| Although they seem to be involved in
| |
| | the philosophy of many parents when it
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| listening to music, chatting with friends
| |
| | comes to teaching their children safe
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| or gazing out the window, preteens and
| |
| | driving behaviors," said Bill Windsor,
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| teens are actually keen observers-and
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| | Nationwide associate vice president of
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| students-of their parents' driving
| |
| | safety. "Parents can help their children
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| habits. A new study of more than 2,000
| |
| | learn safe driving skills by putting
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| parents and children by Nationwide Mutual
| |
| | safety into practice whenever the
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| Insurance found that 83 percent of
| |
| | ignition is turned on. They also need to
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| 10-to-18-year-olds pay attention to Mom's
| |
| | discuss with their children what it means
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| or Dad's driving at least half of the
| |
| | to be a smart driver well before it's
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| time they spend in the car.
| |
| | time to take the permit test."
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| While parents recognize they are being
| |
| | Key findings from the study:
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| observed and need to lead by example,
| |
| | • While nearly half of parents
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| this intention often gets lost in
| |
| | report that they typically drive at or
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| practice. Two out of five parents
| |
| | below the speed limit, 80 percent of
|
| surveyed say they curb their bad driving
| |
| | children observe that their parents drive
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| habits in front of their children, but
| |
| | over the speed limit.
|
| most children report seeing their parents
| |
| | • More than half of children have
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| drive aggressively, feel around for items
| |
| | observed their parents multitasking
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| in the car, talk on cell phones and not
| |
| | behind the wheel, not keeping both hands
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| wear seat belts.
| |
| | on the steering wheel, and/or arguing and
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| Safety takes a turn for the better when
| |
| | yelling at other drivers.
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| children grow up around safe drivers and
| |
| | • One-third of kids surveyed have
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| are armed with the tools and practices
| |
| | been scared by a parent's driving and 53
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| they need to be safe drivers themselves.
| |
| | percent of parents have been scared when
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| According to the Insurance Institute for
| |
| | riding with their teen driving.
|
| Highway Safety and the National Highway
| |
| | • More than half of children have
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| Traffic Safety Administration, automobile
| |
| | not told their parents how they feel
|
| crashes are the leading cause of death
| |
| | about their driving.
|
| among American teens. For
| |
| | • 27 percent of teens with their
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| 16-to-18-year-olds, they account for more
| |
| | driver's license have never had formal
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| than one-third of all deaths.
| |
| | instruction and have learned from
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| Teach by example
| |
| | watching their parents and other people
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| " 'Do as I say, not as I do' seems to be
| |
| | drive.
|
