TEENS. b e h i n d t h e WHEEL

Transcription

1 TEENS b e h i n d t h e WHEEL

2 BUILDING understanding B E T W E E N parents and teens

3 Blue River dear TEENS & PARENTS Turning over the keys to the family car can be a stressful time for any parent. That s why I m pleased to present, Teens behind the Wheel. This booklet was created for parents and teen drivers by Encompass Insurance to help promote safe driving. As your insurance agent, I ll be happy to share my perspective on safe driving and auto insurance. While reading through this brochure, you ll have an opportunity to: TAKE A LOOK at some sobering statistics about teen driving. 2 WHY AUTO INSURANCE? 3 LEARN ABOUT NEW DRIVER RESPONSIBILITIES and safety tips. 4 We suggest that you take some time to go over the following topics designed to help the new driver in your household. PARENTS: THE IMPORTANCE OF RULE-SETTING. Discover some helpful ideas for encouraging safe driving practices. 6 PARENTS: DRIVING WITH YOUR TEEN. Use the checklist of suggested driving skills to make your driving practice time more effective. 8 RESPONSIBLE DRIVING CONTRACT BETWEEN TEEN AND PARENT. This is a starting point for discussing your family s driving rules, and the consequences of not following the rules. 11 SAFE DRIVING CONTRACT. Finding an alternative way home is the most important thing when drugs and alcohol are involved. Make a family commitment to getting home safely! 13 I want to be as helpful as possible to you and your family. Please feel free to call me to ask questions and share your thoughts. Sincerely, Your Agent Rawlins Lost Lake Springfield WINDSLOW COUNTY Craig 34 White Forest Blue Lake

4 Keeping it Safe: KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT TEEN DRIVING The first step in keeping safe is knowing some of the factors that may cause accidents. We invite parents and teens to sit down together to discuss these statistics. In 2001, 8,137 drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 were involved in fatal crashes. An additional 337,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes. 54% of people who die in auto crashes are drivers; 44% are passengers. 25% of fatally injured teen drivers had blood alcohol concentrations at or above 0.08%. 54% of teenage motor vehicle deaths occur on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 43% of teenage motor vehicle deaths occur between 9 pm and 6 am. Seat belt use reduces the risk of serious or fatal injury to front seat passengers by up to 45-50%. 2 Resource: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Facts 2001 Young Drivers; Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Fatality Facts Teenagers (November 2002). Although these statistics are scary and, in some cases, seem to reflect poorly on teen drivers, they are simply facts and figures, not a personal reflection on any one or every teen s judgment. Simply being a teenager does not mean that you are irresponsible or that you re a reckless driver. What these statistics mean is that teens are at increased risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident and of dying in an auto accident. Teens need to recognize these facts and understand how to decrease their chances of harm and increase their chances of safe, accident-free driving.

5 Why AUTO INSURANCE? In addition to having a driver s license and obeying the rules of the road, in many states you are required to have auto insurance. In most states where auto insurance is required, you must have liability coverage. Ask your agent to tell you about the types of auto insurance that are required in your state. Obtaining liability insurance may be a good idea even if this coverage is not required in your state. Liability is the legal responsibility of one person to another for injuries or damages caused in an accident. Being legally liable for property damage or injuries to others is a big financial risk to carry. Selecting INSURANCE COVERAGE What type of insurance provides coverage (financial protection) for each type of loss situation? Here s a general description: TYPE OF COVERAGE Bodily Injury Liability Coverage Property Damage Liability Coverage Medical Payments Coverage Uninsured Motorists Insurance Underinsured Motorists Insurance Collision Coverage Comprehensive Coverage DESCRIPTION OF LOSS Helps protect a covered driver who is legally liable in an accident which results in injury or death to others. Helps protect a covered driver who is legally liable in an accident in which another person s property is damaged. Provides coverage if you, covered family members, or your covered passengers receive medical treatment, services, or products for bodily injury caused by a covered accident. Helps protect you, covered family members and your covered passengers who are injured or killed in an accident involving a legally liable uninsured driver. (Uninsured Motorists Coverage for Property Damage is also available in certain states). Helps protect you, covered family members and your covered passengers who are injured or killed in an accident involving a legally liable underinsured driver. Provides coverage (less your deductible) for loss to an insured auto due to collision with another vehicle or object. Provides coverage (less your deductible) if your car is stolen or damaged due to a covered non-collision loss, such as falling objects, fire, vandalism, and others. 3 Insurance coverages and discounts provided by your insurance company are always subject to the terms and conditions of your specific policy as well as state regulations and availability.

