There are many firsts in a child’s life that cause great anxiety, but none so much as the day they get their driver’s licence and head out onto the roads for the first time. You may not be able to control their behaviour on the roads, but you can make sure they have good car insurance so they’re covered for any mishaps, and that they fully understand the consequences of risky behaviour.
And no matter how responsible you think your child is, the numbers say otherwise. Insurers know that teenagers are more than four times more likely to damage their cars than older, more experienced drivers. They’re also more likely to run red lights, make illegal turns, ride with a drunk driver, and drive after using alcohol or drugs.
All of this has implications for the insurance on your child’s car – the premiums will be higher, and the excess may also be affected. If you throw reckless and negligent behaviour into that mix, you could end up with a much worse insurance situation than you plan for, so it’s vital that you have a very serious conversation with your teenager about the possible consequences of their driving behaviour.
Here are some of the basics your teenager needs to know:
- Accidents can result in injuries and loss of life not only for themselves but for other road users, as a consequence of their behaviour. That could mean living with guilt and even a criminal record for the rest of their lives.
- Cell phones stay in the boot because using a cell phone while driving is the equivalent of driving drunk. Research shows that texting causes a driver to take their eyes off the road for over four seconds – you can drive 100m in that time.
- Speeding is a major contributor to teen accidents – make them pay their own fines as a deterrent.
- Make your kids aware of potential distractions like changing radio stations or turning to look at a friend’s phone. Suggest that they wait for a red robot to change music, and discourage them from eating or drinking while driving, so they keep both hands on the wheel at all times.
- When driving with friends, they need to focus just as much as they would when they’re alone in the car – added passengers mean even greater responsibility.
And then, both from an insurance and a safety point of view, buying a car that is smaller and less powerful will both reduce insurance premiums and curb their behaviour to a degree, so go for something small and modest while they are finding their driving ‘feet’.
