The state of Colorado has set laws for young drivers. Parents need to determine their own family rules in addition to the state laws. Make sure both sets of rules are clear from the start.

Driving Rules for Your Family

Enforce the passenger restriction law.

Enforce seat belt use for your teen and all passengers.

Consider setting an earlier driving curfew - especially for the first six months. Set clear expectations, and ensure your teen obeys the state laws. In Colorado the curfew is between midnight and 5am, the first year.

Require a full report
Require information about each trip before your teen leaves, including where they are going, with whom and when they will return.

We strongly suggest that you require your teen driver to check in each time they drive by answering these questions:

1. Where are you going?
2. Who will your passengers be? (If allowed by GDL)
3. When will you return?
4. What is the weather expected to be like?
5. What route will you take?

Prohibit driving or riding with someone who has used alcohol or drugs.

Limit distractions.
New drivers really need to focus. Minimize things that might draw their attention away from driving. Consider prohibiting:
     Cell phone usage.
     Eating and drinking.
     Adjusting the radio/CD player.
     Passenger "horseplay."

Don't let your teen drive when they're tired. Sleep-related crashes are most common in young people. Teach your teen to recognize when he or she is too tired to drive.

Don't let your teen drive when they're overly emotional. Tell your teen not to drive when he or she is highly emotional, regardless of whether they are angry, happy or sad.

Check in! Purposeful Driving

Purposeful driving is driving for a reason to a specific destination. Teen driving is most dangerous when done without a specific purpose or destination.

Limiting your teen to purposeful driving will help keep them safe - as well as help cut down on pouring dollars down your gas tank.

The Parent-Teen Driving Agreement

Create a written contract with your teen, one that grants more driving privileges as your teen continues to follow rules and gain experience behind the wheel.

Set clear consequences for breaking the law and family rules, such as:

If your teen is untruthful about where she or he was going in the car ... they lose their driving privileges for _______ weeks/months.

Impose Consequences for Violations

The State of Colorado's laws and your family's rules are meant to keep your teen driver - and everyone else on the road - safe. But they won't work unless they are enforced. Law enforcement will do our part to enforce penalties for violations of state laws, but you must do yours. Enforce consequences for violations.

Next: Sample Parent/Teen Contract