9 Rules for Keeping Your Teen Safe Behind the Wheel

by Lindsay Hutton

Summer vacation is a carefree time for teens. The final school bell rings and they escape the school corridors for fresh air and the open road. However, the gleeful freedom teens enjoy this time of year is often overshadowed by a devastating trend: Summer marks a spike in fatal car crashes and the beginning of the 100 deadliest days of the year for teen drivers. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens. As many as 12 teens will die behind the wheel every day this summer - that's an average of 84 funerals a week.

Lack of driving experience is a major culprit for most teen driving crashes. Although it is impossible to change this fact, safety measures and precautions can be taken by teens and parents to reduce the risks that are faced on the road every day. Tire Rack Street Survival is a community-run program offered throughout the U.S that teens can take in addition to driver's education. The program aims to sharpen the skills teens need to stay safe while driving. Students use their own vehicles to learn proper vehicle control in real-world driving situations. Expert driving coaches offer supervision at all times, and help to instill the caution and preparation in teens that is essential in helping to avoid fatal accidents. In addition to preparing students for various driving situations, Tire Rack Street Survival offers tips for parents to help ensure their teen stays safe behind the wheel this summer:

Set limits on teen driving, especially during high-risk situations such as at night, on the weekends, or in bad weather.

Do not allow your teen to ride with a young driver that has less than one year's experience behind the wheel.

Do not allow your teen to ride in a car with several other teenage passengers. The higher the number of teens in the car, the greater the level of distraction to the teenage driver.

Know where your teen is going, who he is with, and the route he plans to take. Have your teen check in with you when he reaches his destination and about any other plans he has.

Teach your teen to look 10 seconds down the road, and to stay at least 3 seconds behind the car in front of him at all times. This will help your teen to focus on the best escape route if he is confronted with an obstacle.

Set up a secret code your teen can use if he finds himself in an unsafe situation and needs you to come pick him up. Also, provide him with a list of local cab companies to keep in his wallet to avoid sleep-deprived driving.

Lead by example. Do not use your cell phone for calls or texts when driving--these are both leading distractions and causes for crashes among teen drivers. Remind your teen to keep his hands off the center of the wheel and feet off the dashboard. In the event of airbag deployment, having hands and feet in this position can result in serious bodily harm.

Stress the importance of every passenger always wearing a seat belt.

Complete a vehicle maintenance check with your teen every month to ensure everything is working and running smoothly.

In 2008, 1,555 students in 72 communities benefited from Tire Rack Street Survival programs, and 80 schools are planned for this year. For more information on schools in your area, visit Tire Rack Street Survival's website.