Many Kiwi teens will be hitting the road this summer to attend one of dozens
of music festivals around the country.
For some it will be their first time driving long distances on unfamiliar roads
in holiday traffic, and for their parents there will be nail-biting moments
waiting for their teen to arrive safely at their destination and back home
again.
The good news is that help is available for parents who want to do more. The NZ
Transport Agency (NZTA) is providing practical advice and free tools via a
dedicated website -
www.safeteendriver.co.nz - to help parents work with their teenagers
to plan their trips safely.
The website encourages parents to help their teen identify and manage the
highest risks situations they might face when driving by themselves.
Teenagers from the Waikato and Bay of Plenty may be travelling to festivals like
Raggamuffin in Rotorua, Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne, or even as far as Highlife
in Matakana, or La De Da in Martinborough. Driving to a festival can be
challenging. Teenagers may encounter narrow, winding roads, road works,
holiday-makers towing boats, and heavy traffic. These will all require them to
reduce their speed and be patient. If their teen hasn’t had much experience in
these situations before then it would be worthwhile getting in the car with them
to give them some practice – even if they’re already allowed to drive by
themselves
Where possible, parents should get their teenagers to thoroughly plan their
route so they can concentrate on driving and not be distracted by navigating.
It’s also a good idea to show teens how to do a safety check of their vehicle
before setting off. Parents should talk to their teenagers about how to pay
attention to the road, weather and traffic conditions and adjust their speed if
necessary. Driving too fast for the conditions is one of the most common factors
in teen driver crashes.
Teens will be keen to pack as much music into a day as they can, and getting a
decent sleep isn't likely to be on their list of priorities. But even moderate
sleep deprivation can be dangerous when driving. If teens have been drinking,
they’ll need to make sure they get plenty of rest and that the alcohol has left
their system. They could still be over the limit the next day.
“Watching your teenager drive away on a long journey can be an extremely
worrying time for parents,” says NZTA Access and Use Manager David Pearks.
“There are some practical steps you can take to help ensure they get there
safely, and give you piece of mind. The Safe Teen Driver website not only gives
you tips on the things you need to discuss with your teen, it also suggests some
different ways to talk to your teenager so they don’t just think you’re
over-reacting.
“The NZTA strongly recommends working with your teenager to plan their travel
routes these summer holidays, to be involved and to talk to your child about the
driving hazards they may encounter along the way.”