6 T i p s f o r T e e n s : UNDERSTANDING THE RULES OF THE ROAD Many people think teens are irresponsible drivers. They account for 14 percent of all deaths from car crashes.* But, being a teenager doesn t necessarily mean you re an irresponsible driver. It s often lack of experience behind the wheel, not age, that puts teens at a greater risk of being involved in or dying in a car accident. The more you practice driving, the better you ll be at handling different situations on the road. HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO HELP BEAT THE ODDS: Always wear your seat belt. Buckle up for safety on every trip. If your state has a mandatory seat belt law, you could get a ticket for not wearing one. 4 Know your vehicle. Use features that make it easier and safer for you to operate your vehicle, such as sun visors, door locks and parking brakes. Stay alert and be a defensive driver. Tailgating is a stupid reason to get into an accident. Try to keep four seconds of following distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you. Drive sober. Not only are alcohol and drugs illegal, they slow your reactions and distort reality. In fact, they may make you think you re an awesome driver when really you re out of control. Cell phone usage. When you need to use a cell phone, pull safely off the road. Remember, when you are behind the wheel of a car your focus should be on defensive driving, not making phone calls. Chill. Don t get stressed out. Pretend that everyone else on the road is a close, personal friend. Follow traffic safety rules and don t drive faster than you can handle. Watch your speed! Concentrate on driving. Don t blast music, talk on the phone, eat, study, or put on makeup while you re driving! Be careful when driving friends. Driving your friends is a big responsibility. Don t take that responsibility until you re ready. Never let friends drive your car. If they have an accident, you could lose money, car privileges, a friendship even your life. Use your rear-view mirror to check traffic before and after you brake, every time. *Resource: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Facts 2001 Young Drivers; Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Fatality Facts Teenagers (November 2002).

7 how to control the COST OF INSURANCE HELP KEEP AUTO INSURANCE RATES LOW BY: Driving a safe car Increasing your deductible limits Making sure your driving record is good (no tickets or accidents) Taking advantage of any discounts that may be available Dropping collision coverage for older cars with relatively low cash value avoiding ROAD RAGE Every year, motorists get involved in incidents of violence or hostility including screaming obscenities, aggressive tailgating, shaking fists and even using weapons. This type of rage seems to be the result of stress building up and then exploding when the person is behind the wheel. HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO AVOID BEING A TARGET: Don t make obscene gestures, even if someone makes them at you. Use your horn only when necessary. Don t switch lanes without signaling. Don t take up more than one parking space. Unless you are disabled, don t park in a space reserved for the disabled. Make sure your door doesn t hit the car parked next to you. Never tailgate. 5 If you are driving slowly, pull over and allow traffic to pass. Avoid stopping in the road to talk to a pedestrian or another driver. Turn down your radio so you don t distract and annoy others in neighboring cars. HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO TAME YOUR OWN ROAD RAGE: Remember that driving is not a competitive sport. Help other drivers by using your signal when turning, and stay alert to other drivers by checking your rear-view mirror regularly. Allow plenty of time for each trip, and recognize that getting angry won t clear up a traffic jam. Realize that it s not your job to change others bad habits. You can only control your own attitude. Avoid conflict. If another driver challenges you, take a deep breath and safely get out of the way.

8 parents: THE IMPORTANCE OF RULE SETTING Many teens aren t ready for their licenses even when they are of legal driving age. Parents must be the ones to decide when their teenager has the right skills and maturity to drive without adult supervision. Teens are still gaining experience as new drivers even after they get their licenses. Parents can help keep them safe by setting rules about when, where, how and with whom they may drive. HERE ARE SOME WAYS THAT YOU CAN HELP YOUR TEEN DRIVE SAFELY: Insist on seat belts. Teens tend to use seat belts less than other drivers. Remind them that air bags alone do not insure their safety; belts and air bags are meant to work together to help reduce injuries and fatalities. Don t let your teen drive or ride with others under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In addition to the possibility of legal punishment, tell your teen you will revoke driving privileges for a given amount of time if they drive or ride with others under the influence. At the same time, reinforce your willingness to pick up your teen (and discuss the incident at a later time) if he or she ever needs a ride. Consider discussing and signing the Safe Driving Contract included on page 13 of this workbook. 6 Make rules for high-risk hours. The highest number of driving accidents occurs on Friday and Saturday night and early Saturday and Sunday morning. Limit or supervise your teen s driving during times of high risk. Limit the number of passengers your teen has in the car. Laughter, music, food and other distractions make it more difficult for teens to focus on the road. The more passengers, the more distractions. Establish and enforce a house curfew. Find out from the police if your town has a curfew for minors. If not, set your own curfew. Set geographic driving limits. If your teen plans to travel outside your geographic area, require that he or she request special permission.

