Strict Rules from Parents Lead to Safer-Driving Teens

Ashley Villanueva
Post #3
Soc 313

This article is taken from usatoday.com. It talks about two studies that were recently done and found that parents have a huge effect on the way their teens drive. Parents who are involved in setting rules for driving have a safer driving teen. It cuts their teens of driving drunk by 70%, are 50% less likely to speed and 30% less likely to use a cell phone while driving. If the teen has to ask for the keys to drive they are 50% less likely to get in a crash. The leading cause of death in 16 to 20 year olds is in a car crash.
This is an obvious example of social control in the home. I know when I was first learning how to drive I wanted my freedom to drive wherever and with whoever I wanted but my parents were strict about it. I wasn’t able to go out at night and drive with any of my friends. I understand this control now that I’m older. It’s this control that kept me safe and helped to me to become a better driver before I was given more freedom. No teen wants to feel like they are controlled by their parents but it’s this gradual creep of giving their children more and more freedom as they prove themselves that keeps them from getting into car accidents. This ties into the concept we were talking about in class about the control creep that intentionally and unintentionally expands in some areas while contracting in others.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2009-09-24-safer-driving-teens_N.htm?csp=usat.me