JUSTIFICATION
The
GOHS is extremely concerned about reducing motor vehicle related
deaths, injuries and crashes among the State's youth. GOHS
hopes that the recommended Teen Driver/Parent Agreement will
have a positive influence with new drivers as they gain maturity
and experience. The GOHS Teen Driver/Parent Agreement can
be used as a guide and a contract for teens' rules of the
road for safe driving when they are no longer required to
have a parent or an adult driver who is 21 years or older
accompanying them.
The
GOHS Agreement is designed to be a signed safety contract
between teens and parents during the most dangerous time for
a new driver. The first year of independent driving is the
most dangerous period for beginning drivers based on mileage
exposure. The agreement sets out the expectations that parents
should have for their teens while they are continuing to develop
good driving and decision making skills. During that critical
year, the agreement may be modified as frequently as needed
as the teen demonstrates more experience and good judgement.
Because
teens between the ages of 15 and 19 years are more likely
to be injured or killed as a result of motor vehicle crashes
than by any other cause, special attention to their risk is
warranted. Parents are encouraged periodically to renew their
expectations with their new drivers to reduce crash risk behaviors. |
