By Robert Abbott
The Most Dangerous Thing Your Kid Will Ever Do Is Get a Driver's License
Four kids in, here's what I got wrong the first time — and what the research says almost everybody gets wrong.
Risk
What makes new drivers risky?
The most dangerous period begins when supervision ends. Understand the situations that increase crash risk and what parents can do before and after licensure.
By Robert Abbott
Staying Involved After the License, Without Hovering
Teens whose parents set clear rules and stay supportive crash about half as often. The trick is being involved in a way they'll actually accept.
By Robert Abbott
The Parent-Teen Driving Agreement: Decide the Rules Before Anyone Has the Keys
Most family driving arguments start with an assumption nobody said out loud. Write the rules down while everyone is still calm.
By Robert Abbott
Two Rules With No Exceptions: Seat Belts and the Safe Ride Home
Half of the teen drivers killed in 2024 weren't buckled. One rule fixes that. The other makes sure they call you instead of driving.
By Robert Abbott
Speed: Teaching the Number That Isn’t on the Sign
Speeding shows up in a third of fatal crashes involving teen drivers. The fix isn't a lecture about limits. It's teaching speed for conditions.
By Robert Abbott
Phones and Distraction: The Rule Is Bigger Than “Don’t Text”
A new driver doesn't have attention to spare. The rule isn't about texting. It's about the phone getting none of it.
By Robert Abbott
The Friend in the Passenger Seat
One friend raises a new driver's risk. Three can quadruple it. An adult in the car cuts it sharply.
By Robert Abbott
The First Six Months Alone: A Handoff Plan, Not a Finish Line
The license is when the risk peaks, not when it ends. Here's how to hand over the keys in pieces.
By Robert Abbott
Night Driving: The Practice Most Families Get Two Hours Of
Practice it on purpose before the license. Limit it on purpose after. Most families do neither.