So, you’ve spent the day hanging at the mall with your bffls, and you walked back to your (parent’s) car only to find that someone smashed into the back of it and broke the tail light and pulled the bumper halfway off.  After a lot of OMGing, you come to the horrible realization that your parents are going to kill you.  You know that they’re gonna blame you, simply because you’re a teenage driver… as though this never could’ve happened to an old person!  

Is there any way to prevent your parents’ hysteria?  Well, not really, but you will be able to maybe keep it down to a mild outburst of profanity and expletives if you follow these instructions:  

• Calm down and take a deep breath.
• Call the police from your cell phone and tell them what happened; you need to have them file a police report on your behalf so that your parents can file an insurance claim.  Although parking lots are “technically” private property, you can still have a police report completed; if they won’t come to you, you may have to go them.
• Contact the mall’s security office and let them know what happened.  There’s a strong possibility that they will have a security tape that can provide some very relevant information – i.e. license plate – of the offender.
• Leave a note on the windshield of the vehicles parked next to you – they may have seen or noticed something.
• Write down everything that you remember seeing, doing or saying; memories have a way of changing as time passes.
• Call the insurance company as soon as you get home.  Even though the policy may be in your parents’ names, the claims adjuster will want to speak to you, the driver, directly. Of course, you have already ensured that your have car insurance for teenagers, right?

 Finally, understand this:  Parking lot accidents can happen to old (experienced) drivers, too.  Your parents may need a little reminding.

Every driver starts off as a newbie, and there are incidents every day which are new to you.  Mistakes will be made; sometimes minor gaffs and other times major boo boos.  Irrespective of size, you will learn from them.  With any luck, when you’ve goofed, you’ll do so in private, with no one watching, laughing, sniggering or criticizing.  But, what if the goof was one of the “major boo boos,” say you banged hard into a car door while trying to pull into a tight parking space and put a great big dent right in the middle.  And no one saw.  What would you do?

Would you sit around and wait for the car’s owner?  Would you leave a note on the windshield?  Or would you back back out and drive off, thankful that no one saw? 

 Can you be certain that no one saw?  In this day and age, with electronic surveillance so prevalent, there’s a strong likelihood that someone did see.  And your leaving the scene of an accident – even one where no one was hurt – is, in most cases, an offense serious enough to warrant the revocation of your license.  And a fine.  And maybe even jail time.  

 If you hit a vehicle that is unattended or damage someone’s property (a wall or fence, light post, mailbox, etc.,) you must make a reasonable effort to locate and identify the owner of the property.  Before you do anything, do you have car insurance for teenagers? You should leave a note in which you provide your name and contact information, as well as your insurance details.  And you better have a darn good excuse for leaving the scene of an accident, because the police don’t like that at all, even if no one was hurt or killed.  You have a responsibility as a driver, and this is one of them:  Admitting that you goofed.

Being a teenager isn’t easy – there’s so much pressure to contend with… from parents, from teachers and even from friends.  While teenagers might be willing to blow off their parents or teachers, blow off a friend?  Never.  There’s too much at stake.  But, herein is the heart of the problem:  “Friends” tend to put the wrong kind of pressure on your teenager, contrary to the way you’ve been trying to raise him or her.  Reckless and dangerous behaviors are encouraged, many times as a rite of passage or initiation into a clique… “just have one drink, one little drink isn’t gonna kill ya” or “go on and take a hit, what are ya, a weenie?” or “crank this baby up to 90 and let’s hit the mall; your parents won’t even know you were there.”  Peer pressure – it’s a frightening reality for many parents and many teens.

When “friends” are putting pressure on your teenage driver to drive too fast, too far, in the dark, with a drink under their belt, too many people in the car, without seat belts, etc., etc., it will take a lot of courage for your child to withstand it.  Saying “no” is never easy, but with practice (and a deep breath) it can be done.  It’s a matter of coming up with some “excuses” that are plausible enough to get you off the hook.  But when all else fails, there’s always the clincher, “No way.  My parents will freak, and it just ain’t worth the lecture.”  And, should that fail to persuade your “friends,” it’s time to accept that you need to find real friends – the kind who’d never put you in harm’s way.

Tip: Despite all these questions, have you looked into car insurance for teenagers?

