Choosing a Car – When the Time is Right
Many parents want to give their children a car as soon as they receive their driver's license. Cost considerations aside, it's not a good idea.
If you buy your son or daughter a car immediately after licensure, you may be sending the message that having a car and driving immediately is his or her entitled right, rather than an earned privilege. It's a much safer and wiser plan to have your teen establish a safe driving record before giving him or her free reign of the roadways. Even if your child has saved the money to buy a car, it's not the best practice in terms of safety and risk.
A new driver is at the highest risk of being involved in a crash during the first six months after receiving licensure. Don't be in a rush to give your teen the privilege of independent driving in all conditions and situations right away and not in his or her own vehicle.
You may be looking forward to having your teen drive siblings to sports, music lessons, and other activities, but it's worth waiting a few more months to keep them -- and your car -- safe.
You will probably hear the familiar pleas: "Everyone else's parents give them a car" or "If I pay for it myself, what's the problem?" Stand tough. Reinforce that your child's safety and others' safety depend on it. It's not worth taking the risk.
How do I know when my teen is ready to drive alone?
Guidelines on cars
When the time is right to help your teenager pick out a car, follow these guidelines for purchasing the best type of vehicle:
Avoid cars that have a sporty, performance-type image. These vehicles can encourage young drivers to speed and "test" their performance. SUVs and pick-up trucks also are not the best choices for a teenager. While they may seem safe because of their size and weight, these vehicle types are actually more likely to roll over in a crash. A teen driver's high crash rate and an SUV's high rollover rate can be a deadly combination.
Later model mid and full-size passenger cars are good choices. They offer sufficient weight, as well as updated safety features. Small cars offer less crash protection because of their size/weight. Look for a car that has airbags in addition to the standard driver and passenger ones. Side and curtain airbags add an extra measure of crash protection.
Other features to look for are Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and intelligent seat-belt reminder systems that make it difficult or annoying to drive without all occupants buckling up.
When you find a car that seems like a good choice, be sure to check its safety ratings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
A word about finances
From the National Young Driver Survey, we learned that 61percent of 9th through 11th graders share the vehicle they drive most often with someone else. Only about half of them said they're responsible for fuel costs. Only about 25 percent were responsible for any maintenance or repair costs.
Other research shows that if teens are aware of monetary fines for traffic offenses, they will have more incentive to drive safely. Likewise, parents can use the costs associated with driving as a bargaining point. For example, you can agree to cover gas costs as long as they adhere to the terms of the parent-teen driving agreement.
