TEEN DRIVER SAFETY: WHAT ARE GOOD CARS FOR NEW DRIVERS?

Posted on February 6, 2011 by Donna McCord

One of our customers recently told us that their daughter just got her driver’s license, and she asked if we agreed that her SUV would be the best of their vehicles for her daughter to drive. We had to disagree!

An SUV is not the best vehicle for teen driver safety. It is like a truck! Many believe that if there is an accident, they will be less likely to get hurt. But the truth is that a teen driver is more likely to experience an accident when driving an SUV/truck.

The many reasons this is true range from minor incidents occurring because it is harder to judge where the corners of the vehicle are when parking and driving, to more severe incidents due to the higher center of gravity in these vehicles…they are much more likely to roll over during panic situations. In between, there is also the increase in stopping distance required for these vehicles. More distance is needed between an SUV/truck and other vehicles in order for it to come to a full stop. Lastly, these vehicles do not respond as quickly and securely as a regular car.

Any later (1995+) make and model of mid-size vehicle is your best bet. Make sure that the brakes are in good repair with quality brake material being used. It is also a good idea to take the car to a trusted repair facility for an inspection prior to turning it over to your child, just to make sure that everything is in good running condition….lights working, correct fluid levels, etc.

To help new drivers, or anyone approaching the driving age, with accident prevention, taking them to the Malibu Grand Prix will help get them acclimated to braking and steering and turning corners. The corners on the track are sharp, so speed and control are needed, and there is nothing to run into!

Once a driver has at least a couple of months’ driving experience, then a defensive driving course is highly recommended. My daughter and I both went through this course when she reached driving age. Locally, I recommend the Highway Survival course at Jim Russell Racing School (Sears Point Raceway, now known as Infineon) in Sonoma. Course instruction includes accident avoidance, skid control, high-speed performance driving exercises (yes, 65-70 mph is high speed!), etc.

There are other courses in Phoenix, Arizona at the Bob Bondurant Racing School and also in Monterey (Mazda Raceway) at Skip Barber Racing School. I strongly recommend that the parents take these courses along with their child. Even though the cost of these courses may seem expensive ($495 for the Jim Russell half day course), it is nothing compared to our and our children’s safety on the roads.

Donna McCord
Owner
Dean’s Automotive, Inc.
www.deansautomotive.com
Facebook.com/deansautomotive

This entry was posted in Defensive Driving, New Driver Safety, New Drivers, Teen Drivers and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.
  • http://louiseedington.com Louise Edington

    We are a couple of years away from this but it’s something that already rosses our minds. I like the idea of a defensive driving course. I also see what you mean about SUVs but we are going to insist on a solid 4WD/AWD because of the ice and snow here. With that in mind what car would you recommend?
    Louise Edington
    Facing Fears For Freedom
    http://louiseedington.com

    • Donna McCord

      I understand your concerns! A car with a low center of gravity is the best in this scenario, and we would recommend a Subaru as a good choice!

  • http://www.LaurieHurleyOnline.com Laurie Hurley

    Very timely info for me. We just traded in our van for a Prius for my daughter. Safe and economical. Some very good posts for parents of new drivers. It’s scary thinking of her out on the road alone, but driving a safe car makes a big difference.

    • Donna McCord

      Yes, having a reliable and safe vehicle is huge; but just as important is their being aware of good driving practices — that is why we highly recommend some kind of performance driving school to learn about how to react to the unexpected. The Prius is great, by the way! that is what I drive, and I love it!

  • http://www.silkandart.com Fiona Stolze

    This was a great article Donna. My eldest son is just learning to drive and thoroughly enjoying it. We only have one family car so if he wants one when he gets his license, it is going to have to be something small and economical to get started. It’s a strange thought that he’ll soon be out and about driving by himself and I agree that safety is so important. Thanks for this information Donna.

    Fiona Stolze
    Inspred Art and Living
    http://fionastolze.wordpress.com

    • Donna McCord

      Thank you, Fiona! I think the most important thing is that our kids know the basics of good driving techniques, especially what to do in case of the unexpected. It’s also important that the new driver respects the power of the piece of machinery they are controlling! If they are able to pay attention when they drive and not be distracted by their friends or cell phones, etc., they should do fine…that was always my biggest worry when my daughter first started driving.

