In Alberta, road crashes are one of the leading causes of unintentional injuries in teens.
Young people ages 15 to 24 have limited driving experience. This puts them at greater risk of road crashes because:
- They may not understand all the rules of the road
- They are not able to handle dangerous driving situations.
- They have less control of their vehicle.
Young people are also more likely to drive distracted or be pressured by friends to drive fast or while impaired.
When your teen starts to drive, there are many things you can do to help them learn to be a safe driver.
Support your teen as they follow the Graduated Driver Licensing program
In Alberta, all drivers must go through the Graduated Driver Licensing program to get a driver's licence.
This program has 3 stages and takes at least 3 years to complete. It gives new drivers the support, skills, and experience they need to drive. The program also improves road safety, which lowers the chances of injury.
Enroll your teen in driving training
Driver training with a licensed driver training school gives new drivers knowledge and skills to help them be safe and responsible drivers.
Teach your teen safety rules
You can help support your teen learn to drive safely by teaching them important rules:
- Wear a seatbelt every time you drive. It’s the law.
- Plan the route you will take to your destination.
- Always follow speed limits.
- Drive a safe and reliable vehicle.
- Know how to adjust windows, mirrors, and the driver’s seat so you can reach the pedals and see the road clearly.
- Cross railway tracks at designated crossings. Never try to drive through closing or closed gates at the railway crossing.
- Drive alert with full control over your mind and body. This means no alcohol or drugs in your body before or while driving a car, truck, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), boat, or snowmobile. Don’t drive when you’re tired.
- Remove distractions. Never text or read while driving, keep music volume low, and limit the number of passengers in the vehicle. Learn more about Alberta’s distracted driving law.
Make a plan with your teen
It can help to have a plan with your teen, like the Checkpoints Parent-Teen Driving Agreement. This plan outlines driving rules, major risks for teen drivers, and what parents can do to lower these risks.
Set limits
Research shows that teen drivers have fewer crashes when parents put limits on driving, like when and where they drive, and who they drive with. As your teen gets more driving experience, you can slowly relax these limits.
