It’s scary being a new teen driver. It’s even scarier for the parents who have to loosen the reigns and let their child out onto the road all by themselves. It’s hard enough being an adult driver and having to make sound judgments every time you’re behind the wheel, but for teens it’s twice as hard. If you’re a parent looking to let your new driver out on the road, here are 6 good tips for keeping them safe and bringing them home in one piece.
1. No Cell Phones
This rule is easy enough, but it may be hard to convince your driving teenagers to follow it. Driving decisions need to be made in less than a second, and your teens can’t do that if they’re using their phone to find the best burger joint. You must make it a rule that they turn off their cell phones and keep it in the back seat at all times. It’s going to be hard for them, but it’s for their own good.
2. No Friends
In high school, the teens with cars will be popular, but they can’t be a taxi service. Driving with other kids in the car will take away from their focus. Every passenger is like another cell phone. The last thing teen drivers need is more distraction.
3. No Late Nights
Some say that nothing good can happen after midnight. This saying is probably true when referring to teen drivers. Night driving is harder, and the amount of reckless and sleepy drivers goes up. Get teens off of the road before they get themselves or someone else injured. Give them a good curfew to stick to.
4. No Beltless Driving
It’s a simple rule and the kind that can lower car insurance for teens, but putting on the seat-belt is as safe and as smart as remembering to breathe at all times. Wearing a seat-belt increases the likelihood that you won’t have a fatal accident. Kids might not think it’s cool, but neither are needless accidents.
5. No Quiet Navigation
The GPS is parents’ way of keeping their teens on the right track. If you’re giving your teens one, just make sure they turn up the volume. The less your teens have to look at the screen, the safer they’ll be.
6. No Bad Examples
Your teens will drive the way they see you drive. If you’re on your cell phone, they will be too. You have to drive the way you want them to drive. It’s the golden rule, and it applies here as well.
Your teens at the wheel doesn’t have to feel like a bad dream. If you convince them to take this privilege seriously, then they’ll have good results on the road.