TEACHING TEENS TO DRIVE IN MARYLAND

This year I'll have a 16 years old. In our state, you can get your learners permit at 15 and 9 months old. Once you have a learners permit you can drive with a licensed driver on the public roads and attend drivers, education classes.


https://teendriving.com/driving-tips/tips-for-parents/#teaching-teens-to-drive



TEACHING TEENS TO DRIVE
Teenagers dream about getting their driver’s license. Having that official piece of identification tucked in their wallet opens up a new world of choices, responsibilities, and freedom. However, car accidents are the leading cause of death for 15-20-year-olds, accounting for forty percent of all teen deaths. Teaching your teen to be a safe, careful driver can make the difference in their survival behind the wheel.

What can you, as a parent, do to help them learn as they drive themselves around, go to parties, take road trips with their friends, and pick up their siblings? It’s an effort that takes time, knowledge, and patience. The tips below can help.

• Provide lots of in-car, “passenger seat” supervision.
• Start off with small trips – less than five miles away – to build up their confidence.
• Provide a safe car for teens to drive: easy to maneuver, with airbags and good tires.
• Give your teen gentle, constructive critiques of their driving, and keep your temper in check.
• Set realistic goals, expectations, and consequences for your teen driver. If you make rules, stick to them.
• Make sure your teen knows exactly what to do in the event of an accident.
• Pick up a current driver’s guide from your DMV. Study it with your teen and point out when they are obeying these rules on the road. If they aren’t, gently point that out to correct them.
• Set a good example.  If you run red and yellow lights, speed down the highway at 75 MPH, weave in and out of traffic, take chances on the road, ride the bumper of the car in front of you, scream at other drivers, or exhibit other signs of road rage, you’re showing your teen that the rules don’t count – and this can be fatal.

http://www.mva.maryland.gov/safety/mhso/program-young-drivers.htm

Young Driver Things to Know:

Teen drivers have the highest crash risk of any age group.

The risk of a 16-year-old driver being killed increases by 86% with two passengers, and nearly triples with three passengers.

Per mile traveled, they have the highest involvement rates in all types of crashes, from those involving only property damage to those that are fatal, according to NHTSA

How is Teen crashes different?

Young Drivers

According to a joint publication by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and NHTSA, the following are characteristics of teens' crashes:

• Driver error: Compared with crashes of older drivers, those of 16 year-olds more often involve driver error.
• Speeding: Sixteen-year-old drivers have a higher rate of crashes in which excessive speed is a factor.
• Single-vehicle crashes: More of 16 year-olds' fatal crashes involve only the teen's vehicle. Typically, these are high-speed crashes in which the driver lost control.
• Passengers: Sixteen-year-olds' fatal crashes are more likely to occur when other teenagers are in the car. The risk increases with every additional passenger.
• Alcohol: Although this is a problem among drivers of all ages, it's actually less of a problem for 16 year-olds. 15% of fatally injured 16-year-old drivers in 2010 had positive blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of 0.01% or greater.
• Night driving: This is a high-risk activity for beginners. Per mile driven, the nighttime fatal crash rate for 16 year-olds is about twice as high as during the day.
• Low belt use: Teenagers generally are less likely than adults to use safety belts.

The Maryland Parent-Teen Driving Agreement

http://www.mva.maryland.gov/safety/_docs/RD-016.pdf

Maryland Driver's Manual

http://www.mva.maryland.gov/drivers/maryland-drivers-manual.htm

Maryland Online Driver Test Tutorial

http://www.mva.maryland.gov/drivers/rookie-driver/tutorial/tutorial-intro.html

Have fun with this tutorial – use it as a practice guide to help you prepare for the knowledge test that all new drivers must pass to obtain a learner's permit.  About 50% of those who take the knowledge test fail it the first time.

Rookie Driver Safety for Teens and Parents

http://www.mva.maryland.gov/_resources/docs/RD-006.pdf

Provisional Driver's License Holders:

• The minimum age is 16 years and 6 months.
• They cannot obtain a full license until they reach the age of 18.
• Under 18 are still prohibited from transporting any passenger under age 18 for 151 days after the provisional license is issued. There is an exception for direct family members (spouse, daughter, son, stepdaughter, stepson, sister, brother, stepsister, or stepbrother of the provisional license holder) and relatives of the license holder who lives at the same address. Violations may result in a suspension of one's driving privilege.
• Drivers under the age of 18 may not use any wireless communication devices, including a cell phone, while driving, except to make an emergency 911 call. Violations may result in the suspension of one's driving privilege for up to 90 days.
• Drivers must hold the provisional license for 18 consecutive months with no moving violations. Any violations or probation before judgment rulings will mean the 18 month period must be restarted.
• Provisional drivers are ineligible for a PBJ ruling from the court if the defendant has previously received a PBJ for a moving violation, or criminal offense.
• Can have their license canceled if, while they are still a minor, the cosigner of the license application requests in writing that the MVA cancel the product.
• Underage 18 face serious penalties for repeated violations and offenses. Penalties for repeated violations can include:
• Mandatory completion of the driver improvement program (DIP).
• The retaking of all law and driving skills tests.
• License suspension for an accumulation of excessive points within a 12-month period, for repeated convictions of PBJ's during the provisional period or conviction on an offense classified as high risk driving.
• Revocation of your driver's license.

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