Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/118148
drivesmart Life Lessons Teaching teens to drive begins with role models M Y FATHER REALLY WANTED TO teach me how to drive. But, bless his heart, he just didn't have the tools to do the job. Dad drove for a living, and it felt like he expected me to be perfect from the start. He was impatient with my mistakes and jittery in the passenger seat. So, I turned to my Uncle Don for help, and his calm teaching manner was exactly what I needed. With Don's steady guidance and my family's encouragement, I enrolled in the CAA driver education program through high school and passed the test to become a licensed operator two months after I turned 16. Novice drivers could benefit from somebody like my Uncle Don, says Brian Kline, Saskatchewan Government Insurance's (SGI) manager of driver development and safety services. "The supervisor is critical because the new driver is relying on them for their skills and experience and for positive reinforcement as they are learning." Helping new drivers improve their abilities behind the wheel can mean the difference between life and death. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for older teens and young adults, Statistics Canada reports. Between 2000 and 2004, 70 per cent of accidental deaths of those aged 15 to 24 occurred in motor vehicles. Young people have the highest rates of traffic death and injury per capita among all age groups. Studies indicate young people are overrepresented in road crashes primarily because of inexperience and immaturity. But here's the good news: research shows that parents can help protect their teenagers by investing more time with them when they're behind the wheel and playing a more active role in supervising their driving restrictions. Driving skills are learned, not inherited, and parents are teens' most significant role models. From a very young age, kids watch how their parents drive and then emulate what they see when they're old enough to get behind the wheel. But research by CAA reveals a disconnect between perception and 36 W E S T W O R L D p36_Drive_Smart.indd 36 by Lawrence Herzog >> WINTER 2012 reality: 95 per cent of parents believe they're safe drivers, while 82 per cent of teens report seeing their parents being careless when driving. And the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. A study sponsored by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that teens who crash are far more likely to have parents who have crashed or received tickets. The researchers concluded that teens' driving behaviour is a reflection of that of their parents. The findings illustrate that the process of learning how to drive begins long before children become teenagers. As such, CAA recommends that parents recognize and take advantage of teachable moments inside their vehicle as their children grow up. That could mean pointing out, "It's raining, so I'm braking earlier in case the road is slick." Or sharing your own driving experiences, such as nearly rear-ending a car that stopped suddenly. Once your teen gets behind the wheel, CAA advises to at first take a few minutes in the driveway or parking lot to talk about the skills that are about to be practised. On the road, it's important to stay calm and reinforce what the new driver does well. Correct mistakes by asking questions such as "What's the speed limit here?" rather than getting upset and saying "You're going too fast, slow down!" Regular breaks every 20 minutes allow for feedback on good and bad points. A handy tool for parents, SGI's Co-Pilot's Manual not only provides step-by-step procedures for practising basic driving manoeuvres but also suggestions to help make the learning process a positive experience for the "co-pilot" and the new driver. These include ways to be a good role model, a suggested lesson plan that can work in tandem with the High School Driver Education Program, and what to practice and when. The manual is intended to be used with the Saskatchewan Driver's Handbook. As well, CAA recently launched DriveRight (driveright.caa.ca), an online resource for teens and parents. The ideal formula, as Kline points out, is when new drivers take lessons from a driving instructor and also get time behind the wheel to hone their developing skills with a parent or adult supervisor. "New drivers need practice, practice, practice. It's important to gradually introduce more complex and sophisticated driving conditions, and always with the support and supervision of an experienced driver. I always suggest people go out when they are rested and fresh, and not at the end of a day when they are tired." Still, the granting of a learner's licence is just one step along the journey to becoming a competent driver, and CAA and SGI encourage parents to stay involved by monitoring their teens' driving and establishing guidelines. Some families sign a driving agreement that sets out driving privileges, restrictions and consequences for violating them. "The first years are really crucial," Kline says. "It's important to start right because it sets the stage for the driving years to come." ℹ sgi.sk.ca/individuals/licensing/studyguides/ copilotmanual.html, driveright.caa.ca For more on CAA's new website, driveright. caa.ca, please visit caask.ca/wwonline. Getty Images 12-10-19 9:57 AM