Mom’s Support Blog

My son got his permit on the first day it’s ever really  snowed in Georgia! I had previously  promised him he could drive home from the DMV-( DDS in Ga.) Okay, so I broke my first promise! I called his Dad at work and made him rush home- Donnie was ready to drive- it was his 15th birthday, it’s snowing - and you need to take him out on the road- now! This teen was like attached to the road and loved being behind the wheel. After that first day, he would awake whenever he heard the jingle of the  car keys and insist on driving me. I was a wreck- Please let me just drive myself to the grocery store!! I need to relax!!

I felt like an addict- I would awake early and sneak out of the house- (oh so quitely opening the garage door) so I could drive myself around on my errands-  only to find him chasing me down the street - “Mom, I’ll drive you!”

After 3 years of studying teen driver statistics, we discovered the #1 reason for teen car crashes was inexperience. How could the teen get more driving experience and be safe at the same time? Parents were  so nervous teaching their teen how to drive- with folks honking and tailgating, it was a disaster situation for everyone. Thus, the Caution-Newly Licensed car magnet was born.

This magnet is cool- not like a Student Driver sign. It alerts surrounding drivers to be cautious, courteous and patient. Unless we want to keep burying our kids, we need to help them get the real road experience they need and protect them while they are on the road. Identifying teen drivers is the law in many countries. The State of Georgia is leading the campaign in this country. Soon I will be posting my own personal experiences of sitting in the passenger seat while my 15 year old son is driving. It has been a WILD ride for both of us.

Jennifer Taylor in South Carolina says…

Thank you so much for creating these magnets.  My daughter, Morgan, recently received her permit and it has been very hard for me as a parent.  It is amazing, in order to start driving you only need to take a written test and pass it!  WOW!  Hands on training is really scary!  (Now, when I received my permit the process didn’t seem so strange - I counted down the days.)  It’s funny how your perception on ideas change when you are the parent!

Last night, I let Morgan drive in the rain, for the first time.  I was reminding her about needing extra space between cars and driving slower while it was raining. Not long into our drive, a car came up on her so fast and rode right on her tail.  In response, Morgan became really nervous.  I wanted to scream out to the car behind us, “GIVE HER SOME SPACE - THIS IS HER FIRST TIME DRIVING IN THE RAIN!!!”  That’s when I thought about creating a magnet to make other drivers aware.  So thank you for doing this for me.

I am placing my order and getting several for Morgan’s friends.

Alan in Connecticut says…

I have just read the article about you on eGMTech.com and loved it.  It’s a great idea.

I travel internationally for business and saw a sticker on cars in Japan.  It is a green and yellow symbol that is on the back of a car like your sticker (magnet).  When I asked what it was, I was told it is for people who just get their licenses.  Back when I asked, I said then it was a good idea.

You might want to find out more about that and how they passed the laws to get it done there and that might help pass the law here.

Again, great idea and good luck.

Kiki in the United Kingdom says…

I think it is admirable that you are taking on this idea with new drivers.  In the United Kingdom, EVERYONE of any age has to display Learner plates before they pass their test. It is a national law.( we call them L plates and they are just Red on a white square. They cost about 1GBP for a pair, one for the back and one for the front. They have to be displayed exactly where the law requires so as not to obscure views)  The provisional( learner) licence is not allowed until you are 17 years old. I started to learn when I was 25.

Patty Says…

I saw your billboard and WOW- I ordered a magnet right away for my daughter. She just got her license and I’ve been worried sick about her safety. Please people- she has the magnet on- so don’t tailgate her and give her some room. I am going to use it when I go to Florida next week for Spring Break. The traffic is always horrible on I75 and this will keep people off my rear end. I noticed it also keeps trucks from barreling down on us. That is so frightening!

Frederick Says…

I saw your billboard on the highway and it really got my attention. I ordered a magnet the same day and have been using it for driving lessons with my permit licensed son.
What a difference it has made! I agree with the other comments. It is dangerous for parents to be out there in traffic with our kids. Why aren’t these car magnets offered at the DMV or a store? Would be a great idea to make it a law for all new drivers. Sure would help decrease these fender benders.

Phil Says…

I was following a car going about 20 mph. I thought “what the heck is going on in that car”? After I finally was able to pass this crazy driver, I realized it was a teen driver taking a lesson with their parent. They were going so slow, they could have easily caused an accident. Parents, put the magnet on the car, so the rest of us know you are doing a drivers lesson. We promise to be so much kinder and not rear-end you.

Yes, I agree, they should make these magnets a law!

Ed Says…

I agree with Mary and Frank. I had no idea there were THAT many teen drivers on our roads.
Parents, identify your kids,so I know who they are and can keep away from them.
If you put the magnet on, I won’t hit them. But it’s also your responsibility to let the rest of us know they are just learning how to drive.

Nichole, I’ll send you the $10.00 if you put the magnet on your kid’s car!

Frank Says…

I agree with Mary. Nichole, if you can’t spend $10.00 to save your kid’s life- then they shouldn’t be driving in the first place. The magnet also let’s the rest of us know he’s a new driver and to protect ourselves from him.

Same thing with Driver’s Education. If you don’t spend the money to train your kid properly before you send him out on the road with the rest of us-then he shouldn’t be driving. Why are you looking for someone else to pay to protect your kid? Isn’t that your responsibility? Speaking of responsiblity, how many hours have you spent in the car driving with your kid? The law states at least 40, but that’s a joke. These kids need at least 200 hours practice time with their folks before they are ready to drive alone.