In N.J., a law was recently passed which will affect only teenage drivers.  Or will it?  Kyleigh’s Law, which will take effect on May 1^st in the Garden State, requires, among other things, that a brightly colored sticker is placed in the windshield of a car identifying the driver as a teenager.  Opponents claim that it is purely and simply age discrimination.  Certainly, there are valid arguments on both sides of the issue. 

Under the new law, teens that are 16 years old and who possess a learner’s permit have to be accompanied by a driver with at least 3 years experience and who is considered an adult (over 21); they must also wear a seat belt, must not use any wireless or handheld device, and are not allowed to drive between specific hours. 

Teens that have reached the age of 17 can drive with a provision license and may drive unsupervised for 1 year.  All passengers but one must be from their household (i.e. same address).  Seat belts, cell phone restrictions and hours within which a teen driver cannot drive are still in place. 

Finally, between the ages of 18 and 21, a driver can earn a basic driver’s license provided that they’ve completed a full year of driving unsupervised, but must continue to adhere to all other restrictions. 

The (infamous) teenage driver sticker is transferable, and must be visible at all times, and can be removed only after the driver reaches the age of 21.  Arguments about the sticker abound… it’s a form of profiling, cops will unjustly target teens, predators will be on the lookout, it won’t force a teen driver to perform better, etc., etc, etc.  Whether or not the legislation becomes law depends on many factors and the success of appeals. 

FYI:  Six thousand teenagers die in motor vehicle accidents every single year. Oh my — not very happy statistics — it is imperative that you check out car insurance for teenagers.

So, you’ve passed your driver’s test and got the license in hand.  Congratulations.  Now what?  You’ve made it this far, now drive to stay alive; these ten tips will start you off on the right road. 

1. The front passenger seat may will look weird unoccupied; don’t feel shy about asking someone to come along, at least until you’re confident enough to drive alone.
2. When driving alone, stick to the roads you know best; when you’re not driving locally, be sure you’ve got a good map or directions (including reverse trip) printed out.
3.  Remember, you don’t own the road, only the car. 
4.  It’s alright to have passengers (if your parents agree, of course), but remember that it’s your car, your rules.  If your friends don’t like it, drop ‘em off at the nearest bus stop.
5. Even a 4-wheel drive vehicle can get into trouble; know your car and don’t press the limits.
6. Don’t let an aggressive driver get under your skin; just pull to the side or let him pass.  His attitude is his problem; don’t make it yours.
7. Keep a cell phone charged and handy, and if you experience a problem, pull over and call for help – never use the phone while driving.
8. Be wary of strangers offering assistance; while not everyone is a threat, especially if you’re a woman, better safe than sorry.
9. Know some basic car maintenance – how to change a tire, how to replace windshield wipers, how to add fluids, etc. 
10. Never ever drink or take drugs and drive.  You’ve obviously heard this before, but its one that bears repeating.

Tip: Before any of these tips, have you researched and found the right car insurance for teenagers?

Everyone has heard the story of the man who escaped a fiery death when his car burst into flames simply because he wasn’t wearing a seat belt.  The story goes that an emergency services person told him he’d surely have been killed if he had buckled up because he’d have been trapped in his car.  And ever since then, he’s gone without the protection of a seat belt and lived to tell the story (and perpetuate the myth).  Lucky him.  It doesn’t really work that way, and even if it did once, statistically, that’s all the luck he’s going to get. 

The fact is strong statistical evidence proves that seat belts save lives.  And a child, buckled safely and properly into an infant seat, is safer in that seat than in your arms.  The forces from a crash are exponentially higher than while still.  You’ve heard about G-forces, right? This isn’t a lesson in physics, so we’ll make it simple.  Say you’re holding your chubby 10 lb newborn in your arms, and your spouse is driving on the highway at 60 mph.  Out of nowhere, a truck crosses the intersection, and you’ve got only about 4 feet before you hit him, so he hits the brake hard.  You, meanwhile clutch that little baby in your arms.  Except that little baby doesn’t feel so little anymore; instead of 10 lbs, he feels like 300 lbs and that’s too much for you to hold onto.  His unrestrained body will crash headfirst into your dashboard, and 300 lbs worth of force will crumple his skull and spine. 

Still think you’re strong enough to hold a 10 lb baby?  Think again.

Tip: Keeping your children safe is your number one priority. Would it not also be a bonus to couple this with affordable auto insurance?

