4-19-05
New Teenage Driver's program

New teenage drivers have fewer accidents when parents set stricter limits on driving conditions.

The likelihood of an automobile accident is greatest in the first six months after new drivers receive their licenses. To help reduce the number and severity of these accidents, a new Checkpoints program is being studied by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. This program encourages parents to become more involved in their teenager's diving says Ron Kanwischer, assistant professor of psychiatry at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.

SOUND BITE: "The parents will create a written and verbal contract with their kid about these driving situations and then if the child is to violate those, the parents will have some sort of consequence in place that will help drive that message home. This is very similar to many other programs that we’re seeing that’s beginning to have some positive effect. When parents get more involved in setting limits."

Kanwischer says four particular behaviors have been identified as risky and should be included in the driving contract between parent and teen. The behaviors include driving at night, driving with other teenagers in the car, driving in bad weather and driving on the highways where high speeds are involved. Kanwischer suggests ways parents of new drivers can help shape behaviors in the teen’s critical first six months of driving.

SOUND BITE: " . . . by spending time with their driving age child about ah statistics around accidents and likelihood when accidents occur and creating a contract. And even sitting down with the child and working out the parameters of a contract in a family meeting might be a reasonable way to go, with some sort of reward and consequences build in for the behaviors . . ."

Parents who would like more information about teenage driving problems can check the National Institute of Health's website, NIH.gov, or consult a school counselor or community mental health counselor.