Set Family Rules and Guidelines for Driving

Oregon law sets requirements for teen driving, but families should discuss other rules and limits for their teen drivers. These family rules should be very clear from the beginning. Talk to your teen about driving every chance you get.

Use a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement

Use of a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement is a great way to determine appropriate rules and guidelines for your teen driver! You can find sample agreements on the internet.

Driving Rules/Guidelines for Your Family

No Impaired Driving. All teens are too young to legally buy or possess alcohol, but they are still at risk. Nationally in 2019, 3,968 young drivers (15 to 19 years old) were involved in fatal crashes and of those, 735 (19%) had been drinking. Remind your teen that driving under the influence of any impairing substance, including illicit, prescription or over-the-counter drugs, could have deadly consequences.
Buckle Up. Every Trip, Every Time, Everyone—Front Seat and Back. Wearing a safety belt is one of the simplest ways for teens to stay safe in a vehicle. Yet, too many teens are not buckling up and neither are their passengers. In 2019, there were 3,605 young drivers (15-19 years old) of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes, and 46 percent of those who died were NOT buckled up at the time of the fatal crash. Remind your teen that it’s important for everyone to buckle up on every trip, every time, no matter what. Safety belts save lives.
Eyes on the Road, Hands on the Wheel. All the Time. Distractions while driving are more than just risky—they can be deadly. In 2020, 186 teens (15-19 years) were killed in distraction-affected crashes. Remind your teen about the dangers of texting, dialing, or using mobile apps while driving. And here in Oregon, it is illegal for a teen to use a mobile device while operating a motor vehicle. But distracted driving isn’t limited to cell phone use. Other passengers, audio and climate controls in the vehicle, and eating or drinking while driving, are all examples of dangerous distractions for teen drivers. Whatever it is, it can wait.
Stop Speeding Before It Stops You. Speeding is a critical issue for all drivers, especially teens. In 2019, young drivers were speeding at the time of a fatal crash more than almost every other age group. Remind your teen to drive within the speed limit.
No More Than One Passenger at a Time. Extra passengers in a teen’s car can lead to disastrous results. According to data analyzed by NHTSA, teen drivers were two-and-a-half times more likely to engage in one or more potentially risky behaviors when driving with one teenage peer compared to when driving alone. And the likelihood of teen drivers engaging in risky behaviors triples when traveling with multiple passengers.
Limit Unsupervised Night Driving. According to Oregon’s GDL law, with a provisional license, a teen cannot drive between midnight and 5:00 a.m. for the first year unless they are accompanied by a licensed driver 25 or older or driving between home and work or school. Statistics show that teens have a higher crash rate during these hours. Consider setting an additional (earlier) driving curfew — especially on the weekends for the first 6 months your teen drives unsupervised.
Require a Full Report. Require information about each trip before leaving, including where your teen is going, with whom, and when they will return so that you know where they are.

Provide a Safe, Reliable Vehicle for Your Teen

Mid- to full-size sedans and station wagons with smaller engines and airbags are safest for teen drivers.
Under certain conditions, small trucks and SUVs may be more prone to roll-overs than other types of vehicles.
High-performance cars may encourage teens to drive beyond their experience level.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (iihs.org) provides an annually updated list of safe car choices for teens.

Impose Consequences for Violating Rules/Guidelines

Make consequences relate to losing driving privileges: For a day, weekend, week, month, etc., depending on the violation.
Consequences not related to losing driving privileges will not be as effective in sending the messages: “You must be a responsible driver” and “I am serious about your following the rules and limits for driving.”
Consider requiring your teen to complete additional supervised practice.

Make consequences known: Set consequences for common violations before they occur so that your teen knows what to expect.