The Allstate Blog » Teen Driver

Beyond Texting: Avoid All Distractions While Driving [INFOGRAPHIC]

Brendan — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:00:47 +0000

Driving distracted--even for a moment--can lead to a catastrophe. While texting is one thing that can take your eyes off the road, it's not the only way drivers can become sidetracked. Eating, interacting with passengers, adjusting the radio and of course, engaging in multimedia interactions can all contribute to a less-than-focused driver...and that can be a very dangerous situation. Consider taking the proper steps to reduce or eliminate these situations, and avoid common driving distractions. [infographic]

Top 10 Distractions for New Drivers [SLIDESHOW]

Melissa — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 12:00:12 +0000

In 2010, 18 percent of crashes with injuries were reportedly caused by distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Here are some of the top distractions that could potentially cause problems for drivers -- whether they are first-timers or experienced behind the wheel. [slideshow] Recommended by the Editor:

Rethinking the Minimum Driving Age

Melissa — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 11:00:41 +0000

It’s a rite of passage. Who doesn’t remember the anticipation and the satisfaction of getting your license for the first time? But, given what we know today about accident statistics, brain development and maturity, should we rethink the minimum age? We took a poll, asking, "What do you think should be the minimum age to obtain a driver’s license?" As of June 8, 2012, nearly half of the people polled thought the age should be 18.

How young are people driving in the U.S.?

In the vast majority of states, the minimum age for unsupervised driving is 16. The youngest legal drivers are in South Dakota at 14 years, 6 months. The oldest minimum age for driving is inNew Jersey at 17 years old. But, there are an increasing number of restrictions that vary by state for drivers under 18. Restrictions include night driving, the number of passengers allowed in the vehicle, mobile phone usage and more. [caption id="attachment_2862" align="alignright" width="300"] What do you think should be the minimum age to obtain a driver’s license? These were the results when 16,832 people were asked this question.[/caption]

Accident stats examine under-18 driving records

Driving accidents are the leading cause of death for people under the age of 18. More than 4,000 teens die in car crashes every year. Teens crash four times more often than members of any other age group. Many people would consider these statistics enough reason to increase the driving age to 18. But, are these stats based upon inexperience or upon age? Interestingly enough, studies show New Jersey, which has a minimum driving age of 17, has a consistently lower number of teen driving fatalities.

How does the U.S. compare to the rest of the world?

The majority of the globe—including many countries in Europe, Africa, South America, the Caribbean, Central America, and the Middle East—sets the minimum unsupervised driving age at 18, with a handful of countries, such as the UK and Ireland, at 17. So, can we learn anything from the teen accident statistics in countries with higher age requirements? According to the World Health Organization, across all age groups, the road road traffic deaths per 100,000 inhabitants of each country were as follows in 2006 and 2007:

Sweden: 5.2 (2007)
U.K.: 5.4 (2006)
Ireland: 8.5 (2006)
Germany: 6 (2007)
United States: 13.9 (2006)

Raising the minimum driving age poses inconvenience

As activities and work obligations increase, many parents state that they need the 16-year-old in their family to drive. Some argue that it is unfair to prohibit more responsible teenagers from driving. Even given the accident and fatality statistics, the point can be made that there are many fatalities in other age groups, as well.

Is the 16-year-old brain ready for driving?

Newer studies of the human brain have revealed that the prefrontal cortex is not fully "connected" until the mid-20s. This is the part of the brain that weighs outcomes, forms judgments and controls impulses and emotions. So the typical teenage lapses in judgment may have a physiological component. In addition, active hormones in a teenager’s brain limit the ability to control moods and increases desire for thrill-seeking behavior. So, when it comes to making critical decisions regarding risky driving situations, the teen brain may not make the same judgment calls as the over-25 brain. Learning to drive is part of growing up. But finding the perfect minimum age for driving could be as complicated as the teenage personality itself. So what do you think? Are American teens mature enough to drive?

The Go-Nowhere Generation: For Teens, Facebook Trumps Driving

Jen — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 10:00:41 +0000

For many teenagers of the past, turning 16 was more than just a rite of passage; it meant freedom. The thrill of holding that small, shiny piece of plastic: a driver’s license. And while parents were (understandably) reluctant to turn over the car keys, that license was synonymous with independence. Even if the furthest place many teens drove each day was to the high school and back home, that little sliver of plastic represented a boundless future of travel and possibility. Road trips, Route 66, the Pacific Coast Highway: the future was calling! Despite the excitement I felt as a new driver, my friends and I were part of a dying trend. Over the last three decades, the rate at which teenagers obtain driver’s licenses has sharply declined. According to a study by the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute, in the early 1980s, 80 percent of teenagers had a license by age 18. As of 2008, that number had decreased to 65 percent.

