Help Your Teen Be a Better Driver

Car crashes are the leading

cause of death for U.S.

teenagers, claiming the lives

of 3,000 each year.

But you can play an

important role in keeping

your kids safer behind the

wheel.

The State Farm® insurance company a

variety of free tools and helpful resources:

Road Trips® and Road Aware®

at the State Farm® 

Teen Driver Safety Website.

Use these ideas to start the conversation

With your teen about risky

driving behaviors:

Create a Friendly Competition

Download the State Farm® Driver Feedback

app

to your smartphone.

Make sure the volume is off

and the phone is placed

where it will not distract the

driver.

Let the driving fun—and

education—begin.

As you travel, the app measures

driving behaviors:

acceleration

braking and cornering

traffic congestion

condition of the road

The app gives you a score for the

trip, along with helpful

suggestions on

how to improve your driving on

your next trip.

Who will get the better score: you or your teen?

Sign An Agreement

A teen who has completed a

driver’s education course

knows the basics but lacks

experience

and doesn’t necessarily

understand the complexities

of everyday driving.

Set written guidelines that

both you and your teen can

refer to, and sign the

agreement.

Include goals for your teen,

as well as penalties for

violations.

When each goal is achieved—

such as remaining incident-

free for six months after

getting the license

—offer positive feedback and

increased driving privileges.

The Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention

offers this driving agreement as an

example.

Be a Good Example

A teen will be quick to

dismiss the driving rules you

put in place if you don’t

follow the rules yourself.

Never talk on the phone or text

while driving.

Obey the speed limit and

keep your emotions in check

when you’re behind the

wheel.

In 2007, with the

encouragement and support

of State Farm,

Congress declared the third

week of October

National

Teen Driver Safety Week.

Get your family, your teen’s

school and your community

involved with

educating young drivers

about safe driving practices.