Teen driving distractions: Parents should lay down facts, rules before handing kids the keys
In the past I've written about aggressive, impaired and distracted driving. These are just a few of the issues that we as drivers come across in our daily commutes and while running errands around town.
Some or a combination of all, can lead to car crashes in which you or another driver may be injured or killed. Many adults are arrested every year for driving under the influence or are cited for distracted and aggressive driving violations.
So what about teenagers? According to the 2014 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) as well as information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at least 62 percent of teen related crashes last year involved aggressive driving, including speeding and erratic driving behaviors.
Intoxication was a culprit in at least 41 percent of teenage driver fatal crashes. Not wearing a seat belt and distractions while driving were also major contributors to loss of life. Take the time to talk to your teenager about proper driving habits. Encourage them not to drink and drive and to put away the cell phones and other distractions that could lead to a car crash.
From the Nevada DMV: Beginning Jan. 1, 2015, anyone under the age of 18 who applies for an instruction permit, driver’s license or driver authorization card must provide the DMV with proof that he or she meets the minimum Nevada school attendance requirements.
Nearly all Nevada beginning drivers under 18 must complete a driver education course. You can enroll at age 15. Exceptions are not made for home-schooled students. There are three options:
Attend a classroom course and complete 50 hours of behind-the-wheel experience; or complete an online course and 50 hours of behind-the-wheel experience; or complete 100 hours of driving experience. This option applies only if a classroom course is not offered within a 30-mile radius of your residence and you do not wish to complete a course online.
You may take courses offered by a public or private high school or a DMV-licensed professional drive school. The course consists of 30 hours of classroom instruction. Some private schools also offer a course consisting of 15 hours of classroom instruction and 5 hours of behind-the-wheel training. Schools must be specifically approved for this by the DMV.
— Sgt. Scott McDaniel is with the Carson City Sheriff’s Office. He can be reached at smcdaniel@carson.org.
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