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As they watch their young driver carefully pull out of the driveway for the first time, every parent has a nightmarish and unspeakable thought. Automobile crashes are still the leading cause of death among teen drivers, even though The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently announced the number of traffic fatalities in 2010 fell to the lowest level ever reported.
In celebration of Teen Driving Safety Month this October, AAA Southern New England will host free 90-minute workshops for teens 14 and 15 year-olds who aren't yet licensed and their parents. "Dare to Prepare" will be held Wednesday, Oct. 5 at the Greenwich Police Department, 11 Bruce Place, Greenwich and Thursday, Oct. 13 at the Fairfield Police Department, 100 Reef Road, both from 6-7:30 p.m.
The purpose of the classes, according to Police Officer Ron Carosella, is to teach future drivers about safe driving practices and help them understand the nature of distracted driving, which is not limited to texting while behind the wheel. He says, We also cover vehicle maintenance, understanding road signs and handling a car in a crisis situation.
Its never too early to teach prospective drivers about how to drive well, says Officer Carosella. He adds, I have two kids and when they started driving it was a stressful time for my wife and me. I think if we can make kids wiser about the dangers and responsibilities of driving, theyll be safer and their parents might rest a little easier.
There is another component of the workshops discussion, says Carosella: Making sure parents understand their own responsibilities as their teen seeks a drivers permit and then a license. As anyone who has perused the Department of Motor Vehicle website can attest, understanding the specifics of the graduated driver licensing laws can be daunting.
Our objective is to make sure everyone, parents and teens, has the same information when pursuing a graduated drivers license, says Fran Mayko, Dare to Prepare coordinator, who will lead the discussions with Officer Carosella.
Getting a drivers license is a big responsibility and we want to help parents and teens navigate the journey safely. If we can initiate conversations about safe driving practices even before drivers education classes begin, then we can help teens drive more safely, says Mayko.
Learning to drive well doesnt begin when a teen buckles his or her seatbelt and adjusts the rearview mirror. It starts with a solid understanding about what happens after the car begins to move.
Dare to Prepare classes are free but registration is required. Call Jackie Pesticci at (203) 765-4222, extension 5241.
Do you have a pre-driving teen? Have you begun informal "driver education" classes?
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