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Teen Driving
With Lon Anderson
AAA Potomac Spokesman
Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2001; 1 p.m. EDT

When should teenagers be allowed to drive? How can a parent make sure that thier son or daughter is safe behind the wheel? What tips do first time drivers need to learn to be safe on the road?

Lon Anderson, Spokeman for AAA Potomac, will be online to take questions and comments on teen driving.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Laurel, Md.: As a parent of two teenage children, I worry that if I let them drive the family car in D.C., they'll earn me numerous speeding tickets for going 1-10 miles over the limit. I'm confident they're very good and safe drivers for their age, but what's a parent to do about these ridiculous cameras?

Lon Anderson: Greetings everyone. Laurel--great question! First, tell your teens if they drive in DC to slow way down or they will likely collect a bunch of the automated DC speeding tickets. AAA has protested the scope of this program. We strongly support appropriate speed enforcement, but DC is going from 10,000 speeding tickets a year to 80,000 per month--almost a million next year which works out to 3 for every licensed driver in the City. Huge Revenue!!!

Alexandria, Va.: I personally believe that more advanced driving instruction, beyond the basic stuff that kids get from, say, school athletics coaches after class or during the summer break, should be mandatory for teen drivers. Things like emergency braking and lane changes, skid control, and recognizing brake lockup and traction thresholds don't get taught in average driving classes, but still come up even in everyday driving when the driver isn't zooming along. I (perhaps unfortunately) learned a lot of this the hard way on Tennessee backroads, whether from dodging car-chasing dogs or wayward deer, or from finding out what was too fast when the "Slow -- Curve Ahead" sign appeared. Can we fight the mentality of "if we teach them, they'll just go out and do it" regarding driving techniques? Because, just like sex ed, they're gonna do it anyway. Let's do what we can to make sure they're safe and sensible.

Lon Anderson: Hello Alexandria--We at AAA Mid-atlantic agree with you, that one of the primary resons kids crash so much (16 year olds crash at a rate nine times tha of other drivers) is because they are the leeast experienced. Our driving school now offers advanced defensive driving courses that teach skid control and recovery when funning off the road, etc. These are essential skills for everyone and we think they can save lives on our highways. When teaching teens, we have to make sure that we are not making them overconfident and thus promoting bad driving, but there are techniques for managing that. We need to give teen drivers all of the tools we can. the stats show that they need them.

Clifton, Va.: The biggest problem with teenage drivers is the antiquated drivers training offered by the schools and private companies. Learning to make T turn or parallel park is not going to save a teenage driver's neck out on the interstate or on Braddock Rd. Insurance companies don't care and point to studies that show programs offered by Bill Scott or Skip Barber actually cause more accidents. However, most drivers, teenage or ones with 30 years of experience on the road, lack the necessary car control skills to turn a life threatening situation into one where they have avoided the incident. If parents and drivers ed instructors don't understand car control how can they pass these life saving skills onto teenage drivers. If a parent is considering driver training for their teenage driver from Bill Scott, Skip Barber or any of the other schools make sure the training takes place in the car the teenager will be driving. That seat of the pants feeling when a car is about to lose control is not transferable for a drivers school car to the teenager's car. Also many of the local car clubs -- like the BMW car club and the Mercedes car club -- offer training very similar to Skip Barber or Bill Scott with many of the same instructors at a greatly reduced cost. Also you don't need a BMW or Mercedes to participate.

Lon Anderson: Good Advice, Clifton. Our advanced driving classes allow the student to use their cars. As I said in response to the last question, the more training we can get drivers to help them handle bad situations, the better.

Somewhere, USA: What tips should a parent know before he gets ready to teach her son how to drive.

Lon Anderson: First, parents are often not the best teachers of their own children when it comes to behind the wheel skills. If you can afford it, some professional training is very helpful for your child. That said, all three jurisdictions, MD, DC and VA all require at least 40 hours of monitored practice with a parent or guardian or designated person. Be patienct, be firm, and be careful. We had a car with a family member and new driver practicing in a church parking lot in Northern VA last week that crashed in to the church.

Bethesda, Md.: I've been looking for a driving school for my daughter, but every parent I've talked to has given me abysmal reviews. Is there anything good out there, or am I on my own?

