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Teaching your teen safe driving habits can feel like a lost cause – it always feels like words go in one ear and out the other. The fact is, teens are inexperienced drivers, and inexperienced drivers are more likely to get into accidents.

For many teens, the ultimate solution to improving their driving habits is to continue driving, as practice makes perfect. However, there are still some important safety driving tips that teens should know. That includes behaviors like defensive driving, avoiding texting and driving and keeping both hands on the wheel.

For parents concerned about the safety of their teens driving on the road, there are backup safety measures as well. This can include things like selecting a safe vehicle with a built-in teen driving safety program. It can also include numerous safe driver applications like License+ and SafeDrive that monitor behavior and help parents track their kids’ driving habits.

Before your teen even gets a license, you can enroll him or her in any number of online drivers ed courses for preparation. There are even courses that can simulate the real driving experience, enabling your teen to get the most practice possible before driving. The sections below describe the safety features and programs available to help you teenager drive safely.

Drivers Ed Courses for Teens

Before ever hitting the road, your teen should have a general understanding of how to practice safe and defensive driving. He or she should be completely familiar with the rules of the road and how to operate a vehicle.

For most families, that means signing up for a drivers ed course. In some states, taking a driving course is required to obtain a learner’s permit or a license but even if it isn’t required it’s a great way for your teenager to gain the knowledge and skills they need.

To choose the best program for your child it’s important to understand how the curriculum is taught and how your teenager learns best. The key is to find a program that is comprehensive yet engaging enough that your teen will retain the information they are learning.

Is your teen a visual learner who prefers video lessons? Does your child prefer to read lessons in order to learn new material? Finding the right driving safety course that matches their style of learning can make all the difference.

Another important consideration is making sure that the course is accredited by the state. In order to receive a learner’s permit, most states require that teenagers put in a certain amount of hours learning in a classroom and practicing behind the wheel.

Successfully graduating from an accredited drivers ed course allows your child to waive those practice and education requirements and get their learner’s permit sooner. However, hours at non-accredited schools do not count towards this requirement and your child will likely need to complete these somewhere else before being eligible for their permit.

How to Choose a Drivers Ed Program

When you are looking for drivers ed courses, you should know how to identify the good from the bad. The first step in your search should be to put together a list of local schools or online programs that meet your needs. You can find courses through:

Recommendations from friends and neighbors
Your teen’s school or the school district
Your state’s Department of Transportation or Motor Vehicles
Your insurance company

Once you have a list of drivers ed courses to consider, you should begin to narrow them down. It’s tempting to call around and find out who has the cheapest courses available. Chances are, however, that the cheapest course available is going to be far from the best.

Factors you should look for in a drivers ed course are a low student to teacher ratio, ample hands-on driving experience or simulated driving experience and a well-rounded curriculum. Ask how long it takes to complete the course and what proportion of the class includes hands-on training. You want schools with a low student-to-teacher ratio – ideally around 5 to 6 students per instructor.

Additionally, time in drivers ed should include as much practical experience as possible. Some schools limit students to a driving track in a parking lot. However, the ideal practice includes time on the road among other drivers. This allows for more realistic training, rather than limiting practice to an enclosed course that does not resemble normal driving.

Finally, you want to make sure that the students learn about all the aspects of driving, not just what will be on the permit test. A comprehensive drivers ed course should cover everything from lane changing to driving in the rain to car maintenance.

Some states have mandatory course requirements for approved driver’s ed – you can compare a program’s curriculum to state requirements to determine if it works. If not, look for courses whose curriculum are approved by the American Safety Council or National Safety Council.

Finally be sure to check Yelp and Google to read the schools reviews from other students.

Best Online Drivers Ed Course

Today, drivers ed has been slashed from a majority of schools. To take your teen to drivers ed in person, you might have to drive them to their after-school or weekend class. Alternatively, you can sign them up for an online drivers ed course so they can grasp the basics at home.

At-home courses can allow your teen to get an overview of driving techniques and a comprehensive education on the rules of the road. Some courses include online simulated driving, while others ask students to practice independently.

