A contract by and between _____________________________,
hereinafter known as the Teen, and __________________________________________________________, hereinafter
known as the Parent(s).
In order for the Teen to be an active and contributing member of the community, he/she frequently
requires transportation during times when other commitments make his/her Parent(s) unavailable. Further,
this period in the Teen's life is a training period when he/she can learn to exercise responsible judgment
by making increasingly difficult decisions. Therefore, the Parent(s) agree(s) to provide the Teen primary
access to a _____________________________ (description of vehicle).
Contract participants enter into this agreement to define the conditions under which the Teen may
maintain driving privileges. This contract also defines the conditions under which the Teen may count on the
Parent(s) for transportation and errand assistance.
The parties agree that these conditions are intended to help sustain the Teen's awareness of the risks
associated with driving. The conditions also remind the Parent(s) of their responsibilities in maintaining a
relationship of mutual respect and two-way communication.
The Teen shall maintain driving privileges if he/she:
- Obeys all traffic laws and regulations.
- Drives defensively.
- Always wears a seat belt and insists that all passengers wear theirs.
- Limits driving to established roadways, driveways and parking lots.
- Does not drive after consuming alcohol or other illegal substances or permit passengers to consume
alcohol or illegal substances.
- Does not ride in a car in which anyone has consumed or possesses alcohol or illegal substances.
- Does not participate in any situation that involves reckless driving.
- If the Teen encounters a situation involving alcohol or other illegal substances or reckless driving,
and finds that not participating will result in a lack of transportation, he/she will immediately call
the Parent(s) any time, day or night.
- Does not drive another vehicle, or permit anyone to drive his/hers, except in a genuine emergency such
as illness or injury.
- Keeps Parent(s) advised of intended route and time of return, as well as any deviations or delays
greater than 10 minutes.
- Reports all accidents and tickets to Parent(s) and all accidents to police.
- Maintains at least 1/4 tank of fuel and routinely checks the oil and tire pressure.
- Willingly responds to all parental requests for chauffeur duty or running errands and is willing to
calmly discuss any request he/she believes is not reasonable.
- Promptly advises Parent(s) of vehicle damage or mechanical problems.
- Keeps the vehicle clean inside and out.
- Maintains a grade point average of 3.0 or better.
The Parent(s) can continue to depend upon the Teen for running errands and chauffeuring other family
members if Parent(s) keep the doors of communication open by:
- Being willing to discuss sensitive topics objectively.
- Avoiding belittling language in disciplinary situations.
The Teen recognizes that having primary access to a car is a significant privilege and that continued
access to the car is sufficient recognition that he/she is a responsible driver. However, the Parent(s)
have/has chosen to further recognize consistent maturity in the following ways:
- For every 6 consecutive months of driving free of citations or violations of the law or of this
agreement or of any at-fault accidents the Teen will be granted 1 weekend free of errand or chauffeur
responsibility.
- For every 12 consecutive months of driving free of citations or violations of the law or of this
agreement or of any at-fault accidents the Teen will be granted 1 month free of errand or chauffeur
responsibility.
- For every 6 consecutive months of driving free of accidents or vehicle damage of any kind the Teen
will be granted 2 weekends free of errand or chauffeur responsibility.
- For every 6 consecutive months in which the Teen shows a sustained cheerful willingness to fulfill
errand and chauffeur responsibilities, he/she will be granted 1 weekend free of errand or chauffeur
responsibility.
- If the Teen encounters a situation involving alcohol or other illegal substances or reckless driving,
and chooses not to participate, he/she will be granted a 1-hour curfew extension for 1 to 4 weekends.
- For every 6-month period in which the Teen has alerted the Parent(s) of a change in route or delays
longer than 10 minutes, he/she will be granted a a 1-hour curfew extension for 1 to 4 weekends.
Non compliance with driving responsibilities shall result in suspension of privileges for the lengths of
time listed below:
- Violating traffic laws: 1 to 6 weeks.
- Not wearing a seat belt or insisting that all passengers wear theirs: 1 to 2 weeks.
- Driving off established roadways, driveways and parking lots: 1 to 2 weeks.
- Participating in situations involving alcohol or other illegal substances or reckless driving: 2
months to 2 years.
- Driving another person's vehicle or allowing another to drive his/hers: 1 to 4 weeks.
- Not notifying Parent(s) of delays:
- 10 minutes: 4 hours
- 20 minutes: 8hours
- 30 minutes: 1 days
- for every 10 additional minutes beyond 30 minutes: 1 day
- Not notifying Parent(s) of change in route/destination: 1 day per occurrence.
- Not notifying Parent(s) of accident or citation: 2 to 6 weeks
- Running out of fuel or oil or driving a tire with low air pressure: 1 day for the first occurrence, 2
for the second, and so on.
- Exhibiting an uncooperative attitude toward errand/chauffeur responsibilities: 3 days to 2 weeks.
- Not notifying Parent(s) of vehicle damage or mechanical malfunction: 1 to 3 days.
- Not keeping vehicle clean: 1 to 3 days.
- Not maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 or higher: 6 weeks.
More lenient penalties may be imposed at the sole discretion of the Parent(s), based on conditions
surrounding the situation. Responsibility for errand and chauffeur assistance continues during any driving
privilege suspension.
If Parent(s) do not comply with the conditions to which they have agreed, the Teen will be relieved of
errand and chauffeur responsibilities for 1 weekend per occurrence.
____________ (Date) _____________________________ (Parent)
____________ (Date) _____________________________ (Parent)
____________ (Date) _____________________________ (Teen)
Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be
recalled by their maker.
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