WE, THE PARENTS AND THE NEW DRIVER, AGREE on the following ground rules.
WE AGREE on the importance of trust between us, on the responsibilities we each have and the consequences associated with failure to fulfill our individual responsibilities.
This agreement between
Parent_1 and Parent_2, as PARENTS and
NEW DRIVER, the new driver hereby set forth what each expects of the other.
WE AGREE on the following truths:
- Driving a car can be dangerous to your health and happiness
- New drivers have, pro rata, significantly more accidents than experienced drivers.
- Driving is a privilege, not a right
- The use of a car is a privilege, not a right
- Parents take on an awesome financial responsibility when they allow a minor child to use a family vehicle
- Misuse of a vehicle by a minor can result in the destruction of the family's economic health through claims by injured parties that exceed the family's insurance coverage. Families can lose their home and life savings because of auto accidents.
Therefore, in recognition of the gravity and risks associated with granting the new driver certain driving privileges, the parties make the following stipulations:
- WE PARENTS will approach the process of teaching our new driver the appropriate skills with love, patience and support. We will accept that this is a learning process and do everything in our power to mentor and coach the new driver through each level of learning. We understand that our role is to encourage, not to criticize; to demonstrate, not to remonstrate. We will accept whatever pace the new driver achieves in developing skills at his pace and not try to rush the process. We recognize that this is a physical skill we are teaching and everyone develops at a different pace.
- WE AGREE that driving is a privilege linked to satisfactory behavior at home and school, including:
- Complying with Family rules.
- Completing duties at home properly and on time.
- Showing proper respect for my Parents, my Siblings, and others.
- Maintaining attendance, conduct and effort at school. Effort will be assessed based by monitoring the following tasks:
- Responsible for completeness and accuracy of daily planner
- Responsible for timely completion of all school related assignments
- Maintain an accurate and complete calendar that includes all school, sports, church, philanthropic and other events.
- Failure to abide by these behaviors will result in a suspension of driving privileges for 14 days.
- I, as the NEW DRIVER, agree to comply with the following courtesies and considerations:
- I will provide my parents with my destination and time of return.
- I will call home if I feel I will not make curfew.
- I will not make unnecessary side trips or stops.
- I will not drive outside of agreed upon territories our boundaries.
- I will not eat, drink or smoke in the car.
- I will not affix stickers or decals without permission.
- I, as the NEW DRIVER, agree to maintain status as a full time student enrolled in college preparatory classes with a grade point average of 3.4 or better, as reported by the School District, on a quarterly basis in order to maintain driving privileges. Should my grade point average fall below 3.4, I will be restricted to school-use-only driving events until such time as my grade point average returns to a 3.4 or better.
- WE PARENTS agree to provide a safe and reliable vehicle and required insurance coverage for our NEWDRIVER. The vehicle will remain property of the PARENTS, and the use of the vehicle is conditional upon adherence to the terms and the spirit of this Agreement.
- WE PARENTS agree to provide a monthly vehicle allowance of up to $120 for gas, oil, and routine vehicle maintenance. Adjustments to the monthly vehicle allowance amount may be made by the PARENTS at their sole discretion. Monthly vehicle allowance amounts will not be made during any driving suspension period.
- I, as the NEW DRIVER, agree that I will keep the car that I drive clean, inside and out and take care of gas, oil, and routine maintenance requirements. The following tasks are MY responsibility:
- Clear and/or inspect windows and mirrors every time the vehicle is driven.
- Inspect and/or check tire pressure every week.
- Check fluids at each fill-up.
- Wash vehicle and keep interior clean.
- Report any unusual performance to the PARENTS.
- I, as the NEW DRIVER, agree to the following rules governing the use of any vehicle:
- I will wear seat belts whenever the car is in motion and demand that all passengers do the same.
- I promise not to consume alcohol or drugs prior to driving the car. There is no such thing in this Agreement as "acceptable blood alcohol limit."
- There will be no alcohol or drugs permitted in the car at any time. I promise to eject anyone who violates this rule, or to call the PARENTS if I am unable to get the offenders to vacate the car.
- I will not make calls or text on my cell phone while driving. If it rings, I will pull over at a safe place before answering the call. I understand it’s OK if I miss the call.
- I will NOT engage in thrill-seeking, stunts or any form of racing.
- I will NOT conceal any tickets, warnings or collision from the PARENTS.
- I will NOT allow anyone else to drive the car.
- I will always treat pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorist with courtesy.
- Failure to observe these governance rules shall result in a suspension of driving privileges, which shall be determined solely at the discretion of PARENTS.
- WE JOINTLY AGREE that the NEW DRIVER may, at any time he deems appropriate, call the PARENTS to avoid either riding in or driving a car where alcohol or drugs are involved. We will pick you up or arrange for your safe transportation home, regardless of the situation or time of the call. WE AGREE that such an incident shall not affect future driving privileges.
- WE JOINTLY AGREE on the following rules regarding curfews:
- The NEW DRIVER will observe those specific limitations set forth in state law.
- The NEW DRIVER must be home with the car by 10:00 p.m. unless there is a specific agreement on an alternate time.
- As the NEW DRIVER demonstrates reliability, we agree to adjust these times to reflect greater freedom.
- Failure to observe curfew shall result in a suspension of driving privileges for 7 days.
- I, as the NEW DRIVER, agree that for the first six months of driving, there will no guest passengers in the car without specific consent from the PARENTS. Thereafter, for the next 6 months there will never be more than 2 people in the car with the NEW DRIVER. Failure to observe this rule without specific permission will result in a suspension of driving privileges for 30 days.
- I, as the NEW DRIVER, agree to accept financial responsibility for traffic violations as well as the difference in the insurance premium for as long as the premium is in effect. I agree to reimburse PARENTS for any increase in insurance rates resulting from traffic citations.
- I, as the NEW DRIVER, agree to accept financial responsibility for accidents and damages that I incur not covered by insurance including all deductibles. The NEW DRIVER is responsible for reimbursing PARENTS for accidents, damages, and insurance deductible amounts, as well as any increase in insurance rates resulting from at fault collisions.
WE JOINTLY AGREE that any traffic citation or parking ticket shall result in an immediate
suspension of driving privileges for no less than 10 days. Any “at fault” collision resulting in $500 damage or more shall result in a
suspension of 20 days.
The frequency and severity of infractions will also result in the loss of driving privileges for an agreed upon duration. This will be added to the violations as cited above:
- First Offense: 10 day suspension
- Second Offense: 20 day suspension
- Serious Violation: 45 day suspension
- Alcohol / Drug Use: Indefinite suspension
- WE JOINTLY AGREE that this family wants the NEW DRIVER to enjoy all the positive benefits of driving -- convenience, entertainment, occupation, recreation and independence. Therefore, we agree to jointly establish a program of ongoing rewards for the continued faithful performance of the NEW DRIVER. This may include increased use of family vehicles, reduction in curfew restrictions, credits against suspension periods and other rewards as we may agree.
WE PARENTS, as owners of the family vehicles, agree to serve as good role models in our own driving. We will encourage safe driving practices by our NEW DRIVER by fairly and consistently enforcing the terms of this Agreement:
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
The PARENTS
I, as the NEW DRIVER, by signing this Agreement, acknowledge that I understand my legal responsibilities and commitment to my family as a driver. I agree to abide by the terms of this Agreement and accept the forfeit of privileges if I fail to comply:
____________________________________
The NEW DRIVER
Date: __________________________