Either way, it gives both you and your teen greater flexibility in completing the driving course.

Of course, like physical drivers ed schools, it is important to carefully vet online driving schools. Some websites have few credentials and offer questionable content, while others have been in operation for years with a large curriculum of trusted material. You don’t want to pick any random school only to realize halfway through the course that the curriculum doesn’t meet state requirements.

You can find online schools through your state DMV or DOT. However, there are some national programs accredited in most or all states that provide comprehensive training. Below are some of the most popular and most commonly recommended online drivers ed courses available:

Aceable – Aceable is an online drivers ed program with a good reputation and an expansive curriculum that meets numerous state standards. It currently offers online training to teens in California, Texas, Georgia, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

Aceable only offers drivers ed courses that are approved by the appropriate agency. For example, the Texas instructor-taught drivers ed course is approved by the Texas Departments of Licensing and Regulation and of Public Safety. Depending on the course, that either means you do not need to take the exam at the DMV or you can certify you have met particular requirements.

In addition, it also offers free practice tests for every state so teens get a chance to prepare for their examination even without signing up for a course. Finally, most courses come with at least two free months of Allstate Roadside Assistance, a nice plus for anxious parents. As a bonus, the content is made to be mobile-friendly and easy to complete on-the-go.

Cost: Between $36-$100, depending on the course and state.

DriversEd– DriversEd has operated for more than 25 years and served more than 13 million customers, making it one of the more reputable online drivers ed programs around. It offers drivers ed courses for most US states except D.C., Illinois, New Mexico and North Carolina (approval pending).

Students who complete the course may be eligible for an insurance discount. The school is approved by the Road Safety Educators Association and the Driving School Association of the Americas. Courses teach the rules of the road and defensive driving techniques, providing content through videos, animations and even case studies. Courses are available both on a computer and through the mobile app, and students can switch between both at will.

Cost: From free (in Florida) to almost $400, depending on the course and state.

Improv Driving School – The Improv Driving School offers a unique approach to drivers ed, mixing humor and entertainment into the lessons. The premise is to increase student engagement by providing content that is both fun and educational.

Drivers ed is available in California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Nevada and Kentucky and approved by the necessary agencies. Courses can meet or waive state requirements, offer insurance discounts and keep your teen safer on the road. With more than 30 years of experience serving customers, Improv Driving School has a solid reputation for being entertaining and informative.

It has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Like its competitors, Improv Driving School offers seamless integration between mobile and computer platforms. Its app is available for iPhones, but is not yet on the Google Play store.

Cost: Between $12.50 and $65, depending on the course and state.

IDriveSafely – DriveSafely was established in 1998, serving as a drivers ed school for two decades. It offers courses in defensive driving, driver improvement, traffic school and drivers ed for teens and adults.

The teen drivers ed courses are available in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. In addition, students in other states may be able to receive permission from the DMV for credit from an IDriveSafely course. It also offers behind-the-wheel drivers ed training for students in California, Texas and Georgia.

When selecting a course, students may have the choice to request text, video or audio formatting. The school has an A+ rating from the BBB as well. It has a partnership with DriversEd, which means some courses offered by IDriveSafely are actually DriversEd courses.

Cost: From $5 to $74, depending on the course and state.

Driver Ed To Go – The team at Driver Ed To Go has been providing drivers ed to teen drivers for more than two decades. The online program offers competitive pricing and a free trial period to entice customers to give them a try.

It offers certified courses in California, Florida, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.

Driver Ed To Go offers an unapproved educational course for all states it is not approved in. Courses are available on all devices and come in audio. Additionally, the program is facilitated by Orion High School in Illinois. All students will therefore receive 2.5 credits from Orion High School upon completion of the course.

Cost: From $16.50 to $125 for approved courses depending on the state.

Online Drivers Ed – Online Drivers Ed offers courses for teen drivers to prepare for their learners permit exam or work towards the permit requirements.

The website launched in 2004 from Nevada, expanding to California in 2005. The Online Drivers Ed course is approved in California, Nevada and Florida. Additionally, Online Drivers Ed has partnerships for teens to find a course approved in their state if they live elsewhere. Courses are available on computers only, not through mobile devices.

