Listen up, parents!
Driving is less a right than it is a responsibility. Many teens seem to forget that, which is strange since car crashes are the leading cause of death for North American teens - more than drugs, guns or any disease combined.
A recent driving study released by Liberty Mutual and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) reports that 19 percent of teens drive after drinking, while 22 percent admit driving under the influence of marijuana and "other drugs." However, teens who say their parents set expectations with clear consequences for them are more likely to respect the law than teens whose parents do not.
"Parents can play an incredibly influential role in the driving behavior of their teens," said Stephen Wallace, chairman and CEO of SADD. "Perhaps most important is to set a good example for young drivers and to reinforce their good driving habits by praising what they are doing right behind the wheel."
Establishing serious consequences and applying them also cuts down on the number of teens who engage in other unsafe behaviors, such as driving over the speed limit as well as eating or talking on the cell phone behind the wheel.
Finally, while the study also found that boys are more likely to have driven under the influence of alcohol or drugs, their parents are less likely to speak to them about driving safely and are establishing the least consequences for them.
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A recent driving study released by Liberty Mutual and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) reports that 19 percent of teens drive after drinking, while 22 percent admit driving under the influence of marijuana and "other drugs." However, teens who say their parents set expectations with clear consequences for them are more likely to respect the law than teens whose parents do not.
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Establishing serious consequences and applying them also cuts down on the number of teens who engage in other unsafe behaviors, such as driving over the speed limit as well as eating or talking on the cell phone behind the wheel.
Finally, while the study also found that boys are more likely to have driven under the influence of alcohol or drugs, their parents are less likely to speak to them about driving safely and are establishing the least consequences for them.