Lon Anderson: Bethesday--Shop carefully for drving schools. There are good ones out there. AAA Mid-Atlantic has a school that I would recommend, but there are other high quality schools, but it does take care and research. In MD, the MVA has recently added several more inspectors and installed a new more rigorous curriculum (AAA was involved in its development), so the quality of schools in MD is improving rapidly.

Arlington, Va.: What are your thoughts on a parent buying a car for their teenager? What should I look for in a car?

Lon Anderson: Arlington--first, you want a safe car. Second, I would keep the car in your name. Crash stats are lower for parent owned cars than teen owned cars. Third, I would not rpovide a fancy or powerful car. No new Beamers, or Mustangs for my kids, even if I could afford them. And have them bear some of the expense. Lastly, pray. About 6000 families last year had knocks on the doors from police saing their kids would never be coming home again. Having a young driver is dangerous, tough stuff. Thinking about the car you are going to put him/her in is important.

Alexandria, Va.: The US is severely deficient when it comes to teen driver education and testing. One major deficiency is in the lack of role models. When a teen sees his parents using a phone and eating behind the wheel, he'll think it's OK. How do we correct this problem, and the larger issue of poor driver training/testing in general?

Lon Anderson: Great observation, Alexandria. Too often parents drive like maniacs for 15 years and then when the clikd is within a year or a few months, of beginning driver training, we calm down to provide a good example. Too Late!!! the damage is already done. That child is going to school on parents and their behavior from a very young age. by fourteen or fifteen, they are probably well along in their attitudes about behavior behingd the wheel. A safe driver from day one is the appropriate role model. Parents need to remember when they are driving that the child is alsways listening, watching.

Silver Spring, Md.: First of all, I want to thank you for your attention to my questions.
My son will turn to 16 in January. Now he starts to talk about driving. Last week, he asked us if we could let him to go to driving school. We would like to try and stop him from driving until he is around twenty. In this area, the traffic is always bad. We hope he will be mature enough then to handle the situation. But one of our friends said that it is better to let him drive now when he is still living at home where we can oversee him. What do you think about this?

Lon Anderson: Silver Spring--Very perceptive. Kids mature at different rates. Many kids are not mature enough to handle the dangerous and complex task of driving at 16. They may think they are, but this is a critical judgement for parents to make. Saying no is tough, but trust me, as one who attended a funeral for a young person this morning who was killed in a crash, it's not as tough as burying a child. Just because the law allows someone to drive at a certian age does not nmean he or she should. Holding off a year or two may save your child's life. If you have good reason to beleive your child is not ready, wait, for the sake of everyone on the road, your child included. You can't undo a fatal crash.

Alexandria, Va.: Re: Car suggestions-

For a new driver, I suggest a car in which all four corners are easy to see (makes parking easier). Also, the smaller the car, the easier it is to learn about where to place it in relation to curbs and lane markings. Most new mid-sized cars are "safe," in that they all have better agility and braking ability than a truck/SUV.

Lon Anderson: Alexandria, I agree with you to a point. Smaller cars have some advantages, but they are not as good at survival in a serious crash. On the other hand, SUV's and four wheel drive vehicles have their own set of problems--they don't keep their feet as well and can tip over. I would not start a child with an SUV, if I had options, personally.

New York: Do you support uping the age limit for drivers? What age do you think is best?

Lon Anderson: New York--AAA has not taken a firm position on that, but our members told us via a poll in the DC area last year that they overwhelminging supported raising the age to 17. As already noted, I think parents need to make a judgement aobut the maturity of their child and decide at what age will be right for that individual. Too often decisions are made because the parent is tired of providing taxi service for the kid and his/her siblings. If the parent thinks providing a taxi service is tough, they ought to attend a funeral service. Ferrying children for another year will suddenly seem much easier.

Re: Car choices: I would suggest an older Volvo, Toyota or Honda (early to mid 90s) because they're safe and reliable. Check Consumer Reports and research models with high safety ratings. My first car was 9 years old, but in great shape. PLEASE don't buy a brand new car for your child! This area is so famous for spoiled children... let's not add to that by buying them new, flashy vehicles!

Lon Anderson: Car Choices--I Agree, completely, but make sure the vehicle is recent enough to offer air bags and anti-lock brakes. They are critical safety additions.

Delray, Va.: I had heard that in England early drivers are made to put a sticker on their car for the first year indicating that they are a new driver. This alerts other drivers that they may need a little more leeway. Is this true? If so, does it work? Do you think a similar system could/should be implemented in the US?

