At some point, your teenager will ask for the keys to your car

Many people move to Parkland and other area communities for their “A” rated schools, sprawling parks, and small-town community feel. Our towns are bustling with children. Over time, however, those children grow up and become teenagers. At some point, your teenager will ask for the keys to your car. At that time, you are faced with a decision: Do you trust that your baby girl is responsible enough to drive?

As anyone with a teenage driver knows, auto insurance for teenage drivers is extremely high. Like eye-popping, pull your hair out, scream to the mountain tops high! Ever wonder why there is such a HUGE increase in your premiums when your son or daughter turns 16?

Auto insurance carriers are in the business of accounting for risk. Their premiums are not arbitrarily pulled out of thin air. Teenage drivers are inexperienced and are more prone to make bad decisions. According to the CDC, the risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher amongst teens than any other age group.

According to AAA, about 72 percent of teen drivers admitted to engaging in one of the following risky behaviors in the past 30 days:

• Driving 10 mph over the speed limit on a residential street (47%)

• Driving 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway (40%)

• Texting (35%)
• Red light running (32%) • Aggressive driving (31%) • Drowsy driving (25%)

These are the risky behaviors teenage drivers ADMITTED to. Expect that these percentages are significantly higher.

As a personal injury attorney, I can attest to the fact that teenage drivers are more likely than their parents to be involved in, not only a car accident, but a significant car accident. In many crash reports, teenage drivers admit to the police that they were texting or “distracted”. As a result, insurance companies simply do not want to insure your teenage driver – unless you pay through the nose.

To make matters worse, we are now in the heart of the 100 deadliest days for teen drivers. According to AAA, more than 30 percent of deaths involving teen drivers occur during a period that runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

What can you do to protect your teen driver?

AAA advises that parents talk with teens early and often about abstaining from dangerous behavior behind the wheel. This advice seems obvious and trite; however, we are in 2020 – there is an app for everything! Here are a few apps that can monitor your teenage driver’s activity:

• Life360: Through this tracking app you can share your real- time location with one another no matter where you are.

• True Motion Family: Tells you when your teenage driver is using their phone behind the wheel and allows you to monitor their driving habits.

• Driver Mode (i.e. AT&T Drive Mode): Driver mode turns on when the car is moving. This feature silences and automatically replies to text message notifications.

• Bouncie: Notifies parents when their teenager is speeding or braking abruptly.

• Lifesaver: Uses a carrot instead of a stick, awarding points to teen drivers when they drive without their phone.

• Autobrain: Plugs into a diagnostic port of your car and can report if your teenager speeds, goes to the wrong place, or has an accident.

• Safe Driver: Monitors the location and driving speed of your teenage driver. You can also set speed limits which alerts your phone.

Teenage driving is inevitable, but there are things we can do as parents to keep them safe. Please impress upon your teenager the dangers of driving – especially through Labor Day. These apps will not only allow your teenage driver to be accountable for their actions but will afford you some control over their actions. As an added bonus, a safer driver will (over time) lower your car insurance premiums.