Parents Know the Signs of Aggressive Driving
Indiana, PA (June 30) ? In today's fast paced society, parents of teen drivers face many challenges and difficult decisions. Most teens are anxious to get their unrestricted drivers license and their ticket to transportation freedom. Parents, however, still worry about their teen's driving behaviors, especially now that they're riding alone or with friends.
Traffic crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens. Between June and September, the number of teens who die in car crashes is significantly higher than at any other time of year. A recent study conducted by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) showed that 602 teens died during June, 624 in July, 625 in August, and 528 in September. In January and February of the same year, the numbers of deaths were 442, and 403 respectively. (The numbers are from 2003, the last year statistics were available.)
PennDOT Engineering District 10 would like to remind parents of the importance of keeping their eyes on their teen's driving. PennDOT asks parents to know the who, what, when, where and why about your teen's driving plans. Don't be afraid to ask a few questions and know the signs of aggressive and high risk driving.
What Can You Do As A Parent?
- Be a good role model.
- Know who will be riding with them. Limit the amount of occupants in the car until they have gained much experience. The more occupants, the greater the distractions and the chances of being involved in a crash.
- Know what they're going to be doing. Don't be afraid to say "no". It just might save their lives.
- Know where they are going and what time they'll be back. It shows you care about their safety.
- Discourage late Friday and Saturday driving. A higher percentage of DUI fatal crashes occur at these times.
- Be open, honest and straight.
- Demand seatbelt use.
- Talk to other parents, close friends, and teachers about teen driving behavior within the school.
- Discourage leaving late and encourage allowing extra time for trips.
- Have rules about talking and answering the cell phone when driving.
- Don't purchase high performance automobiles.
- Communicate with the local police
Possible Signs of Aggressive Driving Behavior:
- Premature tire replacement. Look for excessive tire wear. Bald tires may indicate high speed turns, hard braking or spinning of the drive wheels.
- Look for excessive stone chips on the vehicle's windshield or hood. This could be an indication that they are following vehicles too closely.
- Look for damage to the vehicle's undercarriage. Damage to the oil pan, exhaust or frame may indicate high speed jumps on back roads or railroad crossings.
- High number of miles driven and excessive fuel consumption.
- Unexplained vehicle damage.
- Speeding or red light running citations.
Preventing a tragedy from happening takes continuous hard work. By working together we may possibly save a life and impact the future of a young adult.
PLEASE DRIVE SAFELY.
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