Lon Anderson: Hey Delray--I do think a sticker program for new drivers is agood idea. Md has a voluntary, pilot program going on right now and provides bright yellow magnetic Rookie Driver bumper stickers and the motto is "give them a hand, not a horn." I would like to say the program spread.

Washington, D.C.: Wow. This chat is pretty dour. Is there anything positive you can say about teen drivers?

Lon Anderson: Washington--Yes,--teens have all of the tools to become the best drivers on the road, better sight, hearing and reflexes than us older fogies, but the stats say those attributes aren't enough. But there are a lot of excellent teens on the road, and I don't mean to indicate that all are bad drivers. It's just that from the stats, as a group, they are the worst. The good news is we can do better with them and state after state is changing/toughening the laws to save their lives and we are hopeful that this will make a difference.

Fairfax, Va.: Hello, in answer to an earlier question you said that 16 year olds crash at a higher rate than everyone else. What about older drivers? Are they any worse?

Lon Anderson: Hello Farifax--Yes, after 65, crash stats start upward again, but seniors are still better drivers than teens. I guess with so many of us boomers staring down the barrel of old age, that's good news, huh?

Reedley, Calif.: I have been driving for two years without a license. Never once have I been pulled over. I follow the rules of the road very discreetly. My age is 17. What would be my chances of getting pulled over?

Lon Anderson: Reedley--your chances of bing pulled are probably not very high, if you obey the law. But the risk you are taking both for yourslef and your family is huge. If your are unlicensed, then you are uninsured. Were you to crash, you could bankrupt yourself, your family. Get a license and get insurance-- be smart and be safe. Don't play the odds, sometimes even for lucky folks, the luck runs out.

Alexandria, Va.: Maybe I missed it in an earlier conversation. Did you mention those special driving classes that teach about coming out of a skid, hydroplaning and the such. I seem to remember reading about one such program (maybe in B. Levey's column) that was a $300 or so weekend course. Do these work and if so, how do you find one of these?

Lon Anderson: Alexandria--The advanced classes do work and AAA offers them, among others. And yes, I did mention that they teach skid recovery, etc.

Baltimore, Md.: First, I apologize because my question is a little off the subject, but you may know the answer. I'm 22 years old, so I've had my license for 6 years. But I don't know how to drive a 5-speed and would like to learn beyond what friends are randomly willing to show me. Would a driving school be a good place to go for this?

Lon Anderson: Hey Baltimore, there are driving schools that do offer 5-speed education, but it will require a search, as this is not typical. MVA may be able to give you guidance. Good luck.

Laurel. Md.: How do teen drivers compare to NEW drivers in other age groups?

Lon Anderson: Laurel--they are slightly worse than other new drivers, but this is a very perceptive question. All new drivers are much less safe than expereinced drivers. And studies show it takes five years--yes, 5 years--to be fully seasoned driver. Much of good driving involes judgment, and one of the great things about teens, but not behind the wheel is that they are big time risk takers, as a group. That means a more mature new driver who makes better judgments behind the wheel will be a safer driver than many new teen drivers.

Somewhere, USA: What do you see as the biggest problem facing teenagers drivers?

Lon Anderson: Somewhere, USA--Their lack of expereince and poor judgment. But we can improve both of these with rigorous training programs.

Reston, Va.: If you could drill into a kid's head some real basic safety rules (wear a seat belt; don't drink and drive; don't speed too fast) what would they be?

Lon Anderson: Reston, I think you've nailed them, but I would also add don't do stupid things and don't allow your desire to demonstrate you driving prowess to your peers overcome your good sense. Showing off with others in the car or paying more attention to them than the road are common contributors to teen crashes. Limit the number of passengers severely for a new teen driver.

Alexandria, Va.: Do you think that the written tests are too easy?

Lon Anderson: Alexandria--You've got me stumped. I've not taken a written test in years, and honestly, I don't know!

Alexandria, Va.: It's notable how many good race drivers got their starts when they were in their late teens. So it's not like the potential isn't there for all teens to be good drivers. It just needs proper nurturing.

Lon Anderson: I agree completely. The potential is there for every teen to be an outstanding driver, and we are working to try to make that a relaity, but it is a huge challenge and one that has to be renewed each year with each new batch of new teen drivers.

Thanks everyone--It's been fun. I'm signing off! Feel free to call us at AAA if you have any questions--703-AAA-4100.

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