The safest cars for teen drivers

For a parent, there is nothing scarier than giving a son or daughter a set of car keys for the first time. Once they're on their way, you won't be able to control their safety. Everything will depend on them. How is your…

For a parent, there is nothing scarier than giving a son or daughter a set of car keys for the first time. Once they're on their way, you won't be able to control their safety. Everything will depend on them.

When your boyfriend drives away from home, you may wonder if you've done enough to keep him safe. They took driving lessons and you spent many hours in the passenger seat teaching your child the rules of the road.

What else can a parent do?

Well, there is one thing. Before your teenager gets behind the wheel, you can make sure that the car he is driving is very safe and that he feels comfortable in it.

New cars vs used cars

There is no simple answer to the question of whether to buy a teenager a new or a used car. The advantage of the new car is that you have the option to add modern safety features such as front and side airbags, electronic stability control, lane departure and automatic braking - technologies that will help young drivers cope with dangerous situations.

Some new cars are equipped with technology that keeps the teen distracted and distracted from the road. New Hyundai and Ford models offer software apps that allow parents to block incoming text messages while their teens are driving. There are other apps like LifeBeforeText that block incoming text messages and phone calls while the car is in motion.

Technology will certainly add to the price of a new car. Throw in insurance, gas, and maintenance, and the total cost of owning a new car can get expensive.

Used cars have a much lower price tag but may not offer as many safety options. If you can find a later model car with some technical safety features, a used car might be your best bet.

Featured Vehicles

Below are the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recommendations for teens. They all recommend either small SUVs or medium-sized cars. Please note that the IIHS does not recommend small cars for teens and does not list them on its report.

small SUVs

• Honda Element (2007 — 2011)
• VW Tiguan (2009 - newer)
• Subaru Forester (2009 — newer)
• Mitsubishi Outlander Sport (2011 — newer)
• Hyundai Tucson (2010 - newer)

Medium size cars

• VW Jetta (2009 - newer)
• Volvo C30 (2008 - newer)
• Volkswagen Passat (2009-new)
• Ford Fusion (2010 - newer)
• Mercury Milan (2010-2011)

big cars

• Volvo S80 (2007 - newer)
• Ford Taurus (2010 — newer)
• Buick Lacrosse (2010 - newer)
• Buick Regal (2011 - newer)
• Lincoln MKS (2009 - newer)

Guide for new drivers

We've all heard the slogan "Speed ​​kills". It's one thing for an experienced driver to exceed the speed limit on the open road. Not much for a young driver. If you give your teenager a car with muscle under the hood, they will test it. Add to that a few friends goading the driver and you could be in for a disaster.

When looking for a car, choose a four-cylinder over a six-cylinder. The four-cylinder might not be as fun to drive, but it'll have enough head-spinning to keep up with traffic.

Horsepower is only part of the car buying equation. Teenage drivers need a bigger car to protect them from crashes. However, driving a car that is too big for their experience level is not good either. Find a car that provides enough weight to withstand the crash, but not so big that it's difficult to maneuver.

Go to technology

The cars come with a number of bells and whistles that make driving easier and safer. Anti-lock brakes, traction control and all-wheel drive are just some of the options available.

What options should you get? If money doesn't matter, buy a car with as many safety features as possible. Young drivers can use as much assistance as possible.

The gold standard for driver assistance options is Electronic Stability Control (ESC). ESC uses speed sensors and independent braking for each wheel to help the vehicle move in one direction.

On a slippery road or when the vehicle is turning, the front of the vehicle may point forward while the rear is in a skid. ESC will take control of the individual wheels and reduce engine power until the car is back under control.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that if every car was equipped with electronic stability control, up to 600,000 single car crashes could be avoided and up to 10,000 lives saved every year.

Be your own judge

Dad driving home in a new car and handing over the keys to the younger one is just fantastic for TV. No responsible parent will hand over a bunch of keys and immediately let their child go. Make your young driver part of the car buying process.

Take them with you and let them drive different vehicles. Not only do they test drive, you test drive your child. See how they react while driving different cars.

Have them step on the gas to see their reaction. If they look scared, then the car has too much horsepower. Ask them to change lanes to see if they can see the car well. Have them park in parallel to see how well they can estimate the size of the car. If there is any hesitation, it might be time to try a smaller car.

Parents instinctively know when their children feel safe. Having them as part of the buying experience will pay dividends for both of you.

You will be making many decisions for your children. It is possible that none of them will be as important as their first car. Let teens tell you by their actions which car they feel safe in. You will be less concerned knowing how easily your new driver has adapted to his new car.

And when you're ready to buy, AvtoTachki specialists can thoroughly check your new car for 150 points before buying. They will check the engine, tires, brakes, electrical system and other important parts of the car.