  • http://www.brandymychals.com/mb Brandy Mychals

    Awesome post! Thank you for the info…my daughter is 8 but I will remember this blog :-) As a funny side note, she thinks she is “ready” to drive after all the years of watching me do it. She tried to get me to call the number on the back of a student driver vehicle that was advertising its services when she was 6 – LOL!
    Brandy Mychals
    Communications Coach
    Creator of Split Second Perceptions

    • Donna McCord

      That is too funny, Brandy! I wonder if she has race car drive blood in her? LOL!

  • http://www.patzahn.com Pat Zahn

    Donna – this is very timely for me. My daughter is 17 and not driving yet (kind of afraid, I think.) I had to laugh when I saw your suggestion about Malibu Grand Prix, but it totally makes sense and once she is driving taking her to a defensive driving class is an awesome idea – that would make me a lot more comfortable to put her out on the road.

    Pat Zahn, Photo Solutions Superhero
    http://www.PatZahn.com

    • Donna McCord

      One of the great things about the defensive driving classes is that they boost your confidence behind the wheel dramatically. Driving at Malibu Grand Prix can help with that, too, by just giving you the feel of maneuvering a vehicle. I think when our kids start driving we as parents can’t help but become anxious…there are so many crazy drivers out there on the road! Which is why the defensive driving is so critical. I went through the course, too, and it was very good, but my daughter did much better than I did! I think taking these courses when you are young and just learning is the best way to learn!

  • http://backngroovemom.com Rachel Blaufeld

    Thanks Donna! I am a few years away, but I still find myself awake at night worried over this exact subject! yikes – teenage driving! I love that they offer crash avoidance courses by you. I am going to investigate if that is available in PA. As always – I LOVE your blogs and they are always on something that I know nothing about! Rachel

    • Donna McCord

      You’re welcome Rachel, and I am so glad you enjoy my posts! I completely empathize with your anxiety thinking about your teen behind the wheel! I hope you will be able to find a good course close to your home. Personally, I think that defensive driving courses should be mandatory for everyone when they apply for a driver’s license. Just think how that might reduce the number of senseless accidents on the road!

  • http://www.billbrowning.com Bill Browning

    Excellent tips as always. I especially like the additional driving programs distinct from the ones at school. As far as car selection, since tanks aren’t affordable or practical, mid-size is best.

    • Donna McCord

      Thank you, Bill; yes, the professional courses offer so much more in terms of defensive driving and being prepared for the unexpected. I have already seen how what my daughter learned helped her while driving on the freeway last year in the rain and had a tire go flat; she was able to avoid losing control or spinning out or panicking — her friend that was with her was really impressed and when I heard about it, I was so grateful!

  • http://www.FreshBrothers.com Debbie Goldberg

    Great info. I would not have thought about all the good points you brought up about the SUV.

    Debbie Goldberg
    http://www.FreshBrothers.Wordpress.com

  • http://lisawifemom.wordpress.com Lisa vitale

    Some excellent information; and I know many parents that think the SUV route is the safest one, so I’ll be sharing.

    Something else to consider is that it’s often times more expensive to insure your teenager on an SUV vs. a car as well. Not an issue if you’re choosing the safest vehicle, but if a car is safer anyway, why not save some money as well!

    Lisa Vitale
    http://lisawifemom.wordpress.com

    • Donna McCord

      Thank you, Lisa! and I know that the car you drive can impact the cost of insurance…I wasn’t aware that an SUV might be more expensive, but it might depend on the insurance carrier. In any event, it just makes sense to put a new driver in a vehicle that they can see out of and have a better chance of controlling.

  • http://MagnoliaJazz.com/blog Robbie Schlosser

    Hi Donna,

    Thanks for packing this post with so much good information. All your recommendations make perfect sense — now that you’ve explained them — but I wouldn’t have suspected that there’d be so many pro’s and con’s about selecting a safe car for a teenager to drive. Great recommendations about the driving schools, too, comparing them with the average high school driver-ed course.

    Despite it all, however, I’m growing more and more hesitant about driving at all. Too many adults are driving like teen-agers.

    Robbie

    • Donna McCord

      You are welcome, Robbie; I can also relate to your feelings about driving! There are some days when I am just so relieved to get to my destination safely and find that I am choosing to walk much more frequently now when it is possible!

