Maybe you’ve seen the billboards. These billboards are meant to be a wake-up call to parents – if you serve alcohol to underage individuals you will serve time.
This guide is all about keeping our kids alive during a vulnerable period of their lives. But research has shown that many teens are motivated to drive safely not by fear of getting in a crash, but by fear of a ticket. When it comes to death, teens have a sense of immortality, the "it-can't-happen-to-me" syndrome. But they understand very readily the high likelihood of getting a speeding ticket.
Indeed, families with teenagers may face an economic disaster if the teen driver receives a citation. One major speeding ticket (i.e. 20 mph over the limit) could cost as much as $3,000 in increased premiums and forfeited safe-driving discounts over the three years it remains on the teen’s record.
"One major ticket for speeding could cost as much as $3,000 in increased premiums and forfeited safe-driver discounts over the three years it remains on the teen's record."
If the infraction is considered "reckless," the entire family's insurance can be canceled as "high risk." The entire family could face a crisis due to a teen's momentary lapse of judgment. Parents should remember that a teen’s infraction can cause the parent to lose safe-driver discounts, because the household is considered jointly. So make sure your teen driver recognizes the high cost of a speeding ticket, both in terms of fines, points on the license and increased insurance costs. Teens who share the cost of insurance will appreciate this message even more, so it's a good idea to make your teen pay some or all of their own insurance premium, even if you cover all their other auto-related costs.
Indeed, families with teenagers may face an economic disaster if the teen driver receives a citation. One major speeding ticket (i.e. 20 mph over the limit) could cost as much as $3,000 in increased premiums and forfeited safe-driving discounts over the three years it remains on the teen’s record.
"One major ticket for speeding could cost as much as $3,000 in increased premiums and forfeited safe-driver discounts over the three years it remains on the teen's record."
If the infraction is considered "reckless," the entire family's insurance can be canceled as "high risk." The entire family could face a crisis due to a teen's momentary lapse of judgment. Parents should remember that a teen’s infraction can cause the parent to lose safe-driver discounts, because the household is considered jointly. So make sure your teen driver recognizes the high cost of a speeding ticket, both in terms of fines, points on the license and increased insurance costs. Teens who share the cost of insurance will appreciate this message even more, so it's a good idea to make your teen pay some or all of their own insurance premium, even if you cover all their other auto-related costs.
