Teens are often excited to get out on the road, but their parents likely feel very anxious about their driving. Young adults can easily make mistakes while driving that can result in life-altering injuries or a traumatic experience that forever changes the teen’s perspective and mental health.
Parents want to give their children freedom and opportunities as they mature, but they also want to protect them from the various dangers they may encounter. Those raising teenagers who are old enough to obtain a learner’s permit may benefit from employing the three tips below to keep their teen driver safe.
1. Establish and model reasonable safety rules
Teenagers are often very skeptical of their parents’ behavior. They are quite aware of perceived hypocrisy, in particular.
Teenagers learn from example as much as they learn from the rules set to govern their behavior. Parents need to implement reasonable safety rules about concerns like distracted driving. They should attempt to serve as positive role models by following those rules consistently themselves.
2. Minimize nighttime driving
State rules regarding young drivers limit their ability to drive after dark. Young adults typically cannot drive between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless they have a parent or guardian with them in the vehicle. Concerns about curfews and sleep schedules are not the reason that the state has such limitations.
Instead, the percentage of severe crashes that occur after the sunsets is largely what inspires rules about nighttime driving. Parents can help by giving their new drivers plenty of opportunities to drive during the daytime and making a point of having alternate arrangements in place once the sun sets.
3. Prioritize adequate practice
Safe driving involves not just rote memorization of traffic rules but also becoming comfortable behind the wheel. The more time that teens spend practicing in the presence of an adult, the better their chances of avoiding a wreck when they are on their own.
Technically, young drivers only need to log 40 hours of supervised drive time in addition to educational course requirements. Demanding more practice than the state requires may frustrate the young driver but can give parents the peace of mind that comes from knowing they have had plenty of hours at the wheel.
Parents can help increase the likelihood that their children avoid a crash by preparing them properly. Having a plan in place in case a motor vehicle collision occurs is also a smart choice. Teens need to know who to call and how to respond in the worst-case scenario.