9 parents: DEVELOPING A SAFE DRIVER You can help your teen even before he or she gets behind the wheel by: 7 Setting a good example when you drive. It is much more likely that your teen will drive calmly and courteously, use a seat belt, pull safely off the road to use the cell phone, and obey the speed limit if you do. Working with your teen s Driver Education instructor. Find out how your teenager is performing in class and which skills he or she needs to work on. Ask for a copy of the Driver Education curriculum. Providing a safe car to practice in. Take your teen along for a lesson in car maintenance if your car needs a tune-up. This is a good time to talk about the costs of maintaining and insuring a car, and whether or not your teen needs to contribute. Meeting with your teen and your insurance agent to discuss the costs and responsibilities of driving a car. Research shows that teens who pay for a portion of the maintenance and insurance of the family car are more likely to be safe drivers. Taking your teen to get a license only when you both agree the time is right. Some teens may not be ready for a license even though they are eligible. You need to decide when your teen has demonstrated the skills and attitude to be able to drive without an adult. The checklist on page 9 can help you keep track of which skills your teen can perform and which ones he or she needs to practice.

10 parents: DRIVING WITH YOUR TEEN Give your teen opportunities to practice what he or she has learned in Driver Education, and encourage safe habits and skills. Supervised practice over an extended period of time makes teenagers better, safer drivers. That s why it s important for you to spend time in the car with your teen behind the wheel. WHILE PLANNING DRIVING SESSIONS: Choose routes that require your teen to practice different skills. Don t just drive to and from the same place every week. This will not adequately prepare your teen to be a skilled, licensed driver. Take your teen driving under as many different conditions as possible. To become safe drivers, teenagers need practice responding to changing weather, visibility, traffic volume, road conditions and speed. BEFORE STARTING THE CAR: Review the route you ll take, the skills you want to work on, and the goals for the lesson. See if your teen can explain how to perform the skills he or she will be practicing. Adjust the right outside mirror for your use while your teen is driving. Also, adjust the vanity mirror on the passenger sun visor so you can use it as a rear-view mirror. 8 WHILE YOUR TEEN IS DRIVING: Use a calm tone of voice. Give simple, clear directions like slow, brake and cover, meaning put your foot lightly over the brake in preparation to stop. Look at your teen s arms if they re not relaxed, the situation may be too hard to handle, or he or she may be getting tired. Ask your teen to talk about what he or she sees and is planning to do while driving. This makes it easier for you to know if your teen is observing and thinking ahead like a good driver. IF YOUR TEEN DOES SOMETHING INCORRECTLY: Ask him or her to safely move the car off the road and then discuss the mistake calmly. AFTER PRACTICING: Go over the session together. Give your teen a chance to point out his or her mistakes before you do. Give positive feedback for what he or she did correctly. Also mention how your teen can improve.

11 understanding your teen s readiness: A CHECKLIST Check off the skills your teen has performed several times successfully and confidently. When all the items are checked off, your teen may be ready to get a license. It s a good idea to talk with your teen s Driver Education instructor before practicing these skills. Try to coordinate your at-home practice with what s being discussed in the classroom. Many of these skills, such as passing on a two-lane highway and driving in inclement weather, may be dangerous. Please exercise extreme caution in helping your teen master these skills. BASIC DRIVING SKILLS Pre-driving checks and adjustments DRIVING CONDITIONS Driving in bright sun Starting, moving and stopping smoothly Making accurate left turns Driving at night Driving in rain or snow 9 Making accurate right turns Driving in fog Yielding the right-of-way Backing up TURNING Three-point turns TRAFFIC SKILLS Changing lanes Navigating through intersections Following safely behind other vehicles Recognizing danger signs/conditions Communicating with other drivers Adjusting speed and position Passing on highways Turning around by pulling into a driveway Turning around by backing into a driveway U-turns PARKING Perpendicular parking Angle parking Backing into a parking space Parallel parking

