Picking A Car For Your Teenage Driver

Teenagers are much more likely to be involved in auto accidents, not because they’re young, but because they lack driving experience. The only way to get the experience, of course, is to drive. There are a few things that parents can and should do to increase the chances that their teens will arrive home at the end of the day in one piece. Skip the online driver’s ed courses in favour of the more complete in person classes. Make a contract with your teen, including graduated driving privileges, whether or not your state mandates them. And pick the safest car you can afford. It may seem obvious that heavier cars generally far better in crash tests. A smart car is probably not the best choice for your teen. However, large trucks and SUVs are also a less than optimum choice because their high center of gravity makes them more likely to roll. Ferrari hire cars and Lamborghini hire cars are definitely a bad choice. When you get a car that wants to go fast and an inexperienced driver that wants to go fast, you’re going to have a problem. We all know that auto manufacturers have improved the safety features of cars with each model year. This means that newer cars are generally safer than older models. Of course, they also cost more. Who can afford to buy a brand new car for each child? Here are some key safety features to look for. Anti lock brakes have been around since the 70s and 80s. They prevent the tires from locking up when the driver slams on the brakes. This greatly improves traction and prevents accidents. Since they’ve been around so long, there are plenty of used cars with anti lock brakes. Don’t even consider a car without them. If you can, it would be ideal to get a car with electronic stability control. This relatively new technology detects skids and compensates using brakes on individual wheels. The IIHS estimates that one third of fatal accidents could have been prevented if the cars had utilized this technology. This technology was introduced by a few automakers in the late 90s, but it won’t be on all vehicles until the 2011 model year. So if you’re looking at used cars, find out which of the cars you’re considering has ESC. Airbags have also seen improvements over the years. The latest addition to this line of safety features is the side curtain airbag, which protects the head. Now that you have an idea what you’re looking for, you probably realise that it’s the exact opposite of what your teenager wants. There’s a simple solution to this problem. Money. Your teenager doesn’t have enough to buy what they want until they’ve been working for a while. Buy an extra family car that you choose and make it available to your teenager to drive for one or two years. This isn’t the car of their dreams. It’s not supposed to be. They can work and save up for the car they really want. In the meantime they’re getting driving experience in something relatively safe.