Safety Most Important In Teen's First Car

Your teenager just got their driver's license.

As a parent, your first thought might be to lock your son or daughter in their room until they're 21 (if you could get away with it, it'd be closer to 40). Obviously that's not an option, but there are steps you as a parent can take to ensure your teenager is as safe as possible on the road.

The biggest step is buying your teen's first car, but be prepared for the drama. As a parent, you might forget just how important that first car is and your teen might forget who's going to pay for the car.

According to CarSmart.com's Teen Driver's Buying Guide, the two of you can find middle ground.

Safety First

Getting that driver's license signifies freedom, but it also signifies new responsibilities. Most teen drivers take this responsibility seriously, but their driving inexperience makes them the age group with the highest crash risk of any age group for traffic fatalities.

The sad truth is that motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 cause of death among young Americans ages 15-20. The problem is worst among 16-year-olds, who have the most limited driving experience and an immaturity that often results in risk-taking behind the wheel, e.g., 16-year-olds are involved in 78 percent of driver error accidents, 39 percent of speeding accidents, and 52 percent of single vehicle accidents.

As a parent, your job is to ensure your teen driver not only knows how to drive, but is in a car that will protect your teen and make it easier for them to avoid an accident.

Newer models offer more safety features, have better structural crash protection, and they're also less likely to have stalling problems or other component failures that might cause a lack of control for inexperienced drivers.

Other safety features to look for include anti-lock brakes, side air bags, tire pressure monitoring systems, and electronic stability control. Also try to find a good anti-lock braking system. If the best car in your price range does not come with ABS, make sure the disc brakes are large and high quality.

Check the suspension and ensure the car can be easily maneuvered, and has good acceleration and nimble steering quality. Even more important is visibility, in the front and back. Inexperienced drivers must be able to see all the car's blind spots.

Avoid high-performance sports cars -- the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's statistics show that younger drivers are more likely to be in a speed-related crash in such vehicles. The teen driver needs some power for safe passing and merging, but they don't need a sports car to do it.

Sports cars are built for fast driving and a teen driver will be tempted to test that power, but because of their lack of experience, they're less likely to be able to maneuver out of a potential accident.

It's also a good idea to put the teen driver in a car with an automatic transmission. Odds are good they'll be distracted by eating, texting, talking on a cell phone, talking to passengers, trying to find directions, or tuning the radio while driving. That on top of worrying about shifting in traffic could fluster a new driver.

Also avoid small cars and SUVs -- small cars don't always provide its occupants protection like the larger cars do, especially in collisions with other larger vehicles. SUVs have a higher center of mass -- an inexperienced driver combined with abrupt maneuvers or distraction from friends could lead to a rollover accident.

First cars under $20,000 to consider include the Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen GTI, Ford Focus SVT, Mini Cooper, Honda Accord, Honda CR-V and the Hyundai Tiburon.

First cars under $15,000 to consider include the Nissan Sentra, Chevrolet S-10, Chevrolet Cavalier and Toyota Corolla.

Adaptable, Practical

There's a good chance your teen will have their first car for five or six years, maybe longer. Look for a car that will adapt with them and their changing lifestyle. Convertibles are fun in the summer, but don't have much cargo space and that'll be important when they're moving their stuff into a dorm room. And large gas-guzzling SUVs can bust tight student budgets.

First cars under $20,000 to consider include the Volkswagen Jetta, Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, PT Cruiser, Hyundai Sante Fe, Pontiac Vibe and the Volkswagen Beetle.

First cars under $15,000 to consider include the Kia Sportage, Toyota Matrix, Ford Focus and the Honda Civic.

Style, Substance

There are a lot of good cars on the road today that have both style and substance.

First cars under $20,000 to consider include the Acura RSX, Dodge Stratus, Volkswagen Beetle, Ford Focus SVT, Mazda Protege5, Mini Cooper and the Hyundai Tiburon.

First cars under $15,000 to consider include the Nissan Sentra, Mitsubishi Lancer, Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla and Toyota Matrix.

Compromise Might Be Needed

It's unlikely you and your teen are going to agree on a first car, so compromise might be in order. Here are a few suggested compromises -- if you, the parent, get these, your teen driver might just get the car they want:

• The teen driver must attend a safety driving school, then take refresher courses.
• Just one speeding ticket and it's over.
• Just one speeding ticket in a school zone and it's really over.
• "Red Asphalt" will be mandatory viewing before every date.
• Limit your teen's distractions, such as no aftermarket stereo system.
• Your teen must change the oil and flush the radiator at least once, plus they must keep scheduled maintenance up to date.
• Your teen pays the insurance premium.
• Your teen will not drive with friends at night until he or she is at least 18.

When buying a car for your teen, the car's safety is important, but it's equally important to make sure the person behind the wheel is a safe and responsible driver.