Keeping kids entertained (i.e. quiet) on a road trip is an undertaking in itself.  Fortunately, with older children it’s easy enough to find something to keep them from getting bored – books, games, iPods, DVDs, etc.  With really little kids, it’s not all that simple at all.  Many well-meaning parents clip a toy bar to the infant seat handle, so that its bright colors and shapes will hold their child’s attention until you’ve reached your destination.  The handle bar toys are a sanity saver, no doubt, but they’re a dangerous object to your child if they’re being used inappropriately in a moving vehicle. 

As of now, the majority of infant car seats on the market mandate that the handle be in the down position.  In the event of an accident, the handle, unless it is reinforced, could break and injure your child, and any objects attached to the handle could smash into your baby’s precious face.  Most car seats, when crash tested, are tested in the handle down position.  That being said, some manufacturers have begun testing their seats with the handles up and have determined that it is safe… again, some manufacturers.  If in doubt, call the seat manufacturer or refer to the instruction manual that came with the infant seat.  And remember to protect that bundle of joy with affordable car insurance. 

You’re sanity is important, as is the comfort of your child, but safety is, and always should be, paramount.

If this is the first time you’ve heard that expression – car surfing – you’re probably thinking, “What the…?“  Obviously, you’re not a teenager, then; living your life to the fullest, in the fast lane, doing wild and crazy things, playing video games like Grand Theft Auto.  Car surfing is one of the latest thrill seeking activities (with origins in virtual games like GTA) that teenagers have become real life participants in – whether they’re the crazy kid driving the car or the even crazier kid up on the roof.  Sadly, it’s an activity becoming more and more prevalent, another threat to the lives of our children (and the sanity of their parents).  The Centers for Disease Control indicates that 31 states have reported injuries as a result of car surfing, and the average age of the injured person is 17.6 years old, with males being more likely to be car surfing than females. Be safe and ensure your teen has great car insurance for teenagers. 

Certainly, the person at highest risk of injury or death is the crazed surfer dude.  But that doesn’t mean that the driver won’t pay for his or her serious lapse in judgement… payment rendered in the form of jail time (vehicular manslaughter), civil liabilities (there goes the college savings) and guilt the likes of which he or she may never recover. 

Want to try your hand at car surfing?  Fine, but don’t do it in the real world.  Virtual, all the way, dude.

In a perfect world, your 18-year old would be in college (on a full academic scholarship), living in a dorm, eating healthfully, studying hard and earning a 4.0 GPA.  She’d have a part time job working in her desired field, a car that she bought herself and insurance that she pays for.  She does her parents proud, doesn’t she? 

Well, welcome to the real world, where your 18-year old is not going to college, is still living with you (and eating you out of house and home), sleeps till noon every day, and doesn’t even have the prospect of a job.  Oh, and she wants to borrow your car on Friday night and would like to know if you can lend her $20 for gas. 

You can’t just toss your adult daughter out on her ear, as much as you’d like to, nor can you just remove her from your car insurance (much as you’d hoped would be the case when she turned 18).  No, she’s yours for all of her faults and foibles.  And as long as a licensed driver is living in your home, you must maintain car insurance on him or her.  There is no requirement or restriction imposed by an insurance company that a child is too old to be kept on a policy or that she needs her own. Point her in the direction of finding  cheap car insurance.

That being said, there’s also no requirement that says you have to keep supporting said moocher, er, licensed driver.  Of course, that’s entirely up to you.  It’s called tough love.

It has been said that driving is a full time responsibility, and that distraction – whatever it may be – is the single-most often cited reason as the cause of an accident… “I was distracted… I was looking at… I took my eyes off the road for a single second because…”   Whatever the case may be, it takes a lot of concentration and focus to drive safely.  Teenagers who suffer with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) are at a significantly higher risk of being involved in an accident, simply because of their unique medical condition.  What that means is that they need to take special precautions in order to drive:

Unless you’ve taken your medication, a teenager with ADD or ADHD should NOT get behind the wheel.  

• Consider taking an addition dose of medication or an extended-release version of it, if you will be driving for an extended length of time or driving late at night.  
• Reduce distractions, i.e. no radio, no friends, no phone, no food, nothing.  Just concentrate on the drive.  

And finally, if you’re a teenager with ADD or ADHD, and you find yourself getting angry or annoyed, pull off the road, and use whatever method you use to calm yourself down.  Driving enraged is equally as bad as driving distracted. And be certain you have great car insurance for teenagers.