  • http://www.ourlittlebooks.com Candace C. Davenport

    As a parent who taught both her kids to drive (AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH) I wish I had thought of a defensive course at the time. What a great idea. Also I love the idea of driving on the race course. I think so much of driving becomes instinctive, and if kids can practice on a safe place, there seems to be a better chance that their instincts will be honed correctly.

    Unfortunately, it seems no matter what we do as parents, that kids will think they are invincible and that going 100 mph is cool and the best we can do is provide them with as much education and support before going out on the road.

    Love what you are doing with your website and blogging Donna. Nice job.

    Candace Davenport
    http://www.ourlittlebooks.com ~ Little Books with a Big Message

    • Donna McCord

      Thank you so much Candace! I know what you mean about all we can do is what we can do! Then we just have to trust!

  • http://SacredTruthsBook.com Tambra Harck

    Donna -

    Just a year ago my mother was in an accident on the freeway. She was staying with us while working in a nearby town (Napa). Friday night on her way to join us for dinner, I received a call saying was on the side of the freeway, awaiting the CHP. She’d been hit. She’s fine, as far as injuries go. The backend of her car was an accordion; the extent of the damage that leads an insurance company to declare it “totalled.”

    The young man who was driving the van that rear-ended my mom’s car didn’t have space enough to stop when traffic unexpectedly came to a stop ahead. As I read your post I suspect his parents thought that a van was a good choice for him to drive.

    I’m not sure if this irony, but my parents had just taken a classroom driver’s safety class that’s designed for what we in our culture refer to as seniors. (that’s another topic…) Mom’s been driving a car for 50+ years, and she came away from that class with some simple to use techniques for greater safety on the road. She’d been sharing them with us in the days prior to the accident.

    It’s a reminder to us all, perhaps, to consider that just because you have experience at something that you don’t have room to grow or learn. As a spiritual mentor, I see this all the time when a client says, “But I’ve been working on myself for such a long time! Why is this still coming up?!” Ah, another layer of learning and personal evolution.

    Thanks for you educational post.
    Tambra Harck

    • Donna McCord

      Thank you so much for sharing your story, Tambra. Thank goodness your mom was not badly hurt! It does sound as though the young man just didn’t realize how much space he should have left between his vehicle and one in front of him, which I see adults making that same mistake all the time, too. It is also possible that his brakes were not in the best condition, either. We also see cars come in here that have never been here before and we are amazed at the lack of maintenance! How wonderful that your parents took the time to attend a class to hone their driving skills — and how great such a class was being offered! You are right on about how we can all use refresher classes on just about anything we have learned before, but most people don’t think about doing that.

  • http://irene-turner.com Irene Turner

    I’m not a mother, but am a concerned auntie, grandmother and friend to youngsters who are or will learn how to drive. Thanks for this info, I’ll pass it on to their parents. Now all we need to do is get them to stop texting and using their phones while driving and we’re good to go!

    • Donna McCord

      So glad this can be useful to you, Irene; and yes, the texting and cell phone thing in the cars is a recipe for disaster. Even with the blue tooth set up, it can still be very distracting both for kids and for adults! Your friends are fortunate to have you in their lives willing to share information that could make a real difference in their safety.

  • http://www.imagedevelopmentgroup.com/speakers.html Lisa Ann Landry

    What an excellent idea. I never would have thought of these schools on my own. Way back in the stone ages when I was in school, we had drivers ed. I don’t know if schools still offer that. Even if they do I think your recommendations for one of these school is an excellent idea. So if SUVs are not the safest for teen drivers then what are?

    Lisa Ann Landry
    Vibrating positive energy…what are you vibrating?
    http://www.imagedevelopmentgroup.com/speakers.html

  • Donna McCord

    Thank you, Lisa! I have seen how this class helped my daughter, and I highly recommend that any new driver, even experienced drivers, consider taking some kind of defensive driving course. As for what is safest for a new driver, a mid size car that is well-maintained and has good visibility for the driver — the most important thing is that the car is in good mechanical condition, good brakes, correct fluid levels, good tires, lights in working condition, etc.

  • http://www.studio-c-design.blogspot.com Carrie Hansen

    Donna,
    Great information! I’m a few years away from having my daughter drive (luckily!). I will definitely put her in a driver’s education class. When I learned to drive, my dad taught me to center the vehicle in the lane by lining it up with the hood ornament! No hood ornaments anymore!

