Ten tips to keep teens safe behind the wheel

(ARA) – Waiting for a teen driver to return home safely probably causes the most anxiety and lost sleep for parents. And with good reason – car accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers, accounting for 35 percent of all fatalities among young people 15 to 20 years old, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

While statistically teen deaths related to motor vehicle crashes have declined over the last several years, a dark cloud remains over the alarming rate of deaths among teen drivers, who are four times more likely to die in a car accident than drivers 25 years or older. That, combined with a surge in the number of young drivers – the children of baby boomers – who are taking to the roads, is leading more states to institute tougher teen driving regulations. Measures range from graduated licenses to a ban on the use of cell phones while driving for teen drivers, according to Findlaw.com, a leading online source of legal information.

Besides keeping teens safer when they’re behind the wheel, the new, tougher regulations also aim to get parents more engaged in helping their teens learn the rules of the road.

Findlaw.com offers 10 tips to help protect your teen driver from an accident.

1. Practice, practice, practice. During the first 500 miles of driving, teen drivers are 10 times more likely to be in auto crashes than any other age group. Driving requires mental and physical skills that can only be honed with time on the road. That’s why it’s essential for teen drivers to get professional training and why more states are issuing graduated licenses that require teens to drive with their parents for an extended length of time before being eligible to drive on their own.

2. Create a safe driving contract. Parents should consider creating a safe-driving contract with new drivers to build safe driving habits. Have clear, consistent consequences when your teens do something inappropriate while driving so they understand their boundaries as drivers. The focus of such a contract should be on removing distractions, such as cell phones or eating in the car, which may divert a teen driver’s attention from the road, and keeping teen drivers off the roads at particularly risky times of the day (after 10 p.m. and before 6 a.m.).

3. No cell phones. Texting while driving is banned in 26 states and D.C., and an additional eight states prohibit text messaging by minor drivers, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Six states prohibit all drivers from using handheld phones while driving. Make sure you and your teen driver are familiar with your state’s laws on mobile devices and driving.

4. Seatbelts. Fifty-five percent of teens killed in automobile accidents in 2008 were not wearing seatbelts, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Wearing a seatbelt is not only a good idea, in a growing number of states, it’s the law – 31 states have primary seat belt laws and 18 have secondary laws, according to Findlaw.com.

5. Passenger restriction. Parents should try to limit the number of passengers in their teen’s car, especially those younger than 18. Some states even have laws that do not allow minor passengers to be in the vehicle for the first six months after a new teen driver receives his or her license.

6. Curfew. Teens can be more distracted at night. A study done by NHTSA finds that nighttime, especially after 10 p.m., is one of the riskiest times of the day to drive for teens. Check state and local city laws regarding curfews as some states impose curfews on teen driving.

7. No drinking and driving. On average, a drunk driver kills someone every 45 minutes, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Help your teen find other solutions to drinking and driving, especially responding to peer pressure to drink. Lead by example and show your kids it’s never okay to drink and drive.

8. Make sure your teen gets sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, most teens need at least nine hours of sleep. Sleep deprived teens can drive like someone who is impaired by a blood alcohol content of .08 percent. Don’t let your teen drive if they are feeling drowsy. Offer to drive them or let them sleep more before driving. Drowsy driving causes more than 100,000 car crashes each year.

9. Train teens for poor weather conditions. Your teen will never know what challenges he will face on the road. Make sure he is able to handle snow, wind, and rain. Ride along with her during a storm before she has to face this challenge alone.

10. Make an accident kit. You never know what tools you will need after an accident, and it’s better to always be prepared. Some ideas for your accident kit: a disposable camera, flashlight, glowstick, pen and personal info sheet to list all of your insurance information and personal details. You may also include info cards and witness cards to collect license plate numbers, insurance details, and other information from all cars, drivers and witnesses involved in an accident.

To learn about the law and for more information about a parent’s liability with their teen drivers, visit www.findlaw.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Teenagers have not always been known for their wise decisions.  More often than not, teenagers make rash decisions that have very little conscious thought involved and are more likely spurred on by the crowd.  In the past, these “adventures” involved car races or some form of dare that might cause harm (or embarrassment).  Today the adventures have turned more deadly.  The trend is to play a game – only this game is one of life or death.

