Driver Education Instructors, Parents,

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Driver Education Instructors, Parents,
GDLEffective Strategies for Communicating with
Parents

• Jessica Hartos, PhD
• Dept of Health Behavior Administration
• UNC Charlotte

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Parents of Teen Drivers

• Ambivalent about teen driving
• Underestimate driving risks
• Dont understand harm reduction
• Favor GDL restrictions
• Difficult to reach
• Vary in level of involvement
• Susceptible to persuasion

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Would you want information on any of the
following?
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Would you want information on any of the
following?
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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 teens driving so you know how
  s/he is progressing
• Enforce policies that are set up to increase teen
  driver safety

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Step 1 Know MTs 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 DONT SAY
• Parents are responsible for following laws
• We will help guide you through the process

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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

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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
• Dont assume teens drive safe, REQUIRE them to
  drive safe
• Determine and make clear the guidelines and rules
  for driving BEFORE teens drive independently

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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

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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

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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

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THANK YOU!