Parents of Young Drivers

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We all know that children follow by example, most often those set by their parents. That’s why it’s so important for parents to be good role models when it comes to road safety and making responsible driving decisions.

There are lots of simple things you can do as a parent to help your children be safe drivers and road users.

  • Set a good example
  • Talk to your children about being safe
  • Getting their L’s
  • Helping your children have a plan when they go out
  • Buying a safe car

Set a good example

Many of us think driving is a relatively simple task seeing we’ve been doing it for so long, but it’s actually a rather complex task for the learner driver. They learn a lot about driving and what’s acceptable on the road from simply watching you drive.

Set a good example for your children by always sticking to the speed limit, wearing your seatbelt, not using your mobile while driving and never driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The saying ‘do as I say, not as I do’ doesn’t apply here. Make sure that your driving advice and your actions behind the wheel are consistent.

Talk to your children about being safe

It’s important that you’re informed about safe driving and the road rules so you can give your children correct and up to date information. There are some key road safety issues that you should discuss with your children:

Risks to young drivers and passengers

Explain to your children how vulnerable they are on the road. Did you know that in South Australia, 22 people are injured everyday? That’s over 8000 people a year and a large proportion of them are aged less than 25. So far this year nearly half of those people tragically killed in crashes were under the age of 25.

Explain to your children that they are at greater risk than they realise. Their lives could be changed forever in just a split second.

Consequences of unsafe driving

When we talk about consequences we don’t just mean fines, demerit points, losing licenses and insurance excesses. What about the injuries and the risk of dying? How would they cope if they were responsible for injuring or killing one of their friends?

Are your children also aware that if they crash their car while drink driving or driving recklessly they may not be covered by insurance? What’s more if they are in the unfortunate situation where they injure or kill someone else while drink driving or travelling at very high speeds they could be up for all of the injured person’s compensation costs and this could amount to many thousands of dollars.

Being a safe passenger and pedestrian

Being safe on the road isn’t just about being a safe driver. Talk to your children about the dangers of getting into a car with a driver who has been drinking or taking drugs.

Also highlight the risks of walking on or near the road when they've been drinking. Around a third of the pedestrians killed and a quarter of those injured have a blood alcohol limit of .05 or above.

It’s hard for drivers to see pedestrians at night, especially when they wander onto the road unexpectedly. Unfortunately pedestrians come off second best when they’re hit by cars and are often seriously injured or killed.

Getting their L’s

When your child gets their Learner licence, naturally they are going to be excited and eager to get behind the wheel. However, if you plan to supervise their driving there are some things you need to know before you get started:

  • Have you got a current, unrestricted South Australian Drivers’ Licence?
  • Are you up to date with the road rules?
  • Is your car in a safe condition?
  • Are you across the current Learner requirements under the Graduated Licensing Scheme here in SA? Visit the Department for Transport website for more information.

You might feel a bit nervous and overwhelmed about teaching your child to drive. Remember that you don’t need to take on the role of a professional driving instructor, you just need to help your child get as much practice as possible.

Practice makes perfect

Did you know that young drivers in their first year are three times more likely to be involved in a crash then older, experienced drivers? The risk is even high in their first few months of driving.

That’s why Learner drivers are required to obtain an absolute minimum of 50 hours supervised driving practice in an official log book. Research shows that the more supervised driving hours a Learner driver gets, the better prepared they’ll be.

It takes time to build up their driving experience so do all you can to help your children get as many supervised hours as possible. Build up from car parks and short local drives in the back streets that your are comfortable with. Lots of short trips in between longer practice sessions can help build up experience and confidence.

Help your children to have a plan when they are going out

The best way for your children to avoid risky driving scenarios when going out with friends (such as drink and drug driving) is to plan how they’re going to get to their destination and how they’re going to get home before they’ve even left the house.

Help your children form a plan that doesn't involve taking cars by:

  • Suggesting that you will drop them off at the place they are going to and collecting them later.
  • Suggest they have a designated driver. Have a back-up plan in place in case the designated driver can't get them home safely.
  • Set up a system where your children feel they can call you (or another designated person) if they need to be picked up, no matter where they are or what time it is.
  • If possible, suggest they put some ‘emergency money’ aside for a taxi home.
  • Encourage them to stay the night at a friend’s place until they are fully recovered from the effects of alcohol or other drugs they may have taken.

Buying a safe car

Once your child has got their licence they may be looking at buying their first car. Seeing most young drivers have limited budgets they will often end up with cars that are second hand, a bit older and with limited safety features. Not all cars are created equal in terms of safety. Cars within a similar price range may differ in the level of protection they offer occupants in a crash.

Protect your child by helping them choose a safe car that stacks up well in crash-tests.

If you're in the market for a car, look at a range of cars that suit your budget, travel needs and style and then pick the one that's the safest.

Visit howsafeisyourcar.com.au to compare car safety ratings and learn more about safety features. Other buying tips are available on the RAA website.

A safe car could save your child’s life in a crash.