction.

If you can honestly answer these questions with facts, not what you think your little teen angel would or wouldn’t do, you can make a sound judgment and feel comfortable about the decision you make one way or another.  These questions can tell you if they are mature enough to handle a big responsibility as driving a car and if your family is ready for a new driver in the household.

**Some other serious facts to consider are:

• Car crashes are the number one cause of teen deaths in the U.S.

• Drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 are four times more likely to die in a crash than drivers between the ages of 25 and 69.

• Teens have the highest chance of having a fatal crash within the first six months of getting their driver’s license.

• 2,739 teenagers died in car accidents in the United States during 2008.

• 5,864 fatal accidents involved teen drivers in 2008. This number is higher than the previous one because the teen driver often has to live with the guilt of causing someone else’s death.

• Teen drivers were involved in 12% of all fatal crashes reported to the police.

• Males are twice as likely as females to be killed in a crash while they’re teenagers.

• 37% of male drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 were speeding at the time of a fatal crash.

• 55% of teens killed in car crashes weren’t using their seat belts.

• 31% of teens drivers were drinking alcohol at the time of their death.

• Teen drivers were involved in 63% of teen passenger deaths and 19% of passenger deaths of all ages in fatal accidents.

• 53% of teen deaths in fatal accidents occurred on the weekends and 41% occurred between 9 pm and 6 am.

• Teen drivers are 10 times more likely to be involved in a crash during their first year of driving.

• Teen drivers with more than one teen passenger are twice as likely to be in an accident as a drunk driver.

• 16-year-olds have more accidents than any other age group – including older teens.

• Accidents caused by 15- to 17-year-old drivers caused $34 Billion in damage in the U.S. in 2006.

• 20% of reported accidents involving teen drivers.

Lastly, you can implement this entire procedure with a Teen Driving Contract.  Yes there are rules that must be followed by the teen in order to keep possession of the new ride.  Not only will you have discussed the responsibilities but this will be a clear guideline as to what is expected at all times with this new responsibility, no if’s, and’s or but’s!

As you can see these are some serious matters to consider when allowing your child to operate a vehicle on the road, but with the knowledge and soon experience, your child can be a safe and responsible driver.  I wish you and your teen the best on the road!  One day they may be able to help you run a few errands!

**drivesteady facts