Cost: $19-$29.50 for certified courses, depending on the state.

IGottaDrive – This drivers ed course offers a program called “Hit the Road” to help teens learn the rules of driving. Additionally, students who complete the course have the option to purchase credits from Orion High School, which IGottaDrive has partnered with to deliver the course.

IGottaDrive is approved in six states: California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Nevada and Ohio. The drivers ed course has been completed by over 10,000 students, and includes text, graphics and video content to appeal to any type of learner. Additionally, those who purchase the drivers ed course have access to endless practice testing.

Cost: From $29.95 to $124.95 depending on the state and the course offered.

NOTE: Although online drivers ed programs often offer to sell your teen a certificate of completion, in many states the certificate is not required. Certificates often come with shipping costs, and you may feel pressured to purchase rush shipping for an unnecessary certificate. Before purchasing a certificate, determine if it is required in your state to obtain a learner’s permit. In many cases, the company emails you the certificate or electronically submits a copy to the state for free.

Do Driving Simulators Help for Driver Education?

One great feature to look out for is courses that offer driving simulators. Rather than sending your teen straight to the road for driving experience, he or she can practice with a driving simulator.

The simulator keeps your teen from real harm while allowing him or her to get a basic grasp of the principles of driving. Simulators can go farther than traditional driving courses can as well. Your teen can practice handling difficult or catastrophic scenarios and learn how to respond without panicking.

By presenting realistic challenges, he or she can learn what the best course of action for real driving would be.

Driving simulators can be found in brick-and-mortar drivers ed schools, complete with a full set of equipment down to a working driver’s door and seat. However, there are also driving simulator apps made for home use, or online websites that offer driving simulators.

Choosing the Safest Vehicle for Your Teenager

The best way to keep your teen safe while driving is to start by putting him or her in a safe car. If you don’t have a car that you are going to pass along, you probably need to buy one.

Buying a safe car doesn’t necessarily mean you have to buy the newest car with all the extra features and technology. Used cars can be just as safe as new ones, it just requires some extra legwork to research the cars you are considering buying.

Whether you are buying a new car or used car it’s important to research the cars safety ratings as well as understanding what safety features are and are not included. Other important considerations are the vehicle history report and whether it comes with built-in teen safety technology.

By thoroughly researching cars before you buy, you can add a measure of safety in protecting your child and gain some peace of mind.

Understanding Vehicle Safety Ratings

Finding the safest cars on the market starts with the organizations that conduct tests to review car safety; primarily the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Both organizations provide comprehensive car safety ratings for most models sold in the United States. Ratings are available by year, make and model, allowing parents to get the most accurate information about safety.

To get the most out of these ratings and understand how they affect your teenagers safety, it’s important to know how the ratings are determined.

1-Star frontal crash (Left) vs. 5-Star frontal crash

NHTSA and IIHS car safety ratings are based on extensive crash testing simulating four types of collisions:

35-mph frontal impact – At 35 mph (56 kph), the car runs straight into a solid concrete barrier. This is equivalent to a car moving at 35 mph hitting another car of comparable weight moving at 35 mph.
35-mph side impact – A 3,015-pound (1,368-kg) sled with a deformable “bumper” runs into the side of the test vehicle. The test simulates a car that is crossing an intersection being sideswiped by a car running a red light.
Moderate overlap front – This car safety rating measures the impact of a crash to a moderate portion of the front of the car, such as the left or right corner. It measures the structure of the car and how much it intrudes into the passenger space in an impact.
Roof strength – This test measures how much a roof caves in if the car rolls over by measuring how much force is required to cave the roof in by five inches. Vehicle safety hinges on a roof that does not cave in and impact the passengers immediately.

These crash tests are performed using male and female dummies fitted with accelerometers, motion sensors and load sensors. The sensors pick up how much force is being applied during the crash to the head, chest, knees, etc.

