If you’re a parent, you know just how many awkward conversations can happen between you and your teen—and there are some real doozies (everything from “Are you two going steady?” and “It’s really time you got a job, mmmkay,” to “Soooo, have you even thought about college yet?”).
But since it’s Teen Driver Safety Week, there’s another conversation you’ll want to have with your child next time they ask to borrow the car keys—it has to do with making sure they’re driving carefully and (in the age of smartphones) without distractions.
With a brand new driver’s license comes freedom and excitement, but it’s important to make sure that your new driver is a responsible one with tips from Ford, as well as with our MyKey® technology—enabling you to program restricted driving modes, such as speed limits and audio volume, into your car.
Every little bit of advice and Ford tech helps, and if that means a slightly embarrassing chat in the end, so be it. Try these tips when it’s time to have “The Talk” with your teen—it may be awkward, but one day they’ll thank you!
Give texting a time out
We pay lots of attention to our phones these days with all of our texting and #hashtagging, but when it comes to safe driving that’s something we should not be doing. Distracted driving is a serious problem, and smartphone use—and anything else that takes our eyes off the road and hands off the wheel—can lead to reduced reaction time for a driver when confronted with a change in the traffic around them.. Let your teen know that checking their phone, or any other hand-held electronic device while driving is a massive no-no, let alone a violation that comes with very steep fines and demerit points.
Know the (speed) limit
According to Transport Canada, 40 per cent of fatal accidents as a result of speeding involve young drivers (ages 16-24). It’s important to ensure your teen understands that speeding doesn’t just endanger them, but rather all drivers sharing the road. And if that isn’t enough incentive for them to slow down, the penalties and fines certainly will be.
Stay smart and sober
Like distracted and aggressive road behaviour, impaired driving is an extremely serious issue. There’s really no beating around the bush on this one, and your teen needs to understand just how dangerous and plain stupid impaired driving can be. Period.
So the talk may have been a bit awkward, even downright uncomfortable at times, but at the end of the day it’s something that a parent has to discuss with their teen.
As for the birds and the bees talk, we’ll leave that one to you…