With teens on the road more often during summer vacation, PennDOT and a local driving expert remind young drivers to practice safe-driving techniques.

“Driving is a very complex activity,” said Allen Biehler, PennDOT Secretary. “Driving requires evaluating many factors occurring simultaneously, split-second decision-making and performing intricate maneuvers.

“These, combined with a young driver’s lack of experience and risk-taking behavior, create a potentially dangerous mix.”

Crashes remain the leading cause of death for 16- to 19-year-olds in the state and across the nation.

Among drivers in that age group in 2007, there were 241 fatalities and 24,882 crashes nationally.

Tim Brant, owner of Brant’s Driving School in Johnstown, agrees that driving is a complex activity.

“Driving, for most people, is the most complicated, risky thing they will do,” Brant said. “When you are driving, you are controlling a 2,000-pound piece of metal and glass at 55 mph moving down the road.”

Brant shared this tip for young drivers: “No. 1, obviously, always wear a seat belt.”

He said time behind the wheel will lead to better driving skills.

“Young drivers need experience,” he said. “Every time a new driver is out driving, they learn something new.

“I always tell my students it takes five years of driving to get all the skills of an average driver.”

Brant urges teenage drivers to eliminate distractions. According to PennDOT, distractions such as using a cell phone, adjusting the radio and even having passengers contribute to young-driver crashes.

“Never talk or text while driving,” he said. “Lots of teenagers have cell phones. I think that is a good thing. However, they should turn them off when driving. Put them on vibrate.

“This is very important. Wait to return a call. Ninety-nine percent of the time, it is not going to be a critical phone call. Wait or pull over to return a call.”

Brant said some student drivers have attempted to answer a ringing cell phone at the wheel of his car.

“I call those teachable mo-ments and tell them to turn it off,” he said.

Brant also suggested that parents limit the number of passengers permitted to ride with the newly licensed driver.

“If you pile four or five kids in the car, it will be a distraction and accidents can occur,” he said. “That can happen to good kids and smart kids.

“Kids get distracted easily when other kids are in the car. So try to limit passengers to one or two.”

Brant also suggested a contractual agreement between parents and teens.

“Put it in writing. Get them to sign it,” he said. “Let them know what you expect and what the consequences are if they don’t abide by it. Let them know they will lose driving privileges.”

The pact can include such guidelines as wearing a seat belt, no driving drunk, no talking on the cell phone, no speeding and no adjusting the radio while driving.

Brant also has suggestions for parents who have young drivers. Most important, he said: Lead by example.

“It is too late to change your ways when your son or daughter is 16,” he said.

If young children witness their parents talking on the cell phone while driving, he said, that sends the wrong message.

“Teach them to pull over and talk,” he said. “Set that example. Kids model their behavior after what they see.

“It is OK to go through a drive-through,” he said. “But teach them to take it home or eat it in the parking lot.

“I have students who say, ‘My dad doesn’t wear a seatbelt.’ Set that example and wear one.”



Road rules

Here are tips for parents of teen drivers and those approaching that age:

• Share your driving experience and driving tips.

• Enforce limitations on the number of passengers they are allowed to have in their vehicle.

• Enforce a curfew.

• Do not allow them to eat or drink while driving.

• Do not allow them to use a cell phone while driving.

• Enforce observance of speed limits and other rules of the road.