by Nathan Michael - Posted 3 years ago
When your teenager reaches driving age, it can be a
wildly stressful and nerve wracking time for parents. This transition can be
rough, but as the adult in the room, it’s your duty to communicate rules for
the road. Clear guidelines are great for all kids to understand their
expectations and limitations. But teens will be more likely to hear and
remember driving rules when a clear picture of the “why” behind them is
included.
Rules and reasons for safety and sanity when your teen
starts driving:
·
Attention is key. It
sounds so simple, which means it’s easy to gloss over. In the age of
multi-tasking, it’s sometimes hard to get a new driver to focus on just one
thing: driving. The better focus a driver has on the road and other cars
around, the safer they are. This means no talking, texting, dressing, applying
makeup or eating. Say it to your teen over and over, then write it down,
plaster it on the fridge, and say it again.
·
Discuss risky behaviors. The
reason teens have a higher rate of accidents is due to high-risk behavior
coupled with lack of maturity and experience. Risky driving examples include
not wearing seat belts, speeding, distracted driving, and driving while
impaired. Sit down and talk with your child about the perils of these behaviors
and how to avoid them.
·
Passenger limits. Since
teens view driving as a rite of passage, they’re going to want to show it off
to their friends. But teen passengers can be a big distraction, and statistics
show a big reason for accidents. The rule is, the danger of an accident
increases in direct proportion to the number of teen passengers in the car.
·
Respect the vehicle and the power it
wields. Cars are not toys. Sadly, some teens need
to constantly be reminded of this fact. They are not made for showing off,
doing tricks, or racing on residential streets or freeways. Remind your teen
that they are being trusted with a vehicle to get from point A to point B, and
to do so at a safe speed while keeping all family rules and also the rules of
the road.
If more ammo is needed for getting through to your teen,
there are lots of articles online. A good number of them are aimed at helping
your family and especially your teen driver live a long happy life. When your
teen learns to take responsibility behind the wheel, it will inevitably lower
your stress level as well.