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Keeping Your Teen Driver Safe: Car Expert Lauren Fix

2,124 views · Published 13 June 2013 · 2:02 · Indexed 10 November 2026

Channel: Car Coach Reports · 2013 · Autos & Vehicles

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New drivers can concern parents. It's a good idea to establish a few important rules to help keep your teen driver safe.

If you worry about the kind of car your teen will drive, you're not alone — especially in this age of distractions behind the wheel. In a survey by USAA, 81% of parents put reliability first when choosing a vehicle for their teen, followed by a high safety rating. The good news is that teens also want cars with the latest safety features.

Being safe is the new cool. Sure there are cool colors and options, but side-impact air bags and hands-free devices — that's what are in the new, cool cars.

New technologies — such as built-in rearview cameras or lane-change alert systems — turn teenagers' heads almost as much as the make and model.

You can replace cars, but you can't replace a child.

True value. Use online resources to compare:

• Sticker price, which the dealer wants you to pay.
• Invoice price, which is what the dealer paid.
• True market price. Online car buying services can help determine the cost by offering research tools and a network of dealers to help you find the average price for cars selling in your area.

True cost of ownership. Even if you get a good deal on the car, remember to factor in maintenance, repair, fuel and insurance costs. Discounts for high grades, good driving records and some safety features available in new cars can lower the overall cost.
Today, high-tech safety features and headlines that announce the dangers of texting while driving help make teens aware of how vulnerable they are behind the wheel. In fact, car accidents are the No. 1 cause of teen deaths across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That's why the decision parents and teens make about that first set of wheels is so crucial.

What should you look for, new or used? Newer cars with newer technology. While a used car may seem budget-friendly, it may lack the technology that could save your child's life. In addition to electronic stability control — which helps drivers keep control of the vehicle — and side-impact air bags, base prices for newer cars are including built-in rearview cameras and park-assist systems that can make sense if the driver is about to rear-end another car or object.

1. Under Watchful Eyes. How do your kids drive when you're not in the passenger seat?
Purchase a GPS-enabled device that plugs into the teen's vehicle. It records driving data, such as acceleration, breaking, routes, time of day and speed. Then parents and teens can review the data online, offering a chance for parents to coach safe driving behavior and track their child's progress.

2. The right size. Avoid sport utility vehicles, which have higher rollover rates and can prove tougher to maneuver; and tiny cars, which may offer less protection in a crash. I recommend moderate-size vehicles for more stability and easier, more predictable handling.

3. Sedan style. High-performance sports cars may beckon your teen, but steer clear. Don't give your teen more power than he or she can handle.

4. Crash-test ratings. Check the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Picks each year on their website.

5. Accident history. If you are in the market for a used car, get the CARFAX® Vehicle History Report, filed under the car's VIN or license tag number. It can alert you if a car's been in an accident or damaged in a flood.

6. Unbiased mechanic's sign-off. Have an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified mechanic check the vehicle inside, outside and underneath to make sure the used vehicle you are purchasing is a good one.

www.iihs.org
www.usaa.com
www.ase.org

Courtesy of YNN/Time Warner Cable
Aired: 6/13/2013

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