Parental Supervision of Teenage Drivers in a Graduated Licensing System

Abstract

The extended learning experience required by GDL programs is a positive experience for many families. However, finding a method for helping parents achieve maximum benefits during this process will be challenging. The results also suggest that current requirements in the learner phase of most state GDL systems (six months; 30-50 hours) may be inadequate to ensure that teenagers obtain a sufficient amount of experience to begin driving safely on their own.

Teen driving in rural North Dakota: A qualitative look at parental perceptions

“…Separate research suggests that parents tend not to make the most productive use of the time spent supervising their teen's practice driving. A study using in-vehicle cameras to document the behaviors of teen drivers and parent supervisors indicated that most practice driving took place in relatively benign conditions; teens rarely drove at night, in rain, or in heavy traffic, and they tended to drive the same routes (Goodwin et al, 2006). Parents' advice to their teen drivers tended to focus on vehicle handling rather than the aforementioned higher order skills (Goodwin et al, 2006).…”

“…A study using in-vehicle cameras to document the behaviors of teen drivers and parent supervisors indicated that most practice driving took place in relatively benign conditions; teens rarely drove at night, in rain, or in heavy traffic, and they tended to drive the same routes (Goodwin et al, 2006). Parents' advice to their teen drivers tended to focus on vehicle handling rather than the aforementioned higher order skills (Goodwin et al, 2006). Taken together, these findings point to the need for parents to be better prepared for the important role of supervising their novice teen's practice driving.…”

“…However, little is known about how parents prepare for and perform in this supervisory role (Mirman and Kay, 2012;Subcommittee on Young Drivers, 2009;, and evidence-based programs to help guide parents are lacking. Resources such as driving logs and informative websites exist, but simply providing such resources to parents is unlikely to improve most parents' performance in supervising their novice teen driver (Goodwin et al, 2006;Subcommittee on Young Drivers, 2009). Several interventions to improve parental supervisory skills are currently being evaluated , but more attention is needed to this important research gap (Subcommittee on Young Drivers, 2009; Goodwin et al, 2006;Mirman and Kay, 2012).…”

Helmets Matter: Kentucky Motorcycle Crash Victims Seen at a Tennessee Trauma Center

“…Although parents said that the information was helpful, they used the guidance material in only a general way. The information had no effect on the amount or type of supervised driving during the learner's stage or on parental restrictions on driving after licensure (Chaudhary, Ferguson, & Herbel, 2004;Goodwin, Waller, Foss, & Margolis, 2006).…”

Driving errors of learner teens: Frequency, nature and their association with practice

“…Current estimates indicate that the majority of US teens receive some form of professional driver education, typically 6 h of behind-the-wheel (BTW) instruction and 30 h of classroom lessons (Chaudhary et al, 2011;Curry et al, 2012). In addition, nearly all teens engage in supervised practice driving with adult family members, usually parents (Goodwin et al, 2006).…”