Recent estimates suggest that the number of teenagers with driver’s licenses continues to fall.

A 2011 report by the Connecticut DMV estimated that less than half of all 17-year-olds had a license, a decline of nearly 10 percent in just three years. A combination of factors may be to blame. Studies show that today’s youth are more risk adverse than previous generations, in part due to coming of age during a challenging state of the economy. And those sky-high gas prices sure don’t help. And thanks to high teenage traffic fatalities, fewer parents are willing to be new car buyers for their teenagers. Are stricter teenage licensing requirements also to blame? In response to high teenage traffic fatalities, an increasing number of states are instituting strict driver education and licensing programs. When I got my license, all I had to do was pass a basic driving test, complete a classroom workshop and be 16 years old. Today, teenagers in the state of Virginia are required to complete a certain number of hours driving with adult supervision and be at least 16 years, 3 months. Other states are far stricter. Maryland, for example, requires all teenagers to complete its “Rookie Driving” course. Drivers are issued provisional licenses upon successfully completing at least 60 hours of supervised driving with their parents, 10 hours of which must occur during the dawn/dusk hours. Provisional drivers are also not allowed to have passengers under the age of 18, unless they are siblings or accompanied by a supervising adult.

These restrictions are designed to reduce accidents by increasing experience.

While the current state of the economy and even stricter driving laws are pushing back the age at which teenagers obtain a license, the real culprit may be Facebook. A recent article in the New York Times posited that social networking and technology are reducing teenagers’ desire to have a driver’s license. The University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute found a correlation between time spent on Facebook and the Internet and a delay in getting a license. “More time on Facebook probably means less time on the road,” Michael Sivak, a professor at theUniversityofMichigan, told the New York Times. Thanks to all the driving restrictions, teenagers are more excited about the latest smartphone rather than a driver’s license. According to automobile safety expert David Preusser, a license is simply not as valuable as it once was. Preusser told the Hartford Courant last year that “Licenses are not as valuable … It's somewhat less desirable, so fewer kids are going after it."

Tell us: What do you think is responsible for the decline in teenagers with driver’s licenses?

Driver’s Education: Finding the Right School

Brendan — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 10:00:43 +0000

Parents think a lot about their kids’ education. Finding good school districts and choosing a good college are just a few of the big decisions that parents help make to set their children up for success. But when it comes to education and safety, a good driving school might be among the most vital decisions a parent can make. Fortunately, finding a good driver’s education program is easy, provided you know what to look for.

The Minimum Requirements

If your son or daughter is getting ready to find a driver’s ed course, there are some factors to take into consideration. Some states require students to undergo a driver's education course before they can get their driver's licenses. And, whether driver's ed is a requirement or not for licensing, various states have set different standards as far as the number of classroom and in-car training hours a student must undergo. Since a good driving school is key to your teen’s safety, you need to do your homework. Ask your friends, neighbors and other parents if they know of a good school in your area. You might also want to check with your child’s high school, which may offer a program. People who have already been through the process are often a wealth of knowledge when it comes to finding a good driver’s ed program.

Will Your Driving School Make the Grade?

Finding the right driving school isn’t as hard as you might think. After you get some recommendations, call the schools to get more information. Ask about their programs and see if they will provide references. Here are some questions you may consider asking:

Do the instructors receive training on a continual basis?
Do the classes have a good student/teacher ratio?
Is the driving school a member of professional associations? Two well-known ones are the American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association and the Driving School Association of America.
Does the driving school have a solid history of customer satisfaction?

Take a Field Trip

Once you’ve narrowed your list, it’s a good idea to visit the driving schools you’re considering. While you’re there, see if you can sit in on a class and check out their cars and class materials. If they look old or outdated, you may want to move on. The school you choose should also encourage you to take an active role in your teen’s driver training, because the more they know about safety and traffic laws, the better prepared they’ll be to get behind the wheel. Kids are often visual learners, so when you’re in the car together you should talk about using good judgment, as well as common mistakes that drivers make. Your insight will help make your teen a safe driver.

Turning Over the Keys

It’s a lot easier to let your teen climb behind the wheel if you know that they’ve learned valuable skills from a good driving school. A good education is one of the best things you can provide, but a good driver’s ed program will also help keep them safe.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Jen — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:07:30 +0000

Did you know that 40 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds have been a passenger in a car that was driven by a teen driver using a cellphone in a dangerous way?* This type of distracted driving is not only practiced by almost 25 percent of teen drivers but quadruples the risk of crashing according to www.teendriversource.org. To help shed light on this unfortunate trend, the Department of Transportation has declared April Distracted Driving Awareness Month. To do our part to increase awareness, we’ve rounded up a few of our past blog posts below.

