Geared to Go A Workbook for Coaching New Drivers

How can we reduce the risk of collisions and injury?Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) is a great start to reduce the risks for new drivers but thereis even more that you can do. Help your teen LEARN to drive with these additional rules:LEARNLimit t h en u m b e r o fpa s s e n g e r sEv e ry o n ew e a r s as e at b e lt –e v e ry t i m eAf t e r d a r k,it’s t i m et o pa r kRu r a l r o a d sm e a n m o r er i s kNo a l c o h o lo r d r u g s –e v e rPassengers are a huge risk factor for new young drivers.Fatal crashes involving 16-year-old drivers are more likely to occurwhen there are other teens in the vehicle – and the risk increaseswith every additional teen passenger. Consider a no-passenger rulefor at least the first year of unsupervised driving. New drivers needtime to practise without the distraction of other teen passengers.Seatbelts provide the best protection in a crash,reducing the chance of injury or death by more than50%. Yet, over half of Alberta’s teen drivers and passengers whowere seriously injured in crashes over a five-year period were notwearing seatbelts. Your teen should only drive when everyone inthe vehicle is buckled up.Most deadly crashes involving teens happen between9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Consider restricting your teen’s drivingduring these hours, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. You canrenegotiate this once your teen shows responsibility and gets moredriving experience.In Alberta, over 75% of serious injury crashes involvingteens happen in rural areas. There are many reasons for this,including too many passengers in the vehicle, limited use of seatbelts,road conditions and alcohol use. If your teen must drive on ruralroads, consider setting some tough rules on where, when and withwhom they can drive.The effects of alcohol on driving performancecan begin with the first drink. The risk of a crashincreases significantly at the .05 blood alcohol level or just overhalf of the legal limit of .08. Alberta’s GDL puts tough restrictionson alcohol use during the learner and probationary periods (zeroalcohol level). Consider making your own no alcohol or drug policyafter your teen gets a full privilege license.As a parent, you are involved in your teenager’s driving in many ways – fromteaching and supervision to paying for insurance and controlling access to the familycar. You have the right to set rules for your family and you will not be alone. Mostparents do set limits – whether their teens admit it or not!When you help your teen LEARN to drive,you make the road a safer place for everyone.For more information, visit www.saferoads.comThis Essential Message for Parents is brought to you by Injury Prevention partners in Alberta whoare working to reduce the number of teenagers killed and injured every year in our province.