Photo by leah hetteberg on Unsplash
Handing over the car keys to your teenager isn’t just bittersweet. It’s a little terrifying, if we’re all honest about it—right up there with bringing them home from the hospital for the first time.
There are just a lot of things that can go wrong. You’ll likely be reminded of that every time your teen slides behind the wheel of the car in their early days of driving.
Whether you have a few years before their big DMV-day happens or are getting ready to share this amazing experience with your teen, here are a few tips to help put you both at ease in the process.
1. Start with the basics
Start with your newbie driver in the driver’s seat. (Yes, it’s scary and sentimental all at once, just play it cool.) Go over all of the important tips for positioning the seat, adjusting the mirrors, putting on the seatbelt, and locating the turn signals. Make sure they understand that these are safety features to be used every single time the vehicle is in motion, so always take a minute to get them right before hitting the road.
2. Location is important
If you live in a large city or high-traffic area, spend some time researching a good spot that's off the beaten track or empty on weekends, such as corporate building parking lots, state parks, etc.
Once you’re there, switch seats and let the fun begin! They can:
- Start in the parking lot where it's least congested.
- Drive around the lot and get used to how the car handles.
- Practice pulling into a parking space from different angles and then backing out of them.
- If the parking area has stop signs, practice approaching them and stopping.
When they seem comfortable with the parking lot and if they’re ready to learn more, let them try driving through a neighborhood or to a spot a few miles down the road.
3. Make sure they practice often
Experts suggest that teens need 70 to 100 hours of driving time in the first year they are on the roads. Just like any skill, the more they practice, the better they will become. It also helps them have increased self confidence in their ability to perform this very “adult” task.
4. Have them drive at night and in different weather conditions
They’ll encounter difficult driving conditions when you aren’t in the passenger seat, so teach them how to handle heavy rain, ice, wind, and night-time driving while you are. Let them experience first-hand how difficult it is to see in harsh conditions when driving and guide them through the best practices for staying safe in bad weather.
5. Don’t expect each young driver to be the same
Don’t expect your new driver to pick it up as easily as you did. You also can’t assume that a younger sibling will learn to drive as easily as an older one, or vice versa. Each individual driver is unique and should be able to learn at his or her own pace, without expectations.
6. Know that they’ve been watching you
This one is last because it’s perhaps the hardest to accept. Know that they’ve been watching you and will watch you even closer now that they’re getting behind the wheel, too. That means if you travel in the left lane instead of using it for passing, are on your cellphone while driving, or tailgate frequently—they'll do it too. Now, more than ever, try to be a good role model for safe driving practices.
Memories they won’t forget
You probably have memories of how it first felt to get behind the wheel of a car and experience the rush of freedom that happens. It’s a moment your teenager won’t ever forget and an easy way to spend valuable time together so you can be a part of their best and most cherished memories.