At risk: Teens behind the wheel

Do you have a teen driver that's licensed and ready to hit the road? Before you give your fledgling motorist the green light, consider this: car crashes are the leading cause of teen deaths in Canada. According to Transport Canada, people aged 16-19 years are at the highest risk in the country to die in a motor vehicle collision -- a terrifying thought for parents. The good news is that in addition to driver training and good advice, there is something proactive that parents can do to help assure the safety of their children -- create mutually agreed upon rules of the road.

Introducing the 'I Promise Program'
Developed with input from road safety experts worldwide -- like police and traffic safety organizations -- as well as parents and teens, the 'I Promise Program' is a teen safe driving program created by Ontario-based social worker Gary Direnfeld. When he was nearly run off the road by a speeding teen driver, and realized that his own son would soon be behind the wheel, Direnfeld conceived the notion of the 'I Promise Program,' an agreement between parents and teens about the rules of the road. A key part of the program is that BOTH parties must agree to drive responsibly -- parents must model appropriate behaviour and drive sober, obey traffic laws and wear seat belts. Teens must agree to do the same.

The program consists of a "How's My Driving?" sign that can be displayed on a teen driver's car, and a contract to be signed by both parents and teens. The window sign includes a space where a telephone number can be entered, so that other drivers can report any concerns to parents. Direnfeld notes that the window sign is optional, and can be used if both parties are comfortable displaying it in the vehicle's window. The heart of the program is a parent/teen contract, a fill-in-the-blank document that can be tailored to fit each family's needs. It includes promises like:

• Drive sober and drug free
• Wear seat belts
• Drive defensively
• Keep my mind on the road
• No eating, smoking or cell phone use while driving
• Being aware of physical or psychological conditions that can affect driving
• Being aware of hazardous weather conditions

It also includes instructions about what steps to take in the case of a collision, a collision report form, and a roadside emergency kit checklist. Since the program's launch in 2000 it has been growing in leaps and bounds and is now widely used in Canada, the United States and around the world. The 'I Promise Program' contract and window sign can be downloaded for free on the website, which gets over 40,000 hits each month.

Practise prevention and protect your teen
The unfortunate reality is that if a teen is going to die in Canada today, chances are that it will be in a car crash. Direnfeld urges parents to sit down with young drivers and discuss the importance of road safety BEFORE teens get behind the wheel. "Every parent wants their child to arrive home safely every time, and while signing a contract can't guarantee your child's safety, it can help promote clear communication and set expectations that both parents and teens can live with."

Downloading the program is fast, free and easy. And best of all, it may help save your child's life.