Teen drivers are four times more likely to get into accidents than older motorists, which is why it is so important that they learn safe driving habits from the start. However, a recent survey conducted by Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Liberty Mutual Insurance found that teens' primary role models -their parents – are engaging in risky driving behaviors and this could be influencing new drivers to make bad decisions behind the wheel as well.<\/p>\n
The survey included responses of more than 1,700 teens across the U.S., and many reported they have seen their parents speeding (88 percent), texting while driving (59 percent), not wearing seatbelts (47 percent) and even driving under the influence of alcohol (20 percent). Roughly two-thirds of surveyed teens indicated their parents expect their kids to follow the rules of the road even though they don't. As a result, the majority of teen drivers reported they have texted behind the wheel, driven over the speed limit and broken other rules of safe driving.<\/p>\n
"The best teacher for a teen driver is a good parental role model," said Stephen Wallace, senior advisor for policy, research and education as SADD. "Parents and teens should have an active and ongoing dialogue about safe driving behavior and take the conversation one step further by signing a Parent\/Teen Contract. But parents have to demonstrate good driving behavior from the onset so new drivers understand that safe driving rules apply to everyone equally."<\/p>\n