Teen drivers have some of the highest accident rates of any demographic. However, State Farm says parents can encourage their teens to drive safely, reducing accidents and the subsequent auto insurance claims.
According to the insurer, one of the first steps parents should take is to set up an open dialogue about distracted driving. In addition to setting ground rules about the practice and encouraging safety, parents should also listen to their teens and take their comments into consideration.
State Farm says parents should lay out clear rules for texting or calling on the road, setting high standards and consequences in case those rules are not followed.
Parents should also remember to lead by example when it comes to safe driving, State Farm advises. For example, when riding with their child, parents can ask a passenger to answer their mobile phone when they are driving.
The insurer also recently launched its Project Ignition initiative, which aims to reward schools for promoting responsible teen driving habits. Through the program, a total of 25 schools in the U.S., Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick will be given $2,000 grants early next year.
As of September 1, some form of distracted driving legislation will be in place, so motorists may want to heed safer driving practices to avoid costly tickets.
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