The Choking Game (also known as the Blackout Game or the Fainting Game) is when one person shuts off the oxygen to his brain (sometimes by strangulation) in order to get a high from the experience.  This intentional deprivation of oxygen to the brain can result in unconsciousness, temporary or even permanent brain damage, or death.

It is important to talk to your teenager about who he (or she) is spending time with or what he is doing with his friends when he is out.  These recreational activities that teenagers are participating in are no games.  Not only can they cause problems in youth, but they can also lead to more dangerous scenarios as the teenager grows older.  Some teenagers who participate in the Choking Game eventually develop an unnatural fixation on erotic asphyxiation.

There are a variety of reasons that people say they participate in the Choking Game – none of which have ever been substantiated.  Some claim that it produces a brief high.  Others say that cutting off the oxygen produces a more enhanced sense of erotic feelings.  Some even suggest that it gives the same feeling of being intoxicated.  No matter what the reason, the truth is that no one can be sure just how much damage is being done neurologically each time the “game” is “played”.

It might surprise you to find out that this game has been around for longer than most experts realize.  As long as thirty years ago, kids in the school yard were hyperventilating on purpose to get a high or dizzy feeling associated with intoxication.  Unfortunately, the teenagers of today have found more effective ways to play the game.  Even more unfortunate is that few parents realize it is going on.  There are very few documented cases of injury or death from this game.

Make time to talk to your teenager on a regular basis.  Talk about things in the news, hobbies and interests or whatever your teenager wants to discuss.  When things come up, talk about situations like the Choking Game and how deadly serious they can be.  The more open and honest you are with your teenager about little things, the more open he (or she) will be to your opinion about important issues.

If you are looking for help with your teen,  visit  This Link  and gain access to an online parent-program for those who are struggling with their teenagers. Learn cut-to-the-chase parenting strategies that work immediately rather than months or years down the road.

Be sure to also check out the Parenting Your Teen Program and learn How To Handle Your Teenager And All Situations Involving Him Or Her In A True “WIN-WIN” Manner And Develop The Co-Operative, Down-To-Earth, Frustration-Free Relationship That You’ve Always Wanted

The college essay is often the most difficult part of an application for admission to a college. To help you get off to a good start, we’ve put together the following tips and hints. These are comments from from our admissions staff who actually read your essays and evaluate them in the admission process. We can’t guarantee results, but this advice might help you get started.

Top 15 College Admission Essay Writing Tips from The Readers

1. View it as an opportunity. The essay is one of the few things that you’ve got complete control over in the application process, especially by the time you’re in your senior year. You’ve already earned most of your grades; you’ve already made most of your impressions on teachers; and chances are, you’ve already found a set of activities you’re interested in continuing. So when you write the essay, view it as something more than just a page to fill up with writing. View it as a chance to tell the admissions committee about who you are as a person.

2. Be yourself. If you are funny, write a funny essay; if you are serious, write a serious essay. Don’t start reinventing yourself with the essay.

3. Make it fun. If you’re recounting an amusing and light-hearted anecdote from your childhood, it doesn’t have to read like a Congressional Act — make it fun!

4. Tell us something different from what we’ll read on your list of extracurricular activities or transcript.

5. Take the time to go beyond the obvious. Think about what most students might write in response to the question and then try something a little different.

6. Don’t try to take on too much. Focus on one “most influential person,” one event, or one activity. Tackling too much tends to make your essay too watered down or disjointed.

7. Concentrate on topics of true significance to you. Don’t be afraid to reveal yourself in your writing. We want to know who you are and how you think.

8. Write thoughtfully and from your heart. It’ll be clear who believes in what they are saying versus those who are simply saying what they think we want to hear.

9. Essays should have a thesis that is clear to you and to the reader. Your thesis should indicate where you’re going and what you’re trying to communicate from the outset.

10. Don’t do a history report. Some background knowledge is okay, but do not re-hash what other authors have already said or written.

11. Answer each school’s essay individually. Recycled “utility essays” come across as impersonal and sanitized. The one exception is an essay written for and submitted to Common Application member schools.

12. Proofread, proofread, proofread. Nothing says “last-minute essay” like an “are” instead of “our” or a “their” instead of “they’re.”

13. Keep it short and to the point.

14. Limit the number of people from whom you request feedback on your essay. Too much input creates an essay that sounds as though it has been written by a committee or results in writing that is absent your own voice.