    • Donna McCord

      Thank you, Carrie! I remember not being real excited about my daughter reaching driving age either! but having her take the defensive driving course put my mind more at ease. A driver ed class is great; see if you can also find a defensive or what they sometimes call Performance driving class also for her to learn what to do if the car loses traction of ice or wet pavement, or if a tire blows out, how to stop safely at high speeds, etc. My daughter had an experience driving on the freeway in the rain with a tire blowing out and what she had learned in the defensive class she took helped her stay safe and not lose control or flip over.

  • http://www.mywealthspa.com Darcie Newton

    Great tips…invaluable really. My oldest is still 3 years away from driving but just the other day she said she was going to get her license as soon as she could….it certainly brought the topic up front for me and made me think twice. I love the driving course idea. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Darcie Newton
    Discipline for profit, none for jammy zins, triple creme brie and memorable necklaces.
    http://www.mywealthspa.com

    • Donna McCord

      You are welcome, Darcie! I know my daughter was anxious to get her driver’s license, but I was not so anxious! Anyway, having her take a defensive driving course will give her more confidence and will also give you more peace of mind, too!

  • http://LYShome.com Jennifer Duchene

    Excellent advice as always Donna. And very timely, as my daughter is at the age to drive. Glad to know about safe vehicles and the useful idea of a defensive driving course. So glad you are nearby, I know exactly where to take the car we get her to check for safety!

    Jennifer Duchene
    Home Makeover Mixtress blending lifestyle and laughter
    http://LYShome.com

    • Donna McCord

      Thank you, Jen! You will be very happy to have your daughter take the defensive driving course. That would be wonderful if you decide to have us do a pre purchase inspection for you! You say you are nearby, where are you?? Would be so fun to meet you in person!

  • http://www.himalayanbootcamp.com Connie Umbenhower

    Your posts are always so informative Donna. I am sharing this particular one with my sister whose son is 15 and just getting ready to learn to drive. I know she will appreciate the information on the SUVs as well – that is quite interesting.

    • Donna McCord

      Thank you, Connie, and so glad that this was timely for your sister! I know she will be happy if she can get her son to take a defensive driving class, and it will provide more confidence for him as well.

  • http://www.brucebarone.com Bruce Barone

    Another fascinating post.

    And, truth be told, I had no idea that an SUV is not a good idea.

    Anyway, my son, who is in college, drives a Honda Accord; my daughter, who is a physical therapist drives a Pontiac Vibe.

    • Donna McCord

      Thanks, Bruce! For SUVs, alot has to do with the center of gravity being so high; the Subaru has a lower center of gravity which makes it less likely to roll over. Hondas are great! I personally am not that familiar with the Pontiac Vibe…I think they had a recall on sticky accelerator pedals for the newer models, but I also think it was around the same time everyone was panicking about the Prius, so not sure it was a serious problem.

  • http://www.susan-berland.com Susan Berland

    Wow, what great information. I had no idea and would have thought an SUV would be great for a teen driver. Thank you for clearing that up and providing such valuable information.

    • Donna McCord

      You are very welcome, Susan! I would have thought so, too…the bigger, the better, right? Not always!

  • http://twitter.com/floridaadi Florida ADI School

    Taking Defensive driving course is must for the tee drivers. Safety should be first concern while buying vehicle for teen drivers.

    Hardship License Florida
    http://www.florida-adi.com/hardship-license.html

    • Donna McCord

      Thank you for confirming our recommendations!

  • http://www.coopers-driving-school.com/driving_school_bromsgrove.html driving lessons Bromsgrove

    It is  important to learn the principles, theory and practice of defensive driving before you hit the road or get behind the wheel. In fact, the very name of the idea evokes its nature. it is defensive designed to protect or deflect. Defensive driving is defined as driving to save lives, time, and money.

  • http://www.bes.co.uk plumbing supplies

    Teenagers needs cars that are easy to maneuver. Parents must always remember to consider an expert’s opinion before giving your daughter or son a new car. 

  • http://twitter.com/tlsaecourse Florida Permit Test

    Parents should prefer to buy a car with all safety features to their teens.

    Florida Permit Test