|
Getting behind the wheel of a car for the first time is an exciting experience for teens, but it also means they are putting their lives at risk. AAA Utah's new StartSmart program will help families learn how to keep their teens safe while they're learning to drive.
"Car crashes are the leading cause of death among 16 to 19 year-olds, said Rolayne Fairclough, spokesperson for AAA Utah. "StartSmart is an innovative and easy way for parents and teen drivers to learn how they can reduce the risks of driving."
To keep new drivers safe on the road, teens must start learning good driving habits before they get their licenses and continue even after they pass their driving tests. StartSmart has helpful advice for parents and teens every step of the way. The program is free and easy to join. Visit www.aaa.com/StartSmart and get parent and teen guides full of valuable information. As parent of the program, AAA members can enroll to get informative email newsletters approximately every two weeks. Each newsletter is tailored to a different phase of a teen's learning process.
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that 16-year-olds are 20 times more likely to have a motor vehicle crash than the general population. AAA StartSmart helps parents and teens reduce that possibility by offering tips and information on a wide variety of topics. A few examples are how to drive in bad weather, the importance of safety belts, how to avoid distractions like having friends in the car and knowing the dangers of combining alcohol or other drugs while driving.
AAA offers other programs to help teen drivers. Driver-ZED (Zero Errors Driving) is an interactive computer DVD-ROM that allows teen drivers to gain experience at recognizing dangerous driving situations in a safe virtual environment. TeenSMART is another program that helps teens to drive more safely and rewards drivers between 16 to 18 years old who successfully complete home study coursework with a discount of up to 20 percent on auto insurance. Visit www.aaa.com/teens for details.
Families are also encouraged to download the Parent-Teen Driving Agreement that includes guidelines that should be followed on a teen's path to fully independent driving.
AAA Utah offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance, financial services and consumer discounts to more than 180,000 members. AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers since it was founded more than 100 years ago.
|
