If you have a young son or daughter aged between 16 and 24 who has just started to learn to drive or who has less than 2 years driving experience, the risk of accident, whether fatal or not, is very high. In fact:

• According to the SAAQ, young drivers in the 16-24 age group represent the driver category most at risk when it comes to road accidents and seriousness of bodily injury and vehicle damage.
• Young drivers aged 16 to 19 are FOUR TIMES more likely to have an accident than older drivers.
• In the U.S., from 1993 to 2004, more than 57,000 adolescents died behind the wheel.
• Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among adolescents, well ahead of homicides and suicides.
• For ALL road accidents in 2006, 24% of drivers involved were aged between 16 and 24. Yet young drivers make up just 10% of ALL drivers…

Given that driving courses are not mandatory, the Apprentice contract is an excellent safe driving measure available to young drivers. It also offers reassurance to parents worried about risks to their children as well as to other motorists driving on our roads.

89% of adolescents agree that their parents are their main influence when it comes to safe driving habits. So it’s up to you to get involved! Young people are not particularly enthusiastic about wearing seatbelts, despite the fact that buckling up reduces the risk of death, when there is an accident, by more than 45%. Show them a good example.

A number of insurance companies have already shown their interest in offering discounts or grants to those of their insured customers who take part in the program.

Plus, Future Shop stores across Canada are also encouraging this initiative by offering a 10% discount on certain in-store products to families that participate in this program.

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