New teen drivers and their parents: what they know and what they expect.

OBJECTIVES: To assess teens' and parents' knowledge of teen driver safety and to compare teens' and parents' expectations about learning to drive and acquiring a driver's license.

METHODS: A convenience sample of 613 Connecticut teens enrolled in commercial driving schools and one of their parents completed self-administered surveys.

RESULTS: Significant differences between teens and parent expectations were noted in practice driving with a parent, driving to approved destinations, unlimited vehicle access, curfew, and teen passenger limits.

CONCLUSIONS: The discrepancy between teens' and parents' expectations indicates the need to persuade and empower parents to manage their teen's driving experience more rigorously.