How Serious is Teen Speeding?
Not more than two months ago I read in the morning news about a speeding Porsche driving on U.S. 40, that had tried to pass another car by crossing into oncoming traffic.
Hitting an oncoming car head-on, it was barely 11 AM when two drivers were instantly killed and a 19-year-old teenage girl was rushed to the hospital with two broken legs, a broken arm, and broken ribs.
How serious is the “teen-speeding problem”?
According to HealthDay, an online news source:
“Nearly half — 43% — of all fatal car crashes involving teens and their passengers are the result of speeding, a new automobile safety report reveals.”
Another study done on teen drivers shows that more than 50% of teens speed while driving.
Today, speeding, and specifically teen speeding, is a serious problem that unnecessarily claims thousands of lives, and causes irreparable damage to countless more.
In this article, I will cover the importance of coaching your teen driver on how to drive more safely by respecting Missouri speed limits.
I will also give you 6 crucial things that, as a parent, you must make a priority at home so that your teen driver learns the importance of cautious driving.
How to Teach Your Teen Driver to Respect Speed Limits
Teaching and coaching your teen to respect speed limits and maintain a safe driving distance, will not only help you avoid hefty traffic tickets but can help you save your teen’s life, as well as the lives of others.
Teens are more likely to speed than older drivers as well as allow shorter headway (the distance from one vehicle to the next).
Here are some helpful ways to teach your new teen driver how to obey the speed limit without constantly telling them that they are “going too fast”.
- Driving by example is the best way to teach your teen driver to drive safely. As a parent, you yourself must set an example when you drive by following and respecting the speed limits, especially when your teen driver is in the car with you.
- When you are teaching your teen how to drive, start practicing on simple roads without a lot of traffic and slowly graduate to harder roads and then highways. While they are driving, ask them what the speed limit is and what their driving speed is so that they get used to observing their speed and comparing it to the speed limit.
- Be patient and build on positive habits. Point out the things your teen driver does correctly, and try not to point out all their mistakes at once. Work to develop one skill at a time as much as possible.
- Until your teen driver is confident about their skills, plan your route and provide clear instructions ahead of time.
- Teach them to slow down or how to react when a car is speeding behind them, aggressively driving, or too close to their car.
- Practice a lot and as per point 1, lead by example by not speeding.
Limit Night Driving
Speeding, and specifically racing, is also a big cause of accidents.
You can help prevent this by watching closely and exerting some control over your teen’s whereabouts and driving habits.
If they are going on a drive without you, ensure they know their destination, and don’t just “go out for a drive”.
Try to limit night time driving. If they are going somewhere, get an idea of the driving time it will take to get there and ask them to text you when they arrive, or check to make sure they arrived safely.
Make sure your teen is well rested before they drive. Ensure if they drive with you that they glove box their phone.
While no parent wants to be overbearing and controlling, some control is necessary to help your teen learn to drive safely.
