A recent survey from State Farm found that many parents and teen drivers are not on the same page when it comes to following laws related to graduated drivers licensing. GDL programs are designed to allow teens to slowly acclimate to driving, gaining valuable experience before they get thrown into high-risk situations. Most of the rules center on passenger restrictions or driving curfews, but parents are not always aware of what their young drivers are doing behind the wheel.
For example, 69 percent of parents think their teen is almost always following nighttime driving restrictions, while only 48 percent of youths say they follow this law. Additionally, 43 percent of teens say they always adhere to regulations about the number of passengers they can have in the car, but 70 percent of parents believe teens are always obeying the rule.
"It is concerning to see a majority of teens admit not adhering to these laws, but perhaps more concerning to learn some parents may be unaware of their teen's behaviors," said Chris Mullen, director of technology research at State Farm. "We know through past research parental involvement is key to keeping teens safe on our roadways."
GDL laws were created to keep teens safe, and even if there are instances when they don't follow the rules, parents can make sure their vehicle maintenance is up to snuff to improve safety. Completing necessary car repair in a timely manner is also an effective way to keep young people protected on the roads.