Driving Forward - Teen Driving Tips for Parents
Driving Forward - Teen Driving Tips for Parents
Posted on August 5, 2022
Welcome to Bob Around Town's Driving Forward where we give you monthly tips on all things vehicle-related.
Back to school is fast approaching. As a parent, you want to do everything you can to prepare your teens for the open road. Teaching teens how to drive is an integral part of raising confident, responsible adults. Teaching them to drive in a variety of environments is essential for their progress on the road and can make them safer drivers.
Here are Bob Around Town Driving Forward top 5 teen driving tips for parents.
1. Stay Calm
Teens are usually nervous about getting behind the wheel for the first time. Provide gentle feedback and calming share corrections when they make mistakes rather than raising your voice. When you raise your voice you will only make your teen more nervous and create bigger mistakes - possibly even accidents.
2. Start Simple
It's best to build your teen's skills gradually. Start in an empty parking lot so your teen can familiarize themselves with the vehicle and how to handle the car. Once they've mastered the empty parking lot move to less populated residential roads then move to more populated roads or highways. Also, try not to rush the process, allow them to learn and feel comfortable at their own pace.
3. Teach Basic Maintenance/Knowledge
Educate your teen on the responsibility that comes with driving. It is important for teens to know how to handle any basic and emergency maintenance. Make sure your teen knows things like how to change a flat tire, how to change wiper blades, how to check tire pressure, and how to boost a car. Also, teach them why regular maintenance like oil changes, wheel alignments, and brake inspections are important. These will help prepare them for any situation and will make them more mindful drivers.
4. Discourage Distractions
Teens are often easily distracted by things like their phones, music, or friends. Eliminating or overcoming these distractions is important not just for their safety but for the safety of others. Set an example by not looking at your phone when you drive but more importantly, discourage them from these distractions even when they're in the passenger seat. Have them set their phone to "Do Not Disturb" or ask them questions like what different road signs mean.
5. Set Some Penalties
To encourage responsible driving, establish penalties for your teen driver. Let them know what is considered irresponsible behavior when driving and what the result of that behavior will be. For example, have them pay for any insurance increase or gas used. If they don't remember to pay, have them lose their driving privileges for a set amount of time (even if it's their own car).
These 5 simple tips will help your teen driver build confidence and learn the responsibility that comes with driving.