12 answers to FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 10 Q. Where is the best place to practice driving? A. Start practicing in parking lots and in quiet neighborhoods. More important than where you practice is when you practice. Consider getting up early on a Saturday or Sunday morning when traffic is light. Q. Where is the best place to practice driving at night? A. In the beginning, practice driving on routes that are familiar to the teen. Make sure they can handle these routes before you introduce new routes with unfamiliar surroundings. Q. How many hours should I drive with my teen? A. Safety experts recommend that new drivers receive at least 50 hours of supervised driving before they become licensed. Keep in mind that state laws may vary. If your teen still isn t comfortable driving after meeting your state s driving requirements, continue working together. Behind the wheel training is critical to giving new drivers the experience they need to become better drivers. Q. What are the common mistakes parents make during driving practice? A. Too much talking, waiting too long to discuss problems, and having others in the car are all actions that distract the driver. Q. What are the most common mistakes that new teen drivers make? A. They don t slow down in complex situations, they tend to expect the best rather than the worst (no defensive driving), and they don t look around often enough (poor roadway scanning techniques). Q. We have two cars at home. Should we practice in the big one or the small one? A. Why not both? Just make sure the teen understands and is comfortable with the location of the controls in each car before they start driving. Q. Is it important that a teen receives practice driving on an expressway? A. Yes, but he or she should start on slower roads and work up to highway driving. Teens should practice entering an expressway during non-peak hours before attempting to merge into rush hour traffic. Check with your teen s Driver Education instructor to determine when your teen is ready. Q. How can we reduce our insurance costs with a teenage driver on our policy? A. People who have clean driving records and drive safer cars have a greater chance of reducing their auto insurance costs. Attending an accredited driver training/education course is one method of teaching your teen safe driving skills and the rules of the road. You also can raise your deductible amounts and drop certain coverages, such as collision coverage for older cars with low cash values. It may also be less expensive to have your teen drive one of the family cars rather than buying them their own car. Finally, check with your insurance agent to see if you can take advantage of multi-car, good student or other available discounts.

13 teen-parent CONTRACT Teenagers can follow rules for responsible driving but first they have to know what the rules are. Use the contract below to spell out your family s driving rules and agreements, plus the consequences for breaking the rules. FOR EXAMPLE: ISSUE: Paying for car, gas, insurance, etc. Teen pays 25% of car payment, maintenance, insurance and registration fees. Car privileges will be suspended if no payment is made by the last day of the month. If you pay only half the amount due, you will get the car half as often. ISSUE: Curfew ISSUE: Using seat belts 11 ISSUE: Paying for car, gas, insurance, etc. ISSUE: Crashes, tickets or violations, speeding ISSUE: Cell phone, music, food in car

14 teen-parent CONTRACT (continued) ISSUE: Number of passengers in car ISSUE: Grades ISSUE: Using drugs or alcohol; riding with someone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol 12 ISSUE: Driving area limits ISSUE: (Fill in if you have additional issues) Signature of Teen Driver Signature of Parent(s)/Guardian(s)

15 safe driving CONTRACT I, promise not to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. I also promise not to get into a car being driven by someone who has been drinking alcohol or using drugs. If I ever need a safe ride home, I ll either call a cab, ask a sober person to drive me, or call you or another family member to come and get me. Signature of Teen Driver I, promise to pick you up whenever you call me for a ride. If I do not have a car, I will pay for a cab to bring you home. I also promise not to start a conversation about the incident at that time. I also agree to use safe driving practices, drive sober and find an alternate means home if I am ever in a situation where the driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 13 Signature of Parent(s)/Guardian(s)

16 Encompass Insurance Company of America, Encompass Property and Casualty Company, Encompass Independent Insurance Company, Encompass Home and Auto Insurance Company, Encompass Insurance Company of Massachusetts, Encompass Indemnity Company and Encompass Insurance Company: Northbrook, IL Availability from a particular company varies by state. This brochure highlights examples of measures that you and your family can consider to help protect yourself, others, and your personal property. Please recognize that a particular precaution may not be appropriate in every circumstance. We encourage you to use your own good judgement about what s appropriate Encompass Insurance Company encompassinsurance.com PI /05