"Ask the Child Experts Column"                               Sunday, September 29th, 2002
 
Q: My daughter is learning to drive and I notice she tends to speed a lot when I accompany her. I keep drilling into her to slow down but it's a constant battle. Any suggestions?

A: She's already in trouble!  She'll only reform her speeding tendency by going through a driving school, like Young Drivers of Canada, that will instill good habits, responsible attitudes and defensive driving habits.


I'd recommend that you read about an excellent program run out of Ontario www.ipromiseprogram.com

 

After she has completed Young Drivers, you may want to participate in the "I Promise Program". It is designed to reduce the risk of youth related car crashes and relies on parents as role models by entering into a family contract with their young driver for safe and responsible use of the car.   

 

Key components of the program include a personalized family agreement, mutual accountability, trust and a commitment to safe driving.  Click on "Police Survey Report" and with your daughter read the survey of police who were asked the question;   "If there were one thing you would tell parents of new teen drivers, what would it be?"

 

Police were clear that parents must appreciate their own role in their teen's driving. Police clearly stated that parents cannot take a "do as I say, not as I do' approach to reinforcing safe driving behavior. Rather, parents have a direct responsibility to promote teen safe driving by demonstrating safe driving themselves. They added that  "driving is a privilege and not a right" They recommend that parents:

 

  1. Set rules and expectations - make a contract for use of the car.
  2. Remember, you are a role model - hopefully for the better.
  3. Monitor your teen's plans and whereabouts - communicate.
  4. Slow down - don't speed.
  5. Buckle up.
  6. Don't drink and drive nor be a passenger if the driver has been drinking.
  7. Forbid or at least limit the number of teen passengers.

  8. Gary Direnfeld, MSW, Executive Director
    I Promise Program Inc.
    20     Suter Crescent,
    Dundas, Ontario, Canada
    L9H 6R5

    (905) 628-4847
    gary123@sympatico.ca
    www.ipromiseprogram.com

     

     
     
    Don't buy your teen a car, but if you must make it an older model and definitely not something sporty or fast.

    ****************************************    
    Leora Kuttner Ph.D. (Clin Psyc)       
    Clinical Professor,  Pediatric Dept.,
    University of British Columbia