Keeping your new driver safe.

Keeping your new driver safe.

You re going to have a new young driver in the family! Reaching driving age is a major milestone for young people and for their parents too. A new driver s licence opens up a whole new world of independence. But it also comes with many new responsibilities. Is your teen properly prepared to take these on? As a parent, you play an important role in helping your teen gain the skills and knowledge needed to stay safe on the road. Read on for ways to help ready your new driver for the exciting journey ahead!

Getting your teen ready. Every new driver needs to know the rules of the road and possess safe driving skills. That s where a good driver s education program comes in. A professional driving instructor can alleviate stress for everyone, especially if your teen may feel pressure or judgement while driving alongside you, or you find it challenging to stay calm and objective when your teen is behind the wheel. CAA Approved Driving School Network (ADSN) is comprised of independently-owned schools that teach the MTO-Approved CAA How To Drive Beginner Driver Education course. To learn more, visit caasco.com/drivertraining Look for a reputable driving school. Choose quality over convenience your teen will benefit from these lessons his/her whole driving life! Here are some tips on how to find a great driving school: 1. Find a ministry-approved course. Graduates will be registered with the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO), enabling them to apply for the G2 test four months earlier. 2. Ensure the driving school is licensed by the MTO. Be sure the school isn t on the MTO s list of revoked driving schools. 3. Verify the instructor s credentials. The instructor should hold proper insurance and an MTO Provincial Instructor Licence. 4. Verify that the training vehicles are insured, identified and properly plated. Training vehicles should be well identified on the exterior, and the MTO Provincial Instructor Licence displayed.

Novice drivers face a minimum 30-day licence suspension if convicted of distracted driving. Source: Ministry of Transportation of Ontario Getting an Ontario Driver s Licence. Ontario uses a graduated G1/G2/G licensing system designed to give new drivers time to practice and gain driving experience over time. Details about graduated licensing can be found at mto.gov.on.ca. To apply for a driver s licence in Ontario, your teen must: Be at least 16 years old Pass an eye test Pass a written test about the rules of the road and road signs Once these tests are passed, a G1 licence is issued. Before they can get a full G licence, your teen will have to: Finish two learning levels: G1 and G2 Pass two road tests While all drivers face penalties for violating the laws of Ontario s Highway Traffic Act, novice drivers can receive escalating penalties when: Convicted of breaking graduated licensing rules Convicted of a Highway Traffic Act offence that results in four or more demerit points (i.e. street racing, careless driving) Subject to a court-ordered suspension for a Highway Traffic Act offence that would have otherwise resulted in four or more demerit points: For a first offence: Driver s licence suspension for 30 days For a second offence: Driver s licence suspension for 90 days For a third offence: Licence cancellation and removal from the graduated licensing system

Getting automobile insurance. All drivers in Ontario must have basic automobile insurance. Since teens are new drivers with no driving record, their insurance will be more expensive than yours. You can help keep their insurance costs down by: Sending them to driving school. Some insurers offer discounts upon proof of successful completion of an MTO-approved beginner driver education course. Being a member of an association or a university. Some insurance companies provide additional discounts for certain affiliations. For example, CAA Members can save up to 20% ** on CAA Auto Insurance. Usage-based insurance programs offer additional discounts by using personal driving habits to calculate personalized insurance rates. Sign up for CAA Connect, and you could save up to 15% on auto insurance after one year! * Sharing vehicles. Occasional drivers have lower insurance rates than primary drivers. Continuing with driving practices. Clean driving records have lower insurance rates so keep practicing. * Only applies to CAA Auto Insurance policy holders. Maximum discount while enrolled in the CAA Connect program is 15% on renewal after one year. ** To qualify for the discount you must be a current CAA Member in good standing (CAA Membership dues paid in full by membership expiry date). Eligible CAA Members may qualify to receive a Member Loyalty Discount based on membership tenure and Roadside Assistance usage. CAA Auto Insurance is underwritten by CAA Insurance Company

Supervising your teen driver. One way you can build your teen s skills and confidence on the road is by providing practice opportunities. Your role as coach requires time, patience, understanding and most of all calm, constructive feedback. Expose your teen to a variety of conditions. Start in an empty parking lot, progress to residential streets and (when their licence permits) practice on the highway Practice on straight roadways, hills and curves so your teen experiences the difference Practice day and night driving (once their licence allows) Practice driving in different conditions including rain, sleet and snow Parking skills require practice be sure to spend time on this too When you re driving, talk about what you re doing. Young drivers account for almost 20% of all road-related injuries and fatalities. Source: Transport Canada Note road signs, pedestrians, unpredictable and unsafe drivers and any adjustments you make for them Talk about the risks of impaired drivers Show how keeping distance creates space to react Point out the impact of weather conditions such as rain or snow Demonstrate how railroad crossings should be approached Demonstrate how to share the road with pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, transport trucks and emergency service vehicles Talk about what to do in case of vehicle breakdown or a collision Set a good example by following safe practices, for instance, not using your cell phone while driving

Studies show that Graduated Licensing restrictions lead to an 88.5% decrease in the fatality risk of 16-year old drivers. Source: Traffic Injury Research Foundation When your teen is ready to head out on their own. Congratulations! Your teen just got their licence! Before you hand over the keys, be sure to make your expectations clear: It is never acceptable to drive when impaired by alcohol, drugs, anger or fatigue Never ride as a passenger of a distracted or impaired driver Consider making a Teen-Parent driving agreement. Write your own, or find a sample at driveright.caa.ca Continue to work on their skills by checking that they: Avoid distractions such as texting Drive the speed limit Drive according to road conditions Wear a seat belt Remain calm Detect hazards and respond appropriately Remember to keep offering constructive feedback and modelling good driving behaviour!

Young drivers are eight times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than more experienced drivers during the first six months of getting a licence. Source: Traffic Injury Research Foundation Know the risks when your teen takes the wheel. Driving brings a great deal of freedom but it also comes with risk. Traffic, weather and other drivers behaviour can all pose dangers. Teenagers are among those at the highest risk of causing a collision when driving. Each year, over 700 young people are killed in car crashes across Canada. Take the following precautions to keep your teen safe: Regularly check on your teen s driving habits Act as a role model by driving the way you want your teen to drive Let your teen earn driving privileges Teach your teen to drive under low-risk conditions before gradually moving to more challenging situations If your teen will be in a car with friends, talk to the parents to ensure they are enforcing safe driving practices Source: TIRF. Youth and Road Crashes: Magnitude, Characteristics, and Trends. April 2008

For more information on teen driving, visit caasco.com/teendriving. This advice is intended to provide general information only. Nothing is intended to provide legal or professional advice or to be relied on in any dispute, claim, action, demand or proceeding. CAA South Central Ontario does not accept liability for any damage or injury resulting from reliance on this information. CAA trademarks owned by, and use is authorized by, the Canadian Automobile Association. (1480-09/16) GCR-1233