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If your teenager has just gotten a driver's license, it may
be hard to imagine handing over the keys to your brand new
car, but that may be the smartest vehicle to choose.
The first years teenagers spend as drivers are very risky.
In fact, teen drivers have the highest death rates of any
age group. In 1997 alone, more than 5,700 teenagers died in
motor vehicle crashes, and many more were left severely and
permanently injured by crashes.
While getting a driver's license is an exciting rite-of- passage
for teens, it can be enough to make a parent frantic. The
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Insurance
Information Institute (I.I.I.) say there's something worried
parents can do to protect their teens -- choose a safe vehicle.
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Avoid
vehicles that encourage reckless driving. Teen drivers
not only lack experience, but may also lack maturity.
As a result, speeding and reckless driving is common.
Sports
cars and other vehicles with high performance features,
such as turbocharging, are likely to encourage speeding.
Choosing a vehicle with a more sedate image reduces
the chances your teen will be in a speed-related crash.
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Don't
let your teen drive an unstable vehicle. Sport utility
vehicles, especially the smaller ones, are inherently
less stable than cars because of their higher centers
of gravity. Abrupt steering maneuvers - the kind that
can occur when teens are fooling around or over-correcting
a driver error - can cause rollovers in these less stable
vehicles. A more stable car would, at worst, skid or spin
out. |
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Pick
a vehicle that offers good crash protection. Teenagers
should drive vehicles that offer state-of-the-art protection
in case they do crash. |
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Don't
let your teen drive a small vehicle. Small vehicles
offer much less protection in crashes than larger ones.
However, this doesn't mean you should put your child in
the largest vehicle you can find. Many mid- and full-size
cars offer more than adequate crash protection. Check
out the safety ratings for mid-size and larger cars. |
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Avoid
older vehicles. Most of today's cars are better
designed for crash protection than cars of six to ten
years ago. For example, a newer, mid-size car with airbags
would be a better choice than an older, larger car without
airbags. Before you make a final choice on the car your
teenager will drive, consult the U.S. Department of
Transportation ( http://www.dot.gov ) or the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety ( http://www.iihs.org ).
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Reprinted with permission
Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.)
All Rights Reserved
http://www.iii.org
This information highlights examples of safety precautions
you can consider to protect yourself, your family, and your property. This list
is not meant to be all-inclusive. Moreover, a particular precaution may not be
effective or appropriate in all circumstances. We encourage you to use your own
good judgement about what's appropriate.
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