Sue Scheff: Teens Driving - Think Before You Get Behind the Wheel

On Oprah's birthday (January 29th), she asked that everyone take the pledge not to text and drive. This is not just for teens, this is for adults too. Texting and driving is equal to having four drinks and driving. It is serious.

Part of parenting teens is the stress of when they become "of age to drive." Depending on your teenager, they are either counting down the days or could care less. Most are counting down the days. Driving a car is a serious consideration and parents need to do their homework, as well as the teenager before they get behind the wheel.

Safe Teen Driving Club is one of several organizations that are designed to help you get ready for this big step into adulthood. Crash Proof Your Kids, by Timothy C. Smith, is an excellent book to help prepare you.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System collected the following data about teenage drivers:

• Crashes are the leading cause of death among 16- to 19-year-olds.
• The majority of teenage passenger deaths occur when another teen is driving.
• Two-thirds of teens killed in motor vehicle crashes are male.
• Among teenage drivers, alcohol is a factor in 23 percent of fatal accidents involving males, 10 percent of fatal accidents involving females.
• More than half of the teenage motor vehicle deaths occur on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Of those deaths, 41 percent occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

According to Safe Teen Driving Club, parents are concerned about issues like these:

• Is my youngster ready to drive?
• Driving safety - how to avoid accidents
• Setting realistic and effective driving rules
• How to pay for driver's ed
• Is driver's ed enough?
• Sharing the cost of driving with your teen
• Risky driving behaviors
• Laws in your state
• Insurance costs and issues
• Safety of the car she drives
• Auto maintenance and repair
• Legal issues in case of a crash

Safe Teen Driving Club is the source you can rely on to help you keep your youngster safe.

Be an educated and prepared parent, you will have safer teens!

Watch video on texting and driving and more on Examiner. This is a major concern today. Take a pledge - don't text and drive! Oprah is promoting NO PHONE ZONE. Take the pledge and demand your kids don't use the phone while driving. Parents - lead by example! No texting and cell phone talking while driving.

Sue Scheff: Teen Drivers

When your teenager reaches the age of their new freedom, called driving, it can cause many parents to reach stress levels that they never knew existed. Or quietly honestly, just hoped this day would never come, since it was only yesterday we taught them to ride a bike.

As a Parent Advocate I believe an educated parent is a prepared parent that equals a safer teen! I know personally the stress I went through when both my teens (now adults) started driving. What I found to be interesting was that my daughter was very anxious to get behind the wheel and had her permit within a week of her birthday. My son wasn’t in any hurry and actually was 18 before he got his license.

We all have different teens with unique personalities; however the nature of parenting usually doesn’t change: we worry. I am listing a few great resources targeted at helping you with this next stage of parenting teens - teen drivers.

Teen Driving – A must read and print out, Teen Driving Contract. This website offers tremendous tips about teenage driving, maintaining their cars, driving in a variety of weather conditions, looking into car insurance for teens and more.

Safe Teen Driving Club – 1-866-930-TEEN (8336) is a comprehensive website and organization that I encourage parents to take the time to review. From choosing a safe car to learning about defensive driving, Safe Teen Driving Club covers a wide range of topics that are critical for you and your teen to be aware of. You may also be interested in their recommended vehicle tracker (GPS).

ZoomSafer – “We don’t let friends drive distracted.” Distracted driving is a complicated and growing behavioral problem, especially with teenagers. Whether it is texting or talking on your cell phone while driving, it is a distraction that can potentially lead to tragic endings. Follow ZoomSafer on Twitter at @IDriveFocused and get updates.

Vision 20/20 – The Vision 20/20 P.O.M. Pilot is one of the smallest real-time GPS tracking devices available. If you are considering a GPS, this one is waterproof, highly sensitive and comes equipped with a panic button, GeoFencing features, remote control and more. Follow Vision 20/20 on Twitter at @GoVision2020.

I am confident there are many other great resources online for parents (feel free to leave comments below), as well as products. It is up to the parent to decide what is best for their individual families. There are many different services and products. I encourage all parents to do their research before choosing the right product for them.

For more info: CDC - Teen Drivers, Save Teen Drivers Blog. Take the time to visit these websites and resources.

Also posted on Examiner.com.

Safe Teen Driving Club - Parenting Teens As they Learn to Drive

There's an epidemic in the US that's taking the lives of our youngsters. Driving fatalities are the number one cause of death among youngsters age 15 to 20. Driving crashes surpass suicide, homicide and all other causes. Over 300,000 teens are admitted to hospital ER's each year -- many with life-changing injuries. Among licensed drivers, young people have the highest fatal crash rate of any age group. What's more distressing, teens at age 16 are twice as likely to die in fatal car crashes as 18 to 19 year old teens. This is largely due to their youth and lack of experience behind the wheel.

We know your life is busy. We're here to give you the support, help, information and services you need to keep your youngster safe...in a quick, easy-to-use format.

Parents tell us they're concerned about issues like these...

Is my youngster ready to drive?
Driving safety - how to avoid accidents
Setting realistic and effective driving rules
How to pay for driver's ed
Is driver's ed enough?
Sharing the cost of driving with your teen
Risky driving behaviors
Laws in your state
Insurance costs and issues
Safety of the car she drives
Auto maintenance and repair
Legal issues in case of a crash

Safe Teen Driving Club is the source you can rely on to help you keep your youngster safe.

Sue Scheff: Safe Teen Driving Club

Are you a parent of a new teenage driver or is your teen about to take the wheel? Be an educated parent - learn more here on this valuable website promoting Safe Teen Driving!
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Our mission is to educate parents and provide them services they can use to keep their teen safe and alive while driving. It's pretty well known that driving crashes are the #1 cause of teen injury and death, taking a back seat to suicide, homocide, drugs, alcohol and all other causes.Feel free to visit our site at http://www.safeteendrivingclub.org/, or our blog at http://safeteendrivingclub.wordpress.com/.

You'll find safety tips, information on our Crash Free America educational program for parents and services and products that are proven to reduce the chances of a crash with your teen.
You can also see a short video about the Club and other media coverage at http://www.safeteendrivingclub.org/stdc_page2.php?page_ID=1193759997.