Our oldest grandson got his driver’s license a few weeks ago and being the “car guy” of the family, I got involved in his car search. My first obstacle is to convince him that because of his budget, he can only afford something a little older so he needs to look for a reliable and safe vehicle since he can’t afford a lot of maintenance expense. No fast cars. No turbos.
The Text Message Conversation Went Like This:
Grandson; “Can I get an Audi?
Me: “It needs too much maintenance.”
Grandson: “Why, what’s wrong with it?
Me: “It breaks.”
Grandson: “Okay” “What about a Cadillac?”
Me: “Too expensive and if it’s old it will be in the shop a lot.”
Grandson: “I found an 06 for $3600.”
Me: “It will break and you will walk.”
Grandson: “Okay”
This decision is important because the vehicle factors are safety and reliability and the driving factors are inexperience and many unfamiliar situations on the road. The crash rate for males 16-19 years old is 3 times what the rate is for 20 and over and the crash rate for 16-17 years old is 3 times that of 18-19 year olds. The presence of teen passengers increases the risk of a crash. The more passengers, the higher the risk. Crash risk is particularly high during the first months of having a license.
NHTSA has good information about teen drivers and a few entertaining and informative short videos. Five rules every teen should follow are:
- No cell phone use
- No extra passengers
- No speeding
- No alcohol
- Buckle up
Aside from safe driving behavior, their vehicle needs to be a safe one. Both Edmunds and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) list the safest cars for teens. Neither organization recommends a small car but they both agree that stability control (ESC) is a must. By law, all cars built for model year 2012 and after must be equipped with stability control, but many vehicles had it before then. Click here to see which ones. To find the most reliable vehicles out of these safe ones, go to Edmunds true cost to own. This website can be used to compare the repair costs of many vehicles. Also, we have a great article on reliable and safe late model used cars here.
Back when our girls started to drive in the nineties, we always had a few Saabs for sale, so I would give them one. They were safe, they handled well, and I helped them repair their cars. If they didn’t show up to help, they didn’t get their car fixed. This time there are many more options to consider.
New drivers have many challenges to overcome. Read more about how you can empower your teen driver.
As you get time to spend with family and extended family and if there are any teen drivers, ask how they are doing in regard to the 5 rules. I am going to. Have a Happy and safe Holiday season. Before you head out for holiday driving season, get our simple checks to make your holiday trip safe and predicable.