Do Dashboard Restrictions Diminish Distracted Driving?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has called for automakers to stop equipping vehicles with entertainment and navigation systems in order to combat distracted driving. Are tougher restrictions and distracted driving laws on the horizon?

Avoid Distracted Driving and Arrive Accident Free

There are many distractions while driving that call for your attention. We explored five of the most common causes for distracted driving and provided suggestions on how to avoid them.

3 Ways Parents Can Reduce Distracted Driving

Some people think that teens are more prone to distracted driving, but it’s really parents who need to be alert of their own driving behaviors. Guest Blogger Kristin Varela of MotherProof.com offers her suggestions for cutting down on bad driving habits.

Disable Your Cell Phone While Driving

If you simply can’t keep your hands off your phone while the car is in motion, there are technologies available to help curb your bad habits. We reviewed a couple of services available that disable your cellphone while your car is in motion. While multi-tasking becomes more and more of a daily routine, finding ways to curb distracted driving is a higher priority. What are some of your tips for tuning out distractions while on the road?

* U.S. Dept. of Transportation

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Study Finds 1 in 5 Teens Have Driven High

Kristin Varela, Cars.com — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:09:44 +0000

Just when I think I have this whole parenting thing figured out, the game changes. With my oldest daughter preparing for middle school, I feel like I have a pretty firm grip on the perils of upper elementary school (limiting makeup to lip gloss only and teaching her how to be responsible with her first cell phone). What I’m not prepared for yet is the reality that marijuana use is at an all-time high among eighth- through 12th-grade kids. Scarier yet, 19 percent of teens admit to having driven after smoking pot, according to a study conducted by SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions). As parents, we seem to have done a fairly thorough job instilling the importance of not driving after drinking alcohol, but we’ve apparently been slacking on relaying the dangers of driving after smoking marijuana (the same study found that, of those who admitted to driving under the influence of pot, 36 percent said it presented no distraction). So, what steps can we take as parents to help ensure our teens’ safety in cars as they experiment and sometimes stumble their way through adolescence?

Draft a driving contract

When your teen starts driving, put a safe driving contract into place. You can draft one from scratch yourself, or download a Parent-Teen Driving Contract template. Your teen can also go a step further and make a public promise. Along with the basics, like when and where your teen is allowed to drive, it should spell out the fact that your teen will never drive while under the influence of anything (or get into a car with someone else in that same state), or even when they're too tired to think coherently.

Put a plan in place

Be sure to let your teen driver know that they can call you at any hour of the day or night for a safe ride home without consequences, and back your word by putting it on paper in the safe driving contract. If they're not comfortable coming to you for this, you can list an alternate contact—a “cool” aunt, for example—who knows to deliver your teen home safely and discreetly.

Give your teen an easy out

To make it easy for your teen to refuse a ride from a pressuring peer who may be under the influence, implement a way out. For some, it could be something as simple as texting a code word to a parent, who then knows to put the parental kibosh on the night. For example, the code word could be "funnn," spelled with 3 Ns: "hving gr8 funnn at Sophie's." Mom then knows to book it over to Sophie's house (or around the corner from Sophie's house) for a pickup. What other plans have you and your family implemented to help keep your teens and their friends from succumbing to the temptation of driving under the influence? Share your ideas with other parents in the comments section below.

Kristin Varela is the senior family editor at Cars.com, a leading destination for online car shoppers.

Teen Driver: How the World Sees Me

Brendan — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:09:36 +0000

Being a teen driver can have its ups and downs. Battling with your parents for use of the family car, playing chauffeur for younger brothers and sisters, and trying to earn the respect of your friends while being responsible. Perception can sometimes be reality for teen drivers, and here's how the world sees them:

Distracted Driving Summit Teaches Teens to Drive Safely

Sandy Spavone — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:03:59 +0000

It’s with tired feet, but a happy heart, that I am writing this post about the National Organizations for Youth Safety’s (NOYS) 2011 Distracted Driving Summit that concluded last week.

For those of you not familiar with the event, the Distracted Driving Summit brings together teens from across the country to learn about the most current distracted driving research. The group then studies how to use a wide range of communication tools to persuade drivers to hang up their phones when they get behind the wheel. Why host a meeting focused on this one issue? According to Seventeen magazine nearly 9 in 10 teenage drivers have engaged in distracted driving behaviors such as texting or talking on a cellphone—despite knowing that their actions increase their risk of crashing. The online survey of 1,999 teens ages 16 to 19, conducted in May 2010, found that 84% were aware that distracted driving behaviors increase their crash risk; yet 86% have engaged in those behaviors, including texting and talking on cell phones, eating, adjusting radios, driving with four or more passengers and applying makeup. The survey confirms what we already know. Teens—and adults—engage in distracted driving. What we need to do now is help to educate youth about the dangers of distracted driving. And that’s what our Distracted Driving Summit is all about. Our summit participants became safety ambassadors, applying what they learned by creating programs to bring back to their schools and communities to help reduce distracted driving among their peers. During the Summit, I had the opportunity to work with summit participants from Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Their passion and dedication to preventing distracted driving is remarkable, and with their help, we can decrease risky driving behaviors. The youth leaders shared with me just a few of the tips they will be taking home to their friends—and I hope that you will take a minute to read these and share them with your teens and adult drivers:

Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
Allow voice mail to handle your calls while driving and return them at your convenience.
Pull off the road to a safe area or ask a passenger to make or take a call for you if urgently needed.
Use a hands-free device if available.
Suspend conversation during hazardous driving conditions.
Do not engage in stressful or emotional conversations while driving.
Never take notes or look up numbers while driving.

Consumer Reports shared that 16% of all teen drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2009 were distracted while driving. Help prevent the loss of more lives by supporting distracted driving prevention programs in your community and set a good example when driving by keeping safe driving your main focus.

Guest blogger Sandy Spavone is the Executive Director of NOYS and works to promote youth empowerment and leadership. She builds partnerships that help to save lives, prevent injuries, and promote safe and healthy lifestyles among all youth.

Sharing the Road: Grandparents Can Mentor Teen Drivers

Lori — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:03:07 +0000

Parents and grandparents alike know that “pit of the stomach” feeling when a child grabs the keys and drives away for the first time. It’s both exhilarating to share their freedom and frightening to consider all of the things that could happen when they are behind the wheel.

A new study recently revealed that grandparents are increasingly paying for auto insurance for both children and grandchildren. A Bureau of Labor Statistics study shows that baby boomers spent $863 million on used cars given as gifts, suggesting that these cars are being purchased for grandchildren drivers. What does this mean for you as you prepare for your grandchildren to hit the road?

Set a Good Example

One of the most important roles grandparents can play is to set a good example for their grandchildren before they are old enough to drive. For example:

Slow down when you drive; show your grandchildren respect for laws and limits.
Buckle up and require them to be buckled in as your passenger.
Stay off of the phone and limit other distractions so that grandchildren see that you value their safety while in your vehicle.
Do not get in your vehicle after consuming alcohol. Hand over the keys and model safe behavior.

As your grandchild gets closer to earning a permit and license:

Talk about what is involved in maintaining your vehicle—e.g., tires, breaks, oil changes, etc.
Know the rules of the road and find teachable moments to share information with your grandchild. For example, many states limit the number of same age passengers a new driver may have in their vehicle until they become more experienced drivers.
Share your values and expectations; driving is a privilege.

Your unique relationship with your grandchild allows you to have loving discussions that your teen may perceive as “lectures” if given by their parents.

Vehicle Choice is Key

Budget and safety must outweigh a young driver’s desire for “cool.” Small, fast cars are the least desirable for first-time drivers. “Big and boring” is the mantra, although SUVs are not recommended for younger drivers because they are more difficult to handle. And if the budget allows, new is better than old. The reason for this is reliability and the stability of handling for newer models. Safety is the largest factor. Newer vehicles provide the latest safety technology like side impact air bags, traction control and antilock brakes. Take a moment to talk with your insurance agent before you shop with your grandchild so you are armed with information about models that are both safe and the most cost-effective to insure.

Involve Your Teen in the Insurance Discussion

Part of sharing this important step with your teen is helping them understand how to manage the costs of their insurance. Your insurance agent can provide you with a list of ideas to help with this conversation. Ask if any of the following apply to your situation:

Education and grades matter; students attending high school or college full time with a 3.0 grade point average may be eligible for discounts. Honor roll (or equivalent) may qualify as well.
Accredited driver safety and training courses may qualify for savings. Look into “Graduated Driver Licensing”—a three-step program to help new drivers practice driving under lower-risk conditions.
Community involvement like scouting, volunteering and civic service is one indication of a less risky teen, and may be rewarded by insurers.
Keeping a clean driving record is very important to controlling the cost of insurance for younger drivers. Sharing this at the outset of their driving experience is an excellent way to make your expectations clear.
Electronic tracking of teen drivers is gaining popularity. These technologies range from GPS applications available on cell phones that allow you to track where a teen is at any given time, to a chip installed on a vehicle that monitors speed, acceleration, braking, radio volume and can even geo-fence a driver so parents can set boundaries.

As a grandparent, you play an important role in this first rite of passage into your grandchild’s adulthood. Arming yourself with facts and information is your first step to guiding your teen to a safer future. For more information, check out the website for Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Guest blogger Lori Bitter is the Chief Executive Officer of Eons.com, an online community for baby boomers and beyond.