Aug 7 2024 | Zayouna Admin

Teenage Drivers and Car Accidents: Tips for Parents

Getting a driver’s licence is a rite of passage in Ontario. The freedom and independence of driving is something that most teenagers look forward to for years leading up to their 16th birthday. Yet, for parents letting their teen take the reins of the family car comes with its own excitement, worries, and concerns.

In Ontario, teen drivers are responsible for a disproportionate amount of accidents. Parents are justified in their worries and play an important role in helping their children develop into safe drivers. In this article, we will cover teen driver statistics, Ontario teenage driving laws, and tips to help parents guide their teens toward safe driving habits.

Ontario Teen Driver Statistics and Hazards

Being a safe driver requires experience that teen drivers don’t yet possess. Gaining skills driving in traffic, at night, and in varied weather conditions takes time and without experience, creates hazards for everyone on the road. Teenagers also have biology working against them. Our prefrontal cortices don’t fully develop until around 25 years old, making teenagers more prone to risky behaviours.

As a result car accidents continue to be the number one cause of death among young people in Ontario. Not all hazards are explained by lack of experience or development, though. Here are some sobering statistics about teen and young driver accidents:

• Alcohol is involved in roughly 55% of fatal car accidents involving people between 16 and 25 years old.
• A survey by the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health reported that 24% of students surveyed had been a passenger in a vehicle with a driver who had been drinking, and 16% had been in a vehicle with a driver who had been using drugs.
• In recent years, distracted driving has challenged impaired driving as the most dangerous behaviour. Drivers who are distracted are 8x more likely to get into an accident, and distracted driving is involved in roughly 20% of female teen driver fatalities.
• Speeding is involved in roughly 25% of fatal car accidents. Young drivers are the most likely group to speed and teens are more likely to speed when other teens are in the car.

Ontario’s Graduated Drivers Licensing System and Ontario Teenage Driving Laws

Becoming familiar with Ontario’s graduated licensing is one of the most effective ways that parents can get involved to help promote safe driving for their teenagers. Parents can help facilitate learning within Ontario’s licensing framework and delay progression until the driver is ready.

In Ontario, new drivers progress from the G1 to the G2 to the full G licence, earning more freedom at each level. Let’s briefly go through the restrictions specific to each licence level. 

G1 Licence Rules and Restrictions

Getting your G1 is as easy as passing a written test. Studying well for the test not only saves the risk of having to pay for a retest but sets new drivers up for success as they apply the rules they learn to driving on Ontario roads. 

Drivers with their G1 are subject the the following restrictions:

• Drivers must be accompanied by a full G licenced driver. Accompanying drivers must have had their licence for 4 years, be in the front passenger seat, and be within Ontario’s blood alcohol level requirements.
• G1 drivers must have zero alcohol or cannabis in their system. No exceptions.
• Must be at least 16 years of age.
• All passengers must wear properly working seatbelts.
• No driving between 12 am and 5 am
• No driving on 400 highways or expressways
• Can only drive G-class vehicles

G2 Licence Rules and Restrictions

After one year with their G1 (or 8 months if they completed a driver’s education course) new drivers can sign up for a driving test to get their G2. The G2 offers more freedom, including the ability to drive without an accompanying driver and the ability to drive on all highways. However, G2 drivers still face the following restrictions:

• Zero alcohol or cannabis in your system
• All passengers must wear a seatbelt
• For the first six months, you may only have one passenger under the age of 19 between midnight and 5 am unless accompanied by a fully licensed driver with 4+ years of experience.
• For the second six months can only have three passengers under the age of 19 between midnight and 5 am unless accompanied by a fully licensed driver with 4+ years of experience.

G Licence Rules and Restrictions

After one year with a G2 licence, teen drivers can sign up for the driving test to get their full G licence. The G licence lets drivers independently drive any G-class vehicle without special restrictions. The only difference for teen drivers with a G licence is that until 21 years old, drivers must have a blood alcohol concentration of 0%, not the 0.05% allowed for adult drivers.

Tips For Parents To Promote Safe Driving Habits In Toronto

Delay Licensure

Becoming familiar with Ontario’s licensing system is just the first step. Parents should assess their teen’s driving abilities and delay progression until they are ready and able to drive safely to the next level.

Set and Enforce Clear Limits

Especially early on, set clear in-house restrictions for your teen. These restrictions may include things like limits on driving at night, limits on who they can drive with, and how far they can drive. As your teen demonstrates better habits, restrictions can be lifted accordingly.

Facilitate and Track Practice Time

Practice is essential to becoming a safe driver. In driver’s education courses, your teen will only get 10 hours of in-car training. It is recommended that they have at least 50 hours of driving practice before taking the G2 test. 

Help your teen get the practice they need by facilitating practice driving time at different times of day and in differing driving conditions. Consider tracking this driving practice so you know how much experience they have gained. 

Be a Good Role Model

Once your teen gets their G1 you may notice that they start to criticize your driving more. The best response is to be a good role model and to demonstrate safe driving behaviours.

Promote Open Communication

Create a space where your teen can openly communicate with you about their driving habits and especially about their drinking and drug use. This will allow you to open a dialogue about driving under the influence and to educate them about the dangers. 

Offer to be a designated driver if your teen needs one and try to foster a relationship where they don’t need to hide their alcohol use so that they are more likely to call you for a ride than get into a car with a driver who has been drinking. 

Teach Basic Car Maintenance and Accident Protocol

Teaching your teen basic maintenance like changing a tire, jumping a car, and topping up fluids can go a long way in helping them stay safe on the road. Similarly, making sure your teen knows what to do after an accident will help them be prepared if an accident does happen, so you have the required information to file insurance claims or tort claims if necessary. 

Know When to Contact a Car Accident Lawyer 

By fostering these safe habits, you can help your teen develop into a safe driver. However, accidents can still happen. If your teen gets in an accident you may want to have the number for a Toronto car accident lawyer handy. If someone is seriously injured in the accident or if you disagree with the insurance company’s fault assessment, it’s important to reach out to a car accident lawyer promptly.

The lawyers at Zayouna Law Firm are here to support you and your teen if you have to navigate the legal complexities of challenging an insurance decision or filing a car accident claim. We offer free initial consultations to all prospective clients, we offer free initial consultations, so feel free to contact us to discuss your case.