Posted on Monday, July 18th, 2016 at 4:37 pm
You protect them from the moment they come into the world but one day you have to let your children venture out into the world without you. From leaving them on their first day at school to worrying about them as they leave for their first date to handing them the keys to the car, parents do everything within their power to protect their children. Buying their first vehicle is no exception.
Many parents decide to buy their teen driver a used vehicle as their first car. However, if you are choosing a used car for your teen driver, you want to make sure that the used car is safe. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) can help. Because a survey of parents revealed that 83 percent of parents purchase a used car for their teen driver, the IIHS has released its list of best used vehicles for teen drivers.
How Does the IIHS Rank Used Vehicles?
The IIHS used four factors when ranking used vehicles for teen drivers:
- Vehicle Horsepower – Higher horsepower vehicles tempt inexperienced teen drivers to drive at unsafe speeds. The IIHS recommends parents choose a vehicle with a lower horsepower for their teen driver.
- Vehicle Weight – The IIHS recommends heavier vehicles for teen driver because heavier vehicles are safer and protect better in a collision. It did not include any minicars or small vehicles on its list of safe used cars for teen drivers.
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) – ESC helps the driver maintain control on slippery roads and in curves to decrease the risk of a car crash.
- High Safety Ratings – When ranking used vehicle for teen drivers, the IIHS looked for a four or five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and good ratings on moderate overlap front crash tests and side crash tests. All vehicles on the IIHS list also received good ratings on roof strength and head restraint tests.
For a complete list of IIHS used cars for teen drivers, visit its website.
Helping Teen Drivers Stay Safe On The Road
It is terrifying sending your teen driver out on the road alone; however, you can take steps to ensure your teen driver has a solid foundation of good driving habits. Below are tips to help your teen driver develop good driving habits.
- Set a good example when you are driving. Avoid distracted driving, speeding, and other bad driving behaviors when you are driving. Your children learn from your example.
- Spend time riding with your teen in various conditions including inclement weather, nighttime, dusk, rush hour, and interstate driving.
- Enroll your teen driver in a driver education course.
- Enroll your teen driver in the teenSmart online driving education program.
- Set boundaries and limitations for your teen driver.
For more tips for parents of teen drivers, visit the TeenDriving.com Website.
Sacramento Car Accident Attorneys
If your teen driver is involved in a car accident, contact our office for a free consultation with a Sacramento car accident lawyer. Even if you believe your teen driver caused the collision, you should consult with an attorney before talking to the insurance company.
Call The Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000 or chat with a representative on our website to schedule a free case evaluation.
