Restrict night driving and passengers, prohibit driving while using the phone or other electronic devices, and require seat belt use at all times. You have the opportunity to establish some important ground rules for your teen driver. Familiarizing yourself with the restrictions placed on your teen's license can better assist you in enforcing those laws. Note that the laws and restrictions can vary from state to state.
This approach can reduce your teen's crash risk by as much as 50%. To help your teen stay safe behind the wheel, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have a three-stage graduated driver licensing (GDL) system that limits high-risk driving situations for new drivers. They speed, they make mistakes, and they get distracted easily – especially if their friends are in the car. Teen drivers have a higher rate of fatal crashes, mainly because of their immaturity, lack of skills, and lack of experience.
One thing is certain: teens aren't ready to have the same level of driving responsibility as adults. Your teen sees a driver's license as a step toward freedom, but you might not be sure your teen is ready for the road.
