Welcome to AAA StartSmart

AAA StartSmart is designed to help families get through the crucial period when teens are learning to drive safely during their first year or two of licensed driving. Learn more

AAA DriverZed - A Fun Video-Game-style Learning Tool

Experience the thrill of driving on your PC. Full-screen, full-motion, real-life interactive video puts you in the driver’s seat. You’ll use your eyes and brain to spot trouble before it happens. Spot all the risks and handle them right, and you’ll score a perfect "Zero". But watch out — it’s harder than you think. Learn more

Teaching Your Teens To Drive

Is a workbook and DVD designed to help parents teach their children how to drive. Topics covered include basic vehicle control, positioning, speed adjustment, passing, visual search habits, freeway driving, night driving and much more. Learn more

Study Shows Young Teens At Risk in Crashes

A new AAA study shows that teens as young as 12 years old are at risk for crash related injury or death and parents underestimate the risk and allow their children to ride with novice drivers. Learn more or read the report

Research Shows Teen Driver Laws Effective

A new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study has found that 16-year-old drivers are involved in 38 percent fewer fatal crashes and 40 percent fewer crashes resulting in injuries if their state has a graduated driver license program with at least five of seven components. Read the report

AAA Calls on Parents to 'Keep the Keys'

In light of new research, AAA is challenging parents to 'keep the keys' from their teen drivers until a parent-to-teen driving agreement is signed. Read more

Tips For Parents

Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens.

If your teen is not yet driving:

• Your child is safest not riding with a teen driver. If your teen must do so, it should be for necessary trips, without other teen passengers, not at night, and with a responsible driver.
• Help your teen recognize dangerous driving conditions, such as if the driver has been drinking, is tired, has multiple teen passengers, or is otherwise unsafe.
• Talk about being a safe, responsible passenger. Your teen should know to wear a seat belt; refrain from distracting the driver by talking, loud music, or horseplay; and to speak up if the driver is being unsafe.

If your teen is now or will soon be learning to drive:

• Learn your state licensing process then compare it to what AAA and other safety groups suggest. Most states fall short of what safety experts consider best practice.  New teen drivers need lots of practice, measured in both hours of driving and months of having a learner’s permit.
• Learn about parent-teen driving agreements so that you will be ready to use one with your teen when he or she is ready to drive. Work with your teen so that the agreement is not a surprise and is an expected part of the process.
• Select a quality driving school. Professional instructors can provide comprehensive training that addresses the mistakes new drivers are most likely to make.
• Talk about passenger safety. The safety tips for younger passengers hold true for high school students riding with their driving schoolmates.

If your teen is allowed to drive alone:

• Review your state’s graduated driver licensing process and suggestions by safety experts on night driving and teen passenger limits.
• Establish or review your parent-teen driving agreement. Agreements are meant to change with time, rewarding the teen with additional privileges for safe driving.
• Rules about seat belts, drunk drivers, and distracted drivers remain especially important. As teens get older, they become increasingly mobile and their exposure to dangerous conditions increases. 

AAA has been instrumental in helping pass laws to protect teen drivers. Here are the existing laws:

Washington State:

• Washington GDL Law
• Washington Driver Guides

Idaho State:

• Idaho GDL Law
• Idaho Driver's Manual