Promote safe driving; Sign a parent-teen driving agreement

Inexperience is one of the main factors in accidents caused by teens — and those accidents can be fatal. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens in the U.S. 

You should establish guidelines for your new teen driver to help them gain experience while practicing safe driving habits. 

One way to do this is with a parent-teen driving agreement. You can find samples online, or write your own. Either way, the agreement should cover the following guidelines. 

Your teen driver should: 

• Maintain good grades or a certain GPA to keep their driving privileges. 
• Drive with a limited number of passengers in the car. Check the graduated drivers license laws in your state. Many mandate that new drivers can only carry one non-family passenger for the first nine months with a probationary license.
• Never text or use a cell phone while driving. 
• Never consume alcohol or drugs, especially prior to driving a vehicle. 
• Always wear a seatbelt, and require that their passengers do the same.
• Agree on what time they will be home. Again, check your state laws for curfew restrictions for new drivers.

The agreement also should include the consequences (such as loss of driving privileges) if your teen doesn’t follow the guidelines, or if they receive certain traffic violations, like speeding tickets or accidents.

Sign the document with your teen and keep it someplace visible as a reminder of their responsibilities as a driver.