We wrote about this subject in your first newsletter and we continue to be concerned about young drivers. The first article is available on our Website at www.jessupsauto.com

When your teenager gets a license you experience both anxiety
and excitement. Your anxiety is well founded because driving accidents are the leading cause of death among American youth (over 6,000 fatalities in one year at the beginning of the decade). Your excitement is a result of your new-found freedom from having to play chauffeur every day.

At this point, you are loosing a measure of control and hoping that your influence as a parent will keep your young driver safe on the road.

Driving Instructor Rick Colson reminds us that 40% of teen drivers will have an accident in their first year of driving. Hundreds of thousands will experience breakdowns and serious mechanical failures that will leave them stranded. He suggests that every teen driver should have a minimum of six items in their vehicles at all times:

1. A cell phone with a 12-volt charger.
2. A complete first aid kit.
3. An emergency roadside kit with reflectors, flairs, tire inflator, etc.
4. A good weatherproof flashlight with fresh batteries.
5. A well-hidden credit card or stash of cash for emergencies.
6. A list of emergency procedures in case of an accident.

There is a lot of good information for parents of teenage drivers on the Web.

Here are just a few you may find helpful:
www.dmv.org/il-illinois/department-motor-vehicles.php
www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/programs/gdl.html
www.cyberdriveillinois.com/press/2006/august/060829d1.html
www.idfpr.com/DOI/autoinsurance/teen_auto.asp