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