Five things to tell your teenage driver

Every parent worries about their child on the road.

Yes, they’ve passed their driving test but nothing beats experience. Here’s five pieces of advice - in teen speak – to help keep your kid safe.

You don’t have to speed to be vibing

Young drivers aged 17 to 25 represent one quarter of all road deaths but are only 10 to 15 per cent of the population, and speed is the biggest killer. Research also found a 17-year-old with a P1 licence is four times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than a driver over 26 years of age. With males more at risk of fatal crashes - 33 per cent versus six per cent - boys are also at a greater disadvantage.

Speeding may look drip on screen. But remember, there’s nothing Gucci IRL about being dead or maimed.

Other drivers can be savage  

Smart drivers are defensive drivers.

“Learning to observe the road is probably the most important skill drivers can develop,” says Rick Armitage of Ucandrive. “When you are able to read what traffic is doing you can predict when things will go bad.”

Armitage says too many drivers focus on the car in front of them instead of scanning more widely for potential problems. That could be anything from a car ahead crossing over the centre line to a vehicle three cars in front braking suddenly.

To avoid an accident, it’s not extra to look out for drivers who are throwing shade.

With practice you can be CEO of driving

Some things, like reverse parking, three point turns, and even merging on a busy highway, may seem hard, but with experience you can build confidence to flex your skills.

Practice with a more experienced driver until you understand the assignment.

The party starts after you arrive

An Australian study found that almost four per cent of teens had driven while under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the past year, and that they were more likely to engage in risky behaviour.

The risk of a crash also increased exponentially with every peer-aged passenger of a novice driver in the car, according to RYDA, a program that delivers learning to student drivers.

Music and music devices, food and drink, and even integrated phone and navigation controls should also be minimised or avoided, it advises.

Good friends sit back and let you cook; they don't let you drive cooked.

You can own a car that is on fleek

You might start off with a car that doesn’t give you that feeling when you drive it. But if you really want something that will give you rizz, just set a goal and start saving.

If, for example, you saved $100 a week for four years, with a savings account that offered you 4% interest, you’d have $22,633 to spend on a car. That would buy you a sporty 2024 MG MG3 or a bougie second hand car. Use this calculator to see how what you save adds up.

Related: Three things you should know when helping your teen buy their first car

Related: What you need to know before teaching your kids to drive

Related: Six tips for picking the perfect first car