Losing a child to a motor vehicle accident is one of the worst things that can happen to a parent. It's hard to imagine that anything good could ever come from such an unspeakable tragedy.
However, two New Jersey moms who lost their sons in New Jersey fatal car accidents are making sure their children did not die in vain. Caryn Rixey and Linda Tozer are leading the push to help teens become safer drivers.
Together with Middle Township police, the women organize an annual "Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day" and reach out to local high schools to teach students about safe driving. They say younger drivers are at particular risk of accident because they don't have much experience behind the wheel.
The women would like to see driving simulators used more frequently in driver's education programs so teens can better understand how to react to emergency situations. They also hope their education campaign will help teens to better understand the dangers of texting while driving and other forms of distracted driving.
How to Help Your Teen Become a Safer Driver
Graduated driver's licenses have become an increasingly popular way to help teens get acclimated to driving while keeping them safe and free from distraction. Graduated license programs often put restrictions on when teens can drive and who they can carry in their vehicle.
New Jersey has its own graduated driver's license program. Under the program, drivers under age 21 must endure a one-year probationary period. During that period, they may not drive between 11:01 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. and may only carry one additional passenger. They are prohibited from all cell phone use, including hands-free. Further, probationary drivers must display a special license plate decal intended to alert police to the fact that they are new drivers.
Although graduated driver's license programs do help reduce teen driving accidents, parents shoulder the bulk of the responsibility for helping teens become safe drivers. Parents can start by modeling good driving behaviors themselves - and this needs to start well before your child reaches driving age.
Once your teen starts driving, try to make the experience educational and supportive. Take them out to practice driving and don't let them go out on their own until you are comfortable that they will be safe. Remember that they will make mistakes, and try not to isolate them by getting too angry.
However, this does not mean you should be lax in your expectations. Research shows that teens who face clear rules - and experience consequences for violating them - ultimately become safer drivers.
Keeping New Jersey's roads safe is everyone's responsibility. By making sure your teen understands this duty, you can help prevent tragic accidents such as the ones that claimed the lives of Caryn Rixey and Linda Tozer's children.
