Allstate Foundation's Teen Driving Tips

We all know that teens are the most common victims of road accidents especially during holidays. This is the time where most teenagers are out of town and are having a great time with their friends. And we know what they do and they usually they drink and drive home not knowing the possibility that accidents may come their way.

A national survey was done by The Allstate Foundation and they finally revealed the following tips to help these teen drivers be safe even during the holidays. The Auto Channel posted the tips online on their official website. Here are the tips:

Holiday Driving Tips for Teens:

• Keep your eyes on the road. According to a national survey of teens conducted by The Allstate Foundation, 56 percent of teens talk on their cell phones while driving, and 13 percent read or write text messages. Driving with distractions is a major cause of crashes. Make it a goal to celebrate 2008 with your friends instead of the mortician.
• Slow down. The survey also found nearly 90 percent of teens admit to speeding. Speeding is one of the main causes for teen car crashes. Be a rebel and drive the speed limit this holiday season.
• "Holla" at your friends. Half of teens from the survey said they wouldn't speak up if a friend was driving recklessly. Would you speak up if your life was in danger? If not, make a New Year's resolution to grow a backbone.
• Use your buckle. Roughly two-thirds of teens who die in car wrecks are not buckled up, reports the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This season, give your friends the gift of life and tell them to buckle up.

Tips for Parents on How to "Holla" about Smart Driving in the New Year

• Practice what you preach. Be a positive role model when you're behind the wheel. Your teen is more likely to be a calm driver, put down the phone and mp3 player, wear a seat belt and follow the rules of the road if they see you do the same.
• Don't rush the training process. Just because teens have permits or licenses, doesn't mean they're ready for every driving condition. The roads are especially dangerous during inclement weather. By easing into the training process, you'll ensure your teen will be ready for most situations.
• Empower your teen. Being a passenger in another teen's car can put your teen at risk. Make sure your teen knows it's okay to say something if he/she is uncomfortable while riding with a friend and help your teen to practice what to say in these situations.
• Understand your state's laws. Every state has Graduated Driver Licensing to help new drivers get their initial on-the-road driving experience under lower-risk conditions, protecting them while they are learning. Familiarize yourself and your teen with these requirements, and establish your own rules for when, where, how and with whom your teen may drive.