This data is then used to determine the extent of the injury that would be caused by each crash. In frontal crashes, the star rating is determined by the worst score on these three criteria:

Head Injury Criteria (HIC)
Chest deceleration
Femur load

For a vehicle to receive a five-star rating, all three of these must indicate less than a 10-percent chance of severe injury. Each front seat has its own rating for each type of test that was run (front or side).

Side crash tests are slightly different. The rating criteria are thoracic trauma index and lateral pelvic acceleration.

# of Stars	Results from Frontal Impact Tests	Results from Side Impact Tests
5	10% or lower chance of serious injury	5% or lower chance of serious injury
4	11% to 20% chance of serious injury	6% to 10% chance of serious injury
3	21% to 35% chance of serious injury	11% to 20% chance of serious injury
2	36% to 45% chance of serious injury	21% to 25% chance of serious injury
1	46% or greater chance of injury	26% or greater chance of serious injury

A general guideline for car safety ratings is that newer cars tend to be much safer than older cars. The NHTSA reported in 2018 that 55 percent of car fatalities take place in vehicles from 1984 and earlier.

The newer a car is, the less likely drivers are to be fatally injured in it. However, not all new cars are safer, and the difference diminishes with more recent models. A 2014 vehicle from a reliable brand may be a better choice than a 2017 vehicle from an unreliable brand.

Parents that are shopping for vehicles should take into account the vehicle’s safety ratings. A vehicle that is more expensive but has a higher rating may be a better purchase than a cheaper vehicle with known safety issues.

Vehicle History Reports for Used Cars

Another good tool to find the safest cars for your teen is to research the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) report of the specific cars you’re considering.

A VIN report details the history of a particular car, from the moment it was manufactured to present day. This is particularly helpful if you’re buying a used car for your teen instead of a new model. It can tell you if the vehicle has been reported missing or stolen, how many owners the vehicle has had and what the odometer should generally say.

Most importantly, it reveals the vehicle’s accident history, which directly affects a vehicle’s safety. If the vehicle has ever been determined a lemon or a salvage, you would know from the VIN lookup report.

A vehicle’s safety correlates directly with its accident history.

When the structure of a car is damaged in an accident, the entire vehicle’s structural integrity becomes compromised. It may be more likely to crumple and cave in during future accidents, or may malfunction later on due to structural flaws.

Vehicles that have been involved in serious accidents and declared total losses by an insurance company can be rebuilt and retitled as a rebuilt or salvaged car.

In many cases, these cars may appear perfectly sound on the surface. However, closer inspection typically reveals a host of problems – shoddy welding, unaddressed or hidden issues, missing airbags – that can pose a major hazard on the road.

If the VIN report says the car has been salvaged, you should carefully inspect the vehicle for signs of damage and repair. Mismatched paint colors, uneven surfaces and closed doors with gaps and openings are all signs of hidden damage.

A complete VIN lookup report can also tell you information such as whether a vehicle has been flooded in the past, which could affect its electronics. It tells you if the airbags have gone off, cluing you in to check that they were replaced. It also describes if the car has experienced any structural damage, which may be an automatic red flag.

Finally, the VIN lookup report would describe if there were any recalls for that particular vehicle, and if the recall work has been done.

Teen drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents than any other age group, which means it’s important to get a car with a solid structural integrity. If your teen gets in an accident, you don’t want the car to completely crumble around him or her, increasing the chance of serious injury or death.

Consider performing a VIN lookup for any used vehicle you consider buying. There are lots of options for free and paid VIN reports online. You should probably start, however, with the free National Insurance Crime Bureau VIN check service.

You can get a more complete look at a vehicle’s history report through VehicleHistory.com, where you pay a small fee for a thorough profile.

NOTE: Keep in mind when performing a VIN lookup is that scammers may commit VIN fraud to hide a vehicle’s history. Shoppers should always check that the VIN on the vehicle title matches the physical VIN on the vehicle. The VIN is typically located on the lower left corner of the dashboard and the driver’s side door jam. If the vehicle VIN shows signs of tampering or alteration, walk away – it could be a scam.

What Are The Latest Vehicle Safety Features?

