Trust But Verify: Teen Driving with Dr. Charlie Klauer
Podcast:Pantsuit Politics Published On: Fri Jul 31 2026 Description: Teen driving is the leading cause of death among adolescents — and most of us are completely winging it when we hand over the keys. Dr. Charlie Klauer is a Research Scientist and Associate Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech. She's spent fifteen years doing naturalistic driving research: cameras and sensors in teenagers' cars, watching what they actually do. We took notes and hope you'll find her learnings helpful, too. Topics discussed:Why teen driving is more dangerous than most parents realizeHow to structure the learner's permit period for maximum practiceNight driving, interstate driving, and other milestone moments to sequence carefullyHow parents' own driving habits shape teens behind the wheelApps and tools for monitoring teen drivers without being in the carWhy giving a teen "their own" car may increase risky drivingAt what age teens should start learning — and why waiting until 18 isn't the answerDr. Klauer's survey for parents (link in show notes)Join us live in Minneapolis on August 29 — virtual tickets available at pantsuitpoliticsshow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices