 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
NHTSA has developed a three-tiered strategy to prevent motor-vehicle-related fatalities and injuries for teens: increasing seat belt use, implementing graduated driver licensing, and reducing teens' access to alcohol.
|
It's not just good parenting, it's a matter of life and death. You need to talk to your kids about traffic safety early and often - before they reach driving age. When your teenager begins driving, we recommend that you set rules and then clearly outline the consequences of breaking the rules. Remind your teenager that driving is a privilege - a privilege they will lose if they don't drive by your rules. We know that getting through to your teen can be tough, but research tells us that teens listen to their parents, and that you influence your kid's driving habits. |
Set the standard
You need to teach safe driving behavior from the beginning. As the parent, you can start by modeling safe driving behavior anytime you drive your kids anywhere, even before they begin to drive.
Talk to your teen about safety issues and the rules you are setting. Explain each one of your rules and the consequences for breaking it. Write a contract with your teen drivers to make sure they drive by the rules and drive as safely as possible. Include the most important issues. Here's how:
- Alcohol: Absolutely no alcohol
- Seat belts: Always buckle up!
- Cell phone/texting: No talking or texting while driving
- Curfew: Have the car in the driveway by 10 p.m.
- Passengers: No more than one at all times
- Graduated driver license: Follow the State's GDL law
- Parental responsibility: Set your house rules and consequences
| Posters | Click on the image for a low-resolution online preview. |
| Teen Bulletin Board | Teen Passenger Restrictions | Teen Night Driving |
 |
 |
 |
| Text-messaging While Driving | Teen Male Passengers | Follow the Rules |
 |
 |
 |
| TV Spot |
 |
|
| 30-sec online preview | 60-sec online preview |
| download (4 MB zip file) | download (7 MB zip file) |
| Related Links |
| Web Policies & Notices | | |
Terms of Use | | | FOIA | | | Privacy Policy | | | Cookie Policy | | | Accessibility | | | Email NHTSA | ||
|
||||||||||||||
