Graduated driver licensing laws were created to give young motorists plenty of time to get used to the road before they find themselves in risky situations. Often, these good intentions fall short, as many teen drivers bypass the regulations without the knowledge of their parents. In fact, according to a recent survey from State Farm, many parents and their teen drivers are not on the same page when it comes to GDL programs. 

The study found that there are several areas where parents are not informed as to their teen's driving habits. For instance, about 69 percent of adults think their child always follows a nighttime driving curfew, when in reality, only 48 percent of teens say they almost always follow this law. Similarly, approximately 70 percent of parents believe their children adhere to rules regarding the number of passengers they can have in a car. Only 43 percent of young motorists say they always follow this restriction, which can contribute to unsafe situations and distracted driving. 

"Over the past two decades, some form of GDL has been passed in every state, and teen crash fatalities have dropped substantially, but more still needs to be done to save lives," said Kendall Pole, chairman of the Governors Highway Safety Association. "Parents can play a key role in enforcing and monitoring GDL laws and helping teens become safe drivers. Parents should not rely solely on GDL to instill good driving habits – they have to step up as well." 

Parents looking to keep their teens safe will want to make sure they are investing in a car with plenty of safety features. To do so without breaking the bank, head down to NJ State Auto Auction. There you can find a wide variety of CARFAX-certified cars, trucks and vans that could be the ideal affordable investment for you and your teen.