When a teenager earns their driver’s license, it is a moment of joy for the teenager and anxiety for the parent. Every mother or father worries about their teen child, especially when that child is behind the wheel of a two-ton automobile. To protect young drivers, many auto manufacturers have rolled out new technological features designed to reduce accidents involving teenagers.

Technology to help teens

Though not every car features cutting-edge safety technology, it is becoming more and more prevalent. Your next motor vehicle purchase could very well include one or more of these features:

• Teen driver mode: Parents could put a car into teen driver mode to activate several corresponding safety features to encourage good driving habits.
• Buckle to drive: With this feature, a car would not activate unless the driver and passengers buckle their seatbelts.
• Speed warning and speed restriction: Simple but innovative tools that would warn a driver if they are traveling at unsafe speeds or could restrict a car’s speed to a pre-set limit.
• Report card: The report card feature would allow parents to check their child’s driving statistics, including average speed, number of speed warnings and use of avoidance braking.

Most teenagers are champing at the bit to get behind the wheel of a car on their own for the first time. For you, the parent, these features could keep your kids safe and give you much-needed peace of mind.

What to do if your teen is in an accident

Granted, even the most innovative technology cannot always prevent a crash. If your teenager is involved in an accident, here is what you can do:

1.    Get them medical treatment immediately

2.   Contact the police to have them file a report

3.   Write down the name, contact information and insurance info of the other driver

4.   Do NOT speak to any insurance companies; instead, consider your legal options

We wish you and your teenager safe driving for years to come.