When a teenager starts driving, parents tend to cover the obvious ground: seatbelts, speed, phones, and checking mirrors. Wrong-way crashes rarely come up. They are uncommon, and most adults have never been taught what to do about them either.
That is a reason to include them. A few minutes of conversation can give a new driver knowledge that most experienced drivers lack, and that is the kind of knowledge that only helps if it is already in place before it is needed.
Keep it calm and specific
The aim is not to frighten anyone. Wrong-way crashes are rare, and a teen who is anxious every time they get on the freeway is not a safer driver.
The aim is to give them a small set of clear, practical facts. Teens tend to respond better to "here is what to do" than to "here is what could happen to you."
Fact one: what a warning looks like
Start with recognition. Next time you are in the car together, point them out:
- DO NOT ENTER signs: red circle, white bar.
- WRONG WAY signs: red rectangle, white lettering.
- Pavement arrows on ramps showing the correct direction.
- Red reflectors. ADOT describes reflectors on off-ramps that glow bright red when a vehicle is traveling the wrong way.
The rule to teach: if anything red is facing you on a ramp or road, stop. Do not keep going to figure it out.
Fact two: what to do if they make the mistake
New drivers make navigation errors. The important thing is how they respond.
If they ever realize they are going the wrong way on a ramp or highway, they should stop at the edge, put on hazard lights, keep headlights on, stay in the car with their seatbelt fastened, and call 911. No U-turns on the freeway. And they should know that calling you or 911 in that situation will be met with relief, not anger.
That last part matters. A teen who is worried about getting in trouble may try to fix the problem alone. Tell them clearly that stopping and calling for help is the right thing, every time.
Fact three: what to do if they see one
If they see headlights coming toward them on a divided highway, the guidance is to slow down, steer away to the right when it is clear, get to a safe place, and call 911. ADOT's own wording is to ease off the gas, make sure there is no vehicle beside you, and steer away from the wrong-way driver.
Practice saying it together: "Slow down, move right, get off the road, call 911." Repetition is what makes it available under stress.
Fact four: when the risk is highest
On its wrong-way driving page, ADOT says three out of four wrong-way crashes happen between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., one-third happen between midnight and 3 a.m., and more than half happen on weekends.
That lines up with a conversation many families are already having about late-night driving. It is one more reason to keep curfews reasonable, especially in the early months of driving, and to be extra attentive on weekend nights.
Fact five: impairment, theirs and everyone else's
ADOT reports that two out of three wrong-way crashes are caused by impaired drivers.
There are two messages here. The first is for your teen as a driver: never drive impaired, and never get in a car with someone who is. The second is about the other people on the road late at night, some of whom will be impaired. That is part of why defensive driving and attention matter so much after dark.
Give them an exit plan. Many families agree that a teen can call for a ride at any hour, from anywhere, with no questions asked that night. Whatever version works for your family, make sure they know the option exists.
Make it a habit, not a lecture
You do not need one long conversation. Point out a WRONG WAY sign when you pass one. Ask "what would you do?" when you are a passenger. Look at the route together before they drive somewhere new at night.
Short, repeated moments are easier to remember than a single talk, and they build the habit of reading the road rather than following the car ahead.
Help other families have the conversation
NMWWD is a Phoenix-based nonprofit working to prevent wrong-way crashes through awareness, technology, and community. If you know a family with a new driver, share this with them.
To help us reach more families in Arizona, get involved or support the work.
Sources: Arizona Department of Transportation — Wrong-Way Drivers