Nowadays, auto makers are including numerous safety features to improve vehicle safety and lower the risk of driving. The fanciest and most powerful features will be limited to the newest cars, but you can find some of these features in some older models.

It is always important to have an alert driver at the wheel. However, many features can help make the driving process a little less scary for parents letting their teens loose. Today, cars with these features, commonly referred to as Drive Assist, can include any of the following:

Adaptive Cruise Control – Unlike regular cruise control, adaptive cruise control improves vehicle safety by responding to the flow of traffic. Sensors detect the location of cars and slow down or speed up to keep pace.
Automatic Emergency Braking – Automatic emergency braking improves vehicle safety by minimizing the risk of a rear-end collision. If your vehicle detects that you are approaching another car too rapidly, it can automatically brake to prevent the crash or minimize the damage.
Forward Collision Warning – Even if your vehicle doesn’t have AEB, you can still improve vehicle safety with a forward collision warning system. Sensors detect if the vehicle is approaching another car too closely, and automatically alerts the driver to slow down.
Lane Departure Detection – Lane departure detection can keep your teen safe driving by alerting him or her that the car is drifting into another lane. Sensors read the lines on the road to determine if a car is getting too close or crossing.
Lane Keeping Assist – Lane Keeping Assist takes departure detection a step up. Rather than alerting you to lane drift, the car will automatically correct course to remain in the lane. It doesn’t interfere when you use a turn signal to switch lanes, which encourages safer driving.
Blind Spot Warning – This feature helps your teen drive safely by alerting him or her if there is a car in the blind spot. The system alerts the driver through noise or a notification that a car is in the spot if the driver uses the turn signal.
Rear View Camera – The backup camera prevents drivers from accidentally running over or into something when reversing. The camera provides a clear view of what’s behind the driver so he or she can wait until it’s safe to move.
Facial Recognition Software – This newer vehicle safety technology pays close attention to the driver’s face. It searches for signs of alertness, distraction or sleepiness and issues warnings when the driver isn’t focused.
Parking Assist – Depending on the manufacturer, this feature can either provide sensors to help you park more readily, or can complete the parking process entirely for you, taking control of steering and braking.

Built-In Parental Safety Controls

One important thing you should take into consideration is parental safety control technology that comes built in to newer models. Teens are notoriously reckless driving, with a penchant for speeding, texting and chatting while behind the wheel. They may also turn the radio up too loud to pay attention or drive without a seatbelt, both risky behaviors.

Teen safe driving programs are meant to discourage bad driving habits and train your teen to drive safely. Some programs in the United States are not specifically aimed at teen drivers, but include safety features that parents can utilize.

The following programs are currently available for vehicles sold in the United States:

Ford MyKey – The Ford MyKey system allows parents to set restrictions on a vehicle when their teen’s key is used. The parents themselves have an admin key with no restrictions.

Ford MyKey can be used to encourage better driving habits. It comes free with cars that include the program. Ford began including it as a standard feature in some 2010 models.

Today, MyKey can be found in the Ford Transit Connect, the Fiesta, the Flex and the Taurus. When a restricted key is used, the following restrictions are automatically in place:

The audio system will mute and a safety belt reminder will flash until the driver and passenger both fasten their seatbelts.
A low fuel or low charge warning will active early, allowing the driver more time to refuel.
Any driver assist features that the vehicle has will be forced on. Ford cars can include a blind spot detector, a crossing traffic alert, a lane-keeping system, automatic emergency brakes, adaptive cruise control, auto high beams, a rear view camera, parking assistance and navigation.
Any adult content on satellite radio subscriptions is automatically restricted.

In addition to the forced restrictions, parents using Ford MyKey can set additional vehicle safety settings for their teen drivers. They can set any or all of the following restrictions:

Set a maximum speed limit between 65 and 80 mph that restricts how fast the car can drive.
Set a vehicle speed minder that issues an alert and an audible tone if your teen drives over a certain limit.
Automatically enable AdvanceTrac, the Ford electronic stability system to improve performance over snow, ice and other difficult surfaces
Automatically enable 9-1-1 Assist, which automatically calls for help if you have an accident that triggers the airbags.
Set a radio volume maximum that restricts how loud the radio can be. It can be set to as low as 45 percent of maximum volume.
Automatically enable the do not disturb feature, which blocks calls and texts from issuing notifications while the driver is in motion.

