The Impact of a Parental/Teen Orientation on Driver Safety

Background: Traffic safety and driver education are critical components of comprehensive heath education. The number one cause of death in school age children is vehicular crashes. Contributing to this factor is the lack of parental involvement in assisting teens to develop safe driving skills, values and habits. Providing real experiences that assist in developing collaborative processes between parents and their teens in the acquisition of safe driving skills is a critical factor. Method: This research project examines effectiveness of parent/teen driving orientation program during the first year of teen driving. During year one the research was conducted collaboratively between a university and one high school. During year two, four schools were recruited. Stakeholders (driver education teachers, school administrators, and school resource officers) received training regarding the benefits of parent involvement in their teenager's driver education. Before participating in the orientation program, teens and their parents/guardians completed surveys on knowledge and values about driver safety. Orientation sessions focus on how and why increased parental involvement with their teen driver is of critical importance. Training was provided to teens during the driver education class, as well as with teens and their parents in evening session. Results from the pilot: Parents were significantly more likely to believe they could impact their teen's driving behaviors at posttest compared to pretest. Parents were significantly more likely to believe that their behaviors could serve as a positive role model for their teen at posttest compared to pretest. Parents reported they understood the GDL laws better at posttest than at pretest. Teens were significantly more likely to report that teenagers were the category of drivers involved in the highest number of crashes at posttest than at pretest. Based on information presented in the parent/teen orientation, 79.4% of students reported that they were likely to increase time spent practicing with parents. Over 81% of students felt more inclined to follow the GDL restrictions after attending the parent/teen Orientation. Approximately 47% of the sophomore class attended the orientation with their parent or guardian. Discussion: The results demonstrate that when parents are informed and engaged in the GDL process that they feel more confident about enforcing, and are better able to enforce the requirements and assist their teens in the driving process. Results also demonstrate teens value and respond to parent engagement in their driver education.