As a parent, you probably have some jitters about your teen driver and that’s completely understandable considering the fact that teens are statistically more likely to be involved in a crash than the general population.

The good news is there’s plenty you can do to keep newly minted drivers safe behind the wheel. It all starts with information — and the following sites, all created by trusted federal and national organizations, can help. (Added bonus: Many of them also include fun features like podcasts and downloadable videos.)  So click over any (or all) of them to learn how to have an important — and possibly life-saving — conversation with your teen driver.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Teen Driver Safety
http://www.nhtsa.gov/Teen-Drivers

Tucked within this catch-all site for all things safety is a special section on teen driving. It’s full of hard research and stats as well as creative materials — among them, audio and video clips, toolkits and posters — you can use to raise awareness in your home and in your wider community.

Distraction.gov – Teens
http://www.distraction.gov/content/get-involved/teens.html

Just a few of the features on this well-designed site include a clickable map detailing each state’s distracted driving laws, fast facts about the issue and a pledge form for anyone ready to commit to phone-free driving. Also, make sure to check out the Faces section — it’s full of high-impact stories and videos of people who lost their lives as a result of their own or others’ distracted driving.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Motor Vehicle Safety: Teen Drivers
http://www.cdc.gov/Motorvehiclesafety/Teen_Drivers/index.html

The CDC promotes traditional research and facts along with new media and social media resources such as podcasts, e-cards and widgets. There are also links to other helpful sites and a special parents’ section with free branded and customizable materials.

National Safety Council – Teen Driver Safety
http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/TeenDriving/Pages/teen_driving.aspx

This site’s strongest selling point is its information on Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) — a novice driver licensing system that can reduce teen drivers’ high crash risk by 20 to 40 percent. Even if your state doesn’t have a GDL initiative in place, you can jump start your own program by following the step-by-step guide outlined by the experts at the NSC.

If you have questions about insuring your young driver, contact our agency.