This is part of a sponsored safety campaign with DiMe Media and Allstate Foundation. However, all opinions expressed are my own. What Every Parent Needs To Know Before Handing Over The Keys: Making Sure Teen Drivers Get There Safe.

It’s not the extra cup of coffee, uncomfortably hot evening, or the stress of the day-to-day that has me literally shaking. It’s fear. I am absolutely terrrified. I’m sitting here trying to make sense of it all. Writing this post, I’m more nervous than I’ve ever been writing any post in my life.  This is the one.  This is the one that could save someone’s life. It could save my child’s life. It could save yours. In just a few short weeks, I’ll be handing over the car keys to my son. He’s a teen. Do you know any teens? Maybe you have one? Now just think about the last poor decision that teen made. It was today, right? During the teen years, poor and impulsive decisions are a right of passage, and are rarely the difference between life and death. When it comes to teen drivers, that’s exactly the potential consequence and severity of making poor decisions on the road. Parents, we have to get this right! We have to help our kids get there safe!  

• 91% of teens agree that parents are a key influence on teen driving
• 61% of teens model their driving behavior after their parents
• 85% of parents worry about their teen getting in a car crash

As a mother of five children, and one about to take on the road, this is personal. I know it is for you, also. There are things every parent should talk to teen drivers about, before they ever take the wheel. In fact, these conversations are best when started during the pre-teen years with ongoing dialogue into the driving years. Some of the things I’m about to share might surprise you. There things every parent should know and share before our teen drivers take the wheel. In fact, before I take you down this road, let’s get you prepared first. Take a moment, RIGHT NOW, to check out some resources, download your FREE COPY of the Parent/TeenDriving Agreement and the Driver Coaching Guide as well as State specific information regarding Teen Driver Laws.  MOST OF THE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE IN SPANISH, TOO! Also, be sure to enter the 10 Days, $1,000.00 per day Giveaway! Details further below.

Did you know …

• 81% of parents wish their teen had more practice prior to getting their license
• 76% of teens which they had more practice driving in bad weather

Think about that for a moment. That stat didn’t come from  what parents think. That came straight from the teens. If they’re talking, we better listen. Thankfully, the Allstate Foundation has been doing that, and so much more! They’ve been working to conduct comprehensive surveys, develop pertinent statistics, and educate both parents and teen drivers. The Allstate Foundation’s signature program – teen safe driving – is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

 

The Foundation has reached more than 56 million people with resources and information that have contributed to driving down teen car crash fatalities by nearly 48 percent.  The work continues, especially during the summer months, which are the deadliest for teen drivers in the United States.  Teen drivers might want to pack the car with friends and hit the beach, movies, or just ride around town during the Summer. Remember this, before you hand over those keys!

• The risk of a teen driver getting killed in a car crash increases 44% with one passenger under the age of 21
• The risk of a teen driver getting killed in a car crash increases 88% with two passengers under the age of 21
• 42% of teens say they drive with one or more teen passengers on a weekly basis

• 88% of parents use their phone while driving
• 87% of teens admit to using a phone while driving
• Only 63% of parents say their teen use a phone while driving

Last year, I also worked with the Allstate Foundation. I had my son pose WHAT NOT TO DO. At that time, it was still going to be a while before he was going to have a permit, provisional license, or any license at all. Now, this picture scares me, but it’s been an excellent conversation peice, too! How many “DONT’S” can you find?

• Only 32% of teens often or very often drive at night
• 60% of teens’ parents wish they had more experience driving at night
• 38% of teens wish they had more experience driving at night

• Speeding is a factor in 1 of every 3 teen fatal crashes
• 32% of teens say they are likely to speed within the next year
• 44% of parents have sped more than 20 mph over the limit

Before I’ll even let my son turn on the car, he must do a vehicle safety check, walk behing and around the vehicle, put his phone in the glove compartment, check his mirrors, put on his seatbelt, and make sure the only passengers he has are his parents or a driving instructor. Teen drivers have one of the biggest responsibilites they’ll ever have in their life! We practice at different times of the day so that he gets experience in day light and in the evening.

It’s no secret that teens love to eat. In fact, many teen drivers eat while driving.

• Only 55% of parents think their teens eat food while driving
• 84% of parents have eaten food while driving

For a chance to win $1,000, share your safe driving message. On Twitter and Instagram, just tag @Allstate using #GetThereSafe. On Facebook, comment below the posted stat and tag @Allstate using #GetThereSafe.

Every share is an opportunity to help save a teen’s life. For everyone’s sake, let’s help teen drivers get there safe!

This is truly a lot to think about. I even did a middle-of-the-night Periscope to talk myself through some of the fears and changes I’ll have to make as a parent of a teen driver. It’s long. It might have even be rambling. I’m scared, but I couldn’t be more thankful for Allstate Foundation!

By:  Alicia Gonzalez