How to Teach a Teenager to Drive
Teaching a teenager to drive a car has never been easy. While it can be (or you want it to be) a fun and addictive rite of passage, it can also be stressful and panic-stricken for both of you. But even in a pandemic, the roads are open, and teenagers walk along them. So if it’s time for you to help them learn to drive, take a deep breath, concentrate (and buckle up) – then follow these tips for the smoothest ride possible.
Preparing in advance
If your child is still under the driving age, it may seem like you can put off lessons for a while. But the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends talking to your child about driver safety ahead of time, often and long before they actually take the wheel. Better yet, set an example by simulating safe driving habits yourself:
Talking is important, but action is even better. Show your kids safe driving behavior. Start by modeling good habits every time you drive them anywhere, even before they start driving. Make sure you turn off your mobile phone yourself, put it away and put on your seat belt before starting your car.
Devi Mohanti, USAA vice president of product development, shares this view, as speeding, hard braking, tight corners, and phone use are the most common contributors to road traffic accidents among teenagers.
“I think about this [strengthening] interpersonal skills,” says Mohanti. Modeling parents … we want our teens to do this.
Once they are ready to drive – they get a training permit, become mature enough and ready to take on responsibility – it’s time to introduce them to the vehicle they will be diving in. Sure, your teen has gotten into the family car a thousand times already, but it was a passenger, not a driver. As an operator, they must experience the car in a whole new way, which is why Emily Stein, President of the Safe Roads Alliance , recommends a full tour for them.
“Walk around the car, introduce your teenager to the car, inside and out,” Stein says. “Check the tire tread, name the controls on the dashboard, adjust the side mirrors and find the correct seat position.”
Take your time with this part; sitting and talking about where the turn signals are, how to adjust the mirrors, and letting them practice turning the wipers on and off gives you both some time to get to the real work.
Starting out
Okay: Time to hand over the keys. Pick a day with good weather and a day when everyone is in a relaxed mood. A wide open space, such as a large empty parking lot, is best for novice drivers to practice starting, stopping, turning, and reversing. Continue to gradually improve the skills you need to solve the tasks you give them, such as turning at the end of a lane or pulling out into a parking lot.
Once they become familiar with the basic functions of the car, you’ll want to head to quiet lanes and roads with low speed limits (stick to 35 mph or slower to get started). However, State Farm suggests varying the route over several sessions to practice these basic beginner skills:
- Turns: speed and signal usage
- Soft braking: gradual deceleration to a complete stop
- Smooth Acceleration: Gradually increases to a safe speed within a specified limit.
- Approaching intersections controlled by stop signs or traffic lights
- Determination of the right-of-way
- Single-lane and multi-lane roads (low speeds)
- Lane change and safe entry into traffic
- Maintaining an appropriate speed
- Scanning and identifying hazards
- Keeping a safe distance
- Road sharing by cyclists, pedestrians and school buses
- Driving in the school area
- Responding to an approaching ambulance
- Using headlands
You will also want to gradually train them to drive in different weather conditions, at different times of the day, and in busy traffic conditions. But the Very Well Family says that parents should prioritize the amount of workout over the amount of time to practice, at least in the beginning:
The number of times you drive with your teen is more important than the amount of time on each trip. At the beginning, limit your practice time to 15-20 minutes at a time. As your teen gets more confident, you can increase your class time.
Another tactic you can try to help teens develop the full awareness of their surroundings to drive safely is called ” driving with commentary .” According to the Parental Controlled Driving Program, annotated driving is a verbalization tool that can help a new driver better understand the risks in the road and learn how best to avoid them. Just like a sports commentator, your new driver can talk out loud about his observations, actions, and potential risks while driving.
In practice, a driving comment might sound something like: “I am approaching a four-way stop and apply the brake. I look both ways and I don’t see other cars or pedestrians. I’m going to accelerate carefully. “
When you think they are ready to take the highway, take a quieter time of day and a longer exit so they have enough time to merge. As they become more confident and proficient, you can add overhaul movement or heavier movement to the equation.
Setting expectations
Ultimately, the goal is for your teenager to be a safe and conscientious driver, and in part, this means having a clear understanding of the rules you would expect from him while driving. These rules should include (but are not limited to): never text messages while driving, always wear seat belts before driving, limit passenger numbers as per your state law or your own comfort level, and agree to pay a fine for any tickets they may receive.
To further emphasize this point, you might consider having them review and sign a safe driving pact. The Supervised Driving Program for Parents , USAA, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have templates for you and your teen to read, discuss, and sign.