15. Appearances count. Formatting and presentation cannot replace substance, but they can certainly enhance the value of an already well-written essay.

Check out the Instant College Admission Essay Kit which is a college admission essay and personal statement writing kit with 33 downloadable templates that can save applicants hundreds of dollars.

If you are searchig to purchase your teenagers first car, chances are you are looking for the best used car for a teenager. Because younger drivers tend to have a higher tendency to get excited and do things like “panic steer,” it’s important to take a look at all aspects of a used vehicle’s characteristics, not just its price, size, reliability, or number of airbags.

Is there a best car for your teen? Well it depends on who’s deciding, the parent or the teen. Parents tend to have different aims and priorities when it comes to buying their teen a car. Even though many say it is difficult for the teens and their parents to come to a mutual agreement, it is not impossible, especially if both the parties are willing to compromise on a few areas.

Let’s start with the teen’s preferences and what they consider in vogue today. Teenagers tend to place several other factors before safety such as the appearance and style of the car, its speed and performance and music accessories; and they also seem to lean towards the cars that are the most customizable.

What does a car mean to a teen? It reflects the teen’s freedom and character. Other than that it does the obvious of taking care of transportation.

What is it that the parents want? The first and foremost criteria for judging their teen’s car is the safety arrangements the car manufacturer provides. A low cost/ second hand car is also preferred along with a check on maintenance costs.

The cost factor – the battle between used vs. new starts here. Parents with financial problems will obviously prefer used cars but they come with drawbacks. Used cars require regular maintenance and often break down. On the other hand, insurance and taxes will be less. Many students prefer to go for a used car and later customize it to their requirements, but they tend to go overboard and the cost eventually gets out of hand. It is not recommended that teenagers are allowed heavy cars and SUV’s as they are difficult to handle in emergency conditions and require a lot of driving experience. Generally sedans are far more stable than SUV’s.

Some tips before buying – if buying a used car, make sure you have got the car properly checked by a skilled mechanic. If one fails to do so and problems arise after the purchase, only you can be held responsible as there are no warranties. Teens also naively tend to take the sellers word for everything. One must make sure that he/she uses the CARAFAX Vehicle Reports to check for reports filed in the cars name. One should also check the mileage. A car with a mileage of around fifteen thousand miles per year is considered average.

Must have safety features – it is must for the car to have airbags and seatbelts. Other than that, a new feature such as Electronic Stability Control helps in the braking. Different manufacturers use different names for this system.

Financing for teens – lets just say, leasing options are not the best for teens as they are likely to get bored with their car within a period before their loan is called off. So it is wise to avoid long term loans.

Car Insurance – insurance for teens is quite expensive as they represent a huge risk to insurance companies. It’s cheaper to add on a teen to a family package than a separate insurance program.

All teens must have knowledge about the fundamentals of driving before taking to the roads.

The time has come! Your driving teen has finished the school year and is ready to spent more time driving. Durring the summer, teens that drive will be spending more time on the road. To this end, here are summer driving safety tips for your teen:

* Set ground rules as to when your teen can use the car. Daytime driving in the beginning, at least for the first six months; then gradually allow your teen to drive at night; but only up until a certain hour.

* Teach by example. Do not drive and use a cell phone; or eat while driving. Don’t tailgate or speed; or invoke any road rage when driving. Never drink and drive. Wearing seat belts is now a law; therefore, follow all of the rules and regulations taught in driving school. Your teen will take note, and follow your lead.

* Limit the areas where your teen can drive, at least until he or she has been driving for a while.

* Do not allow any passengers in the car for at least six months. They need to understand the rules of the road, and not engage in conversation with friends. These can ultimately distract them causing an accident.

* Ensure your car is well maintained. Check the tires regularly; windshield wiper fluid; water; brakes; windshield wipers, etc.

* Accompany them as much as possible in the beginning; pointing out hazards they may come across such as holes; construction, and the like. Mix up the routes so they become used to driving to different places.

* Take your teen to your regular gas station, so they become acquainted with the personnel, and can select the proper gas for your car. Teach them how to put air in the tires as well.

* If you don’t already have one, purchase an emergency road kit, and explain each item to the teen.

* Teach your teen how to change a tire, how to use road flares, and what to do in an emergency.

These summer driving safety tips will help to keep your teen safe while on the road this summer.