All teen drivers are at higher risk because they lack driving experience and judgment that only come with time and driving.

Managing the vehicle is only the beginning of learning to drive – decision making and judgment come with experience over time.

Teens with their own vehicles are at greater risk because they drive more and have fewer restrictions placed on them.

Even “responsible” friends in the car can be distracting. Crash risks are nearly doubled with one passenger – and go up further with each extra passenger.

All young passengers are potentially distracting and at risk with a new driver – siblings are not safer.

The GDL program is good, but is just a MINIMUM. Strict parent-imposed driving restrictions that go beyond the laws, increase teen safety.

Nearly all parents DO set limits, and teens expect limits. The stronger the limits, the better the safety outcomes.

About Checkpoints

Program Goals

Injuries from motor vehicle crashes are the #1 cause of death for teens in the United States. The main reason driving is more dangerous for teens, is that they are young and not experienced at driving unsupervised.

Many parents struggle with wanting to let their teens start driving unsupervised and knowing how to keep their teens as safe as possible when they are not in the vehicle with them.

The goals of the Checkpoints Program are to help parents by:
  • Giving parents facts about teen driving safety [more info]
  • Showing them things they can do to make their teen’s driving safer [more info]
  • Giving them an interactive parent-teen driving agreement so they can set clear guidelines for their teen’s early driving and make changes as their teen progresses [Create an Agreement]

Program History

The Checkpoints Program was developed by Dr. Bruce Simons-Morton of the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. It has been tested by parents and teens in several U.S. states, including Michigan. [more info]

This website was developed with support from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.