Teen Car Advice
More teenagers own cars today than ever before, and that's partly because they are busier than ever before. So many teens have after-school activities and jobs that many parents feel they need to buy cars for their children out of convenience.
Surveys now show that three out of four driving-age students have cars, half of which were purchased by parents. Almost 90 percent of parents poled in the surveys said they purchased used cars which were priced under $10,000. However, while they were looking for less expensive cars, parents cited safety and reliability as their biggest concerns when purchasing cars for their children.
Generally safety-conscious parents tend to focus on car size, buying SUVs because they think bigger is better. However only the newest models of SUVs have the electronic stability control to prevent roll-overs and many parents can only afford the used models.
"Sedans not SUVs"
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recommends parents look for midsize sedans for their teens' first cars. The group says that sports cars are absolutely not a good choice for teens, but you don't have to buy a tank to get good safety. The IIHS has listed crash test ratings since 1995 on its web site www.highwaysafety.org. The Ford Taurus, Buick Century, Chevrolet Malibu, and the Volkswagen Jetta earned the best ratings for 2005.
When buying a car for a teenager, you should make sure it includes safety features like front and side airbags, and anti-lock brakes. Also, Parents should get used cars inspected by a mechanic and be sure to get a vehicle history report.
DRIVE RESPONSIBLY:
However, experts say the safety of the car doesn't matter quite as much as the driver's level of responsibility. Speed is often a forgotten issue among teens, especially young men. Also, teenagers often think they are good at multi-tasking, but realistically they're not! You want to try to minimize distractions including cell phones and other teen passengers. Minimize night time driving, and make sure teens are wearing seatbelts.
A DaimlerChrysler spokesman says that parents shouldn't necessarily shy away from a particular vehicle, as much as they should encourage good driving behavior. The automaker's website: www.roadreadyteens.org, features "Road Ready Teens," a video game to sharpen driving skills.
FOR MORE INFO ON THE WEB:
Surveys now show that three out of four driving-age students have cars, half of which were purchased by parents. Almost 90 percent of parents poled in the surveys said they purchased used cars which were priced under $10,000. However, while they were looking for less expensive cars, parents cited safety and reliability as their biggest concerns when purchasing cars for their children.
Generally safety-conscious parents tend to focus on car size, buying SUVs because they think bigger is better. However only the newest models of SUVs have the electronic stability control to prevent roll-overs and many parents can only afford the used models.
"Sedans not SUVs"
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recommends parents look for midsize sedans for their teens' first cars. The group says that sports cars are absolutely not a good choice for teens, but you don't have to buy a tank to get good safety. The IIHS has listed crash test ratings since 1995 on its web site www.highwaysafety.org. The Ford Taurus, Buick Century, Chevrolet Malibu, and the Volkswagen Jetta earned the best ratings for 2005.
When buying a car for a teenager, you should make sure it includes safety features like front and side airbags, and anti-lock brakes. Also, Parents should get used cars inspected by a mechanic and be sure to get a vehicle history report.
DRIVE RESPONSIBLY:
However, experts say the safety of the car doesn't matter quite as much as the driver's level of responsibility. Speed is often a forgotten issue among teens, especially young men. Also, teenagers often think they are good at multi-tasking, but realistically they're not! You want to try to minimize distractions including cell phones and other teen passengers. Minimize night time driving, and make sure teens are wearing seatbelts.
A DaimlerChrysler spokesman says that parents shouldn't necessarily shy away from a particular vehicle, as much as they should encourage good driving behavior. The automaker's website: www.roadreadyteens.org, features "Road Ready Teens," a video game to sharpen driving skills.
FOR MORE INFO ON THE WEB:
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