Chevrolet Teen Driver Technology – Chevy’s Teen Driver Technology system promotes driver safety and encourages better habits for teens. Unlike Ford, the Teen Driver Technology program produces a weekly report card.

The report card tells parents figures like the distance driven, the maximum speed driven, and how many speeding, tailgating, hard braking and traction control warnings came up.

The program is included at no additional cost on the majority of Chevy models, including: Bolt EV, Camaro, Colorado, Cruze, Equinox, Malibu, Silverado 1500 and HD, Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse and Volt. The following restrictions can be set in the Teen Driver Technology program:

Set a maximum speed limit of up to 85 mph that the driver cannot exceed.
Set a vehicle speed minder that alerts the driver when he or she surpasses a particular speed limit.
Set a maximum volume limit that the driver cannot set the volume higher than.
The audio system will mute and a safety belt reminder will flash until the driver and passenger both fasten their seatbelts.
Automatically turn on all driver assist features included in the car. Chevy driver assist features include: blind spot detection, tailgating alert, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and lane keep assistance, adaptive cruise control and a rear view camera.

Volkswagen Car Net – Unlike Ford and Chevrolet’s programs, VW Car Net is not specifically designed for teens. However, it does have many features that benefit teen safety, like a curfew alert and a geofence alert.

It comes with a six-month free trial, followed by a contract. The contract can go month to month for $17.99 a month, $199 for a year, $378 for two years and $540 for three. The “Family Guardian” feature of VW Car Net allows the owner to lend the vehicle to others and set restricting features to safeguard both the driver and the car.

The Car Net security services feature, which includes Family Guardian, is available on some versions of the following models: Jetta, Passat, Tiguan, Atlas, Golf and Beetle. VW Car Net includes the following features that can be used to protect teen drivers:

Set a speed alert so the owner is notified when the car is driven past a certain speed.
Set a curfew alert so the owner is notified when the car is used past a certain time.
Set a geofence alert so the owner is notified when the car leaves a certain area.
Locate parking locations on your behalf, and remember where you parked so you can find your car.
The automatic crash notification automatically notifies Chevrolet agents that the vehicle has been in a crash

Hyundai Blue Link – Again not designed for teens but nevertheless helpful, Hyundai Blue Link allows owners to have total remote control over their car. Since 2018, Blue Link has been available as a standard feature on all models, with a free three-year subscription. There are three groups of packages available, and all three provide comprehensive care for your vehicle, at a price of $297 a year. Blue Link has been available on a portion to a majority of Hyundai vehicles released since 2012. The safety features in Hyundai Blue Link include:

Set a speed alert so the owner is notified when the car is driven past a certain speed.
Set a curfew alert so the owner is notified when the car is used past a certain time.
Set a geofence alert so the owner is notified when the car leaves a certain area.
The automatic collision notification and assistance feature alerts emergency services the car is involved in a crash that deploys the airbag.

Kia UVO – The Kia UVO program is an infotainment and safety system that offers drivers protection and hands-free control. It includes a number of entertainment features, including Sirius XM Radio, voice commands and a built-in nav unit. It also includes trip info analytics, allowing you to evaluate monthly driving habits. It comes at no additional cost with cars that are UVO-equipped. The following cars have UVO: Forte, Forte5, Forte Koup, Optima, Optima Hybrid, Rio, Rio5, Sedona, Sportage, Sorento and Soul. The standard Kia UVO program comes with the following features to keep your teen safe while driving:

Set a speed alert so the owner is notified when the car is driven past a certain speed.
Set a curfew alert so the owner is notified when the car is used past a certain time.
Set a geofence alert so the owner is notified when the car leaves a certain area.
The Find My Car feature provides the location of your car at any given time.
Enhanced roadside assistance and 9-1-1 connect ensure your teen driver has options for help if an accident makes the airbag deploy.

Last updated on Thursday, June 16 2022.