Liza Harmon, a high school student in Belmont, Mass., got her license as soon as she reached the legal age of 16. In high school, having your parents drive you around isn’t all that cool anymore, she explains.
USA.gov has information for teen drivers
http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Teens.shtml#vgn-driving-vgn
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has safety resources for teens and their parents
http://www.stopimpaireddriving.org/TeenDriver/YouthSplashPage.htm
The Novice Drivers Road Map has detailed information for parents who are serving as driving coaches for their teens, including eight progressive practice sessions. The printed booklet costs $15, from the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety
http://www.trafficsafety.org/worklife/novice.asp
Go to Brainbox for these resrouces:
Are you road ready for school? is a pre-drive checklist for teens to make driving safer and more comfortable
Q&A on graduated driver licensing for teens, from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
http://brainlink.org/stories/teen-risks/teen-drivers/
But are her classmates good drivers? When theyre with their parents, obviously they drive very carefully, as if theyre taking a drivers test, Ms. Harmon says. But its different with friends in the car. She notes that many of her peers, especially the boys, are a little aggressive, taking sharp turns and going faster. Its fun to go fast, and they show off for their friends.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle traffic crashes are the biggest killers of U.S. children and teens. In many states, drivers under 18 face extra penalties for breaking the rules. In Massachusetts, for example, speeding teens get a 90-day license suspension and a $500 fine. So, why arent young drivers more careful?
Teen perceptions of risk
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