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Let’s face it, your kids grow up faster than you wish and before you know it they are driving. Even though you may not be able to stay by their side 24 hours a day to keep them safe, there are a few things you can do to give them the best chance for survival while out on the streets…

Tip #1: For a good first car, new is not always the available option. Many experts today agree that if you can’t afford to purchase a new Audi A4 for your teen, which would be unwise due to the statistics of fender benders of he new driver anyway. Experts recommend an old, large, and solid vehicle as the next best choice.

We are talking about a classic station wagon or four door sedan with a small engine (the smaller, the less chance they will be tempted to race i). To aid in your search, check a vehicles history before your purchase to make sure that it hasn’t been in a major collision that may have compromised its safety standards.

Tip #2: Teach your teen to always wear a seat belt.. The statistic of passenger deaths while a teen is operating a vehicle is said to be an alarming 65% (Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Teens are even less likely to wear seat belts while driving with other teens, which is where the next tip comes in.

Tip #3: Limit your teen as to how many other teens they are allowed in their vehicle at any time. When a teen is distracted from their driving by other teen passengers, the chances of a potentially fatal crash increases and it is already a 1-in-5 chance for males and 1-in-10 for females 16 years of age (Source: Drivers.com). Teen friends impose not only distractions, but peer pressure is a big factor for them taking unnecessary risks.

Tip #4: Teach them to keep both hands on the wheel and eyes to the front. At 35 mph, a 2 second lapse in attention means a person has traveled 100 feet without looking. Accidents where a teen was talking on a cell phone, combing their hair, or looking down at their I-pod/MP3 player, happen all the time. Make sure that they are well aware of the dangers of such behavior.

Tip #5: Create a home graduated licensing program for your teen. It is one thing to prove that they are going to be able to abide by the riles on the road, but what about your own rules and guidelines. Continue to ride with your teen and instill good driving habits long after they have received their first license. A few common rules that should be part of your guidlines are:

• A driving curfew (morning and night) to limit ‘after dark’ driving.

• Limit your teens driving during inclement weather.

• Teach your teen to drive defensively — anticipating conditions, speeding, lack of alertness and over-correcting.

(…to be continued)