I was in a crash with a teen driver. The crash cost me a bundle. The kid wasn’t paying attention.
If he had the magnet on his car, I would have known to stay way back before he slammed on his brakes going through a GREEN light.

Mary Says…

Nichole, we agree with you. Who do you think should pay for them? Sponsors? The Dept. of Highway Safety? The insurance companies? The Dept. of Driver Services?

There are over 250,000 new teen drivers in Georgia every year. The average cost of a teen driver crash is over $5,000.( this includes minor fender benders) If your teen is in a car crash their insurance premiums almost double.  Most insurance is about $100.00 per month to add a teen driver. Much more if the teen has their own car.

The price of the magnet is about $10.00 and lasts 2 years. Pretty good deal if it prevents a crash or better yet if it saves their life.

Ask your insurance agent about paying for the magnet.

Nicole Says…

With the economy like it is, if these are so good they should be free to teen drivers.

A Dad in Cobb County Says…

My son is driving with the magnet on our car and has had no accidents so far.  Please do what you can to make this a law. Most people do not realize the 16 year old crash rate is 184% higher than that of a 17 year old. Those aren’t very good odds!

A Mom Says…

My son has driven for a year with the magnet on his car. It has certainly provided us both with peace of mind. Other drivers do respect the magnet and keep a safe distance.

Next week, my son gets his license and will be driving on his own.

He has attended the PRIDE program -a free parent/teen 2 hour course offered in most communities by the Dept. of Highway Safety. He attended a 4 hour course on hazard recognition sponsored by Toyota and completed a full Driver’s Ed. class.

We have clocked about 200 hours of practice driving time.

Even though we’ve gone beyond the State’s requirements, I know he is still at high risk for an accident. We’ll continue to insist he use the magnet,but please folks- slow down and protect my son and the other new drivers out there.

A New Mom Says…

Actually, my baby is 15 and she just got her permit.That is all she really wanted for Christmas. You may have more traffic in Georgia, but in the midwest-we have traffic, rain, and snow. We’ve been out driving 4 times and the Newly Licensed magnet does keep people from tailgating. My daughter has 3 older friends that have all had accidents and it was such a hassle for their parents. I’m telling all my friends about this great cheap product that can give parents some peace of mind and help keep their teens safe.

Have a Merry Christmas and please drive slowly out there. There are new drivers everywhere.

Simona Georgescu Says…

This is absolutely great. I am hoping that this decal/magnet will become mandatory for ANY age new driver. This should be mandatory for the first year of driving after getting the license. In my country of origin, all new drivers had to have a special sticker (black exclamation mark inside a yellow circle). I hope to see this becomes the law in all 50 states.

Another Worried Mom Says…

Wow! What a no brainer! I picked up the brochure at the Driver Services office and was almost hit twice on my way home. I ordered the magnet and wouldn’t let my son drive until we received it. I agree they should offer the magnets at the Driver’s license offices.

Does anyone at the state level understand how dangerous it is for these kids to be driving? They need to get tougher laws and do alot more to protect our teenagers. I hear alot of talk, but I’d like to see more action.

Stacey Says…

I am the parent of a teen driver. My son recently got his license. I express to him to drive with caution and at same time remain alert of not only the way he drives,but also of others. This is my first time hearing about this campaign and I know that is is a wonderful thing that you are doing. I just want to say you have saved many lives and pray that God keeps blessing your campaign and each of the families.

A Teenage Driver Says…

We have to have a Newly Licensed car magnet on our car to park in the school parking lot.
This is probably a good idea as a few kids have died in our school and that was pretty awful. I think that most new drivers are pretty careful because we just had driver’s education and know the risks. But, some of the older drivers are crazy out there. If my car gets smashed up, then I have no way to get to work or school. At first I didn’t like it but I can see how it will help.

A Mom Says…

The right of passage- a teen with their permit and a Mom with a headache. Yesterday we had just hit the road and gone a few blocks when a car went speeding through a stop light and almost hit us.
Fortunately, my son slammed on the brakes, and the car behind us was following way behind (because we had the magnet on) and had plenty of time to stop. We avoided 2 accidents!

Thanks for the magnet!

Another Mom Says…

Just had to tell you this. My daughter just finished her first lesson on the highway. I had been putting this off- sort of like having a tooth pulled. All was going well until she was trying to change lanes. She was so nervous. She put her blinker on and a semi- truck slowed down, flashed his lights at her and waved her over. Later he passed us and gave us a smile and a thumbs up sign.

I know he noticed the magnet and was giving us the royal treatment. It just made us both feel good.
Thank you for the magnet. We won’t drive without it.

Alan Brown Says…

My name is Alan Brown and I am the chairman of the Joshua Brown Foundation and author of Joshua’s Law in Georgia. We work to develop 21st Century Driver’s Education in addition to advocating its return to our nation’s high schools.

The foundation and I support Susan and her magnet campaign, as we believe it will make our roads and newly licensed driver’s safer.

Mom Of Permit Driver Says…

I have this magnet. It is terrific. People in Atlanta are really so kind and thoughtful when they see us coming! Maybe they are just protecting themselves, but they do stay back and give us some space. There is so much traffic here- everone is afraid to drive!

Just found out that Kennesaw residents are getting them for free. Way to go Kennesaw- would like to see the whole State get them for free and make it the law!

UGA - GTIPI Says…

GTIPI has added links to NewlyLicensed.org to our website and will be including the information card in our free, two-hour parent-teen driving class Georgia Teens Ride with P.R.I.D.E. offered around the state. http://www.ridesafgeorgia.org