1. Dept of Health Behavior & Administration
Driver Education Instructors, Parents, & GDL: Effective Strategies for Communicating with Parents
Jessica Hartos, PhD
Dept of Health Behavior & Administration
UNC Charlotte

2. Parents of Teen Drivers
Ambivalent about teen driving
Underestimate driving risks
Don’t understand harm reduction
Favor GDL restrictions
Difficult to reach
Vary in level of involvement
Susceptible to persuasion

3. Would you want information on any of the following?

4. Would you want information on any of the following?

5. The Parent Role in Teen Driving
Content
Parents need to:
Know MT GDL laws
Supervise teen driving
Set family driving guidelines and rules
Impose consequences for violations
Doing so wil ensure that you know what is going on
Messages
Parents, driver education instructors and the state are in this together
Parents are needed to support driver education and state policies
Supervise your teen’s driving so you know how s/he is progressing
Enforce policies that are set up to increase teen driver safety

6. Step 1 : Know MT’s GDL Laws
Content
Instruction Permit
50 hrs supervised driving
Provisional License
Restrictions on highest risk teen driving
Full License
1 yr violation free or age 18
Messages
Know what the MT GDL laws say and DON’T SAY
Parents are responsible for following laws
“We” will help guide you through the process

7. Step 2 : Supervise Teen Driving
Content
Parents are needed to supervise teen driving
Use the following guidelines for supervising teen driving:
Who, what, when, where, & why
Tips for trips
Use a driving log
Messages
Driver education is just the beginning
Parents should know how their teens drive
Families can ensure 50 hrs of skills practice by WRITING IT DOWN

8. Step 3 : Set Family Driving Guidelines and Rules
Content
Require teens to follow safe driving behaviors
Restrict driving under high risk conditions
At night
With teen passengers
At high speeds
Increase privileges as teens gain more driving experience and show safe and responsible behavior
Messages
MT rules and guidelines are general, families should set other rules and guidelines specific to their situations
Don’t assume teens drive safe, REQUIRE them to drive safe
Determine and make clear the guidelines and rules for driving BEFORE teens drive independently

9. Step 4 : Impose Consequences for Violations
Content
Determine consequences for “common violations”
Consequences should always follow violations
Make consequences relate to losing driving privileges
Messages
Know where your teen is and what s/he is doing
Youth that know the consequences of actions are less likely to take chances
Send the message to your teen that you will be a safe driver or you will not drive

10. Take Home Messages
ALL TEENS are at risk because they LACK DRIVING EXPERIENCE
GDL is an attempt to get everyone involved
Make state, driver education, and parents work together
Change the “culture” of teen driving
The ultimate goal is to reduce teen injury and death

11. Foundation: Work WITH Parents
Establish an atmosphere of trust and cooperation
Introduce yourself / exchange contact information
Conduct a parent survey
Develop clear policies and practices
Communicate expectations for students / parents
Inform parents about “stuff” in a timely manner
Respect parents and communicate that respect
Be aware of / sensitive to values, attitudes, manners and views
Check your tone, word choice, facial expressions, body language
Avoid being judgmental / give parents the benefit of the doubt
Communicate with parents regularly
Communicate effectively
e.g., language barrier, have materials or conversations translated
LISTEN and respond

12. THANK YOU!