DO YOU NEED A "YOUNG DRIVER" STRATEGY?

Hardly a week goes by without news of some horrific motor vehicle accident. More often than not these accidents involve young people. Statistically youthful drivers are involved in more accidents than any other segment of the population. Automobile accidents are the leading cause of accidental death among young people.

Not surprisingly insurance rates are greater for young drivers, especially males, than any other group. As a parent or guardian, what can you do to lessen the chance your child will be involved in an automobile accident? How can you reduce the cost of your child's automobile insurance?

Let's start with the basics. First, make sure your child attends and successfully completes a credible driver training school. Encourage your child to develop good driving habits. Stress the need for the young driver to concentrate upon driving. The inexperienced driver may have difficulty doing this if his attention is divided between the road, the radio or CD, and a car full of friends. Common sense tells us that lack of or divided concentration contributes to accidents.

In Maryland, an adult must always accompany a new driver who is operating a motor vehicle while on a learner's permit. Use this time to instruct your child on the importance of driving at a safe speed, of obeying all traffic control devices, of refraining from drinking and driving and of being courteous to fellow drivers. As you know, good and safe driving involves experience, patience and maturity, among other attributes. Impart these to your child.

Now that you've trained your child in all facets of good and safe driving, what can you do to lessen the high cost of their automobile insurance?

Full time students can reduce the costs of their insurance by maintaining a "B" average in high school or while attending a full time college or university. Insurance carriers often provide reductions for safe driving records, for both multiple line and multiple vehicle families.

For example, State Farm, the country's largest insurance company offers the "steer clear" discount. The primary requirements for this discount are for the youthful driver to have no at fault accident or moving violations during the past three years or for as long as he has been driving if less than three years; all drivers in the household have had no chargeable accidents during the past three years and that all private passenger vehicles in the household are insured by State Farm. As State Farm points out, their discounts are cumulative, so the more discounts that apply, the greater the savings. Other insurance companies have similar programs.

With time and effort you can lessen the risk that your youthful driver will be involved in an automobile accident. You can also manage your insurance to reduce the costs of your child's insurance coverage.