mdolla: Necessary Steps When Teaching Your Teenager to Drive

You may have some fond memories of learning how to drive with one of your parents, or you may recall your father or mother constantly yelling at you as you first got behind the wheel of a vehicle. No matter what the situation was like for you, you probably realize that soon enough, your teenagers will ask you to teach them how to drive.

Prepare Yourself

Pretending as though your kids are never going to want to procure their licenses might work for a while, but the reality will eventually catch up to you. They are going to ask you to take them out to drive. If you can begin to mentally prepare yourself for this request, you may be ready when the time comes. For example, you might talk with your friends who have teenage drivers so that you can obtain some tips. On the other hand, you may consult with your own parents to find out how they reacted when you first told them that you wanted to learn how to drive.

Know Your Vehicle

Sitting in the front seat of a new car is often a bit jarring, even for the most experienced of drivers. While you may want to race out to purchase a new vehicle for your teenagers as soon as they obtain their learner’s permits, consider whether that is really the best idea. One of you should have a solid understanding of how to operate the vehicle, and if the car is brand new to you, you may lack that important information. Have your teen check the car daily. Make a brand-new car a reward, not a given.

Make Necessary Repairs

Chances are that you do not want your teenagers to get behind the wheel of a car that is broken without you, so you should not create this environment when they are with you either. Let your kids know that you are happy to take them out on the road, but that you will do so once the necessary repairs are made to the vehicle. If the issues are the result of an accident, you can also demonstrate to them how to navigate this process. Doing so can help prepare them to research elements such as car insurance quotes and accident reports when the time comes.

Know the Rules

Imagine that you are driving with your teenagers and they ask you an important question about the rules of the road. Now, imagine that you do not know the answer to the question. You may have been driving for so long that the proper actions are second nature to you; however, that doesn’t mean that you necessarily know the reasons behind why you take these actions. Brushing up on your own knowledge can help you to act as better teachers to your children.

Stay Calm

While you do not want to allow your children to perform an action that leads to an accident, you also do not want to move or yell in a way that causes an accident in the first place. You may need to visit a recovery center after driving with your teen, but refraining from freaking out in the car will help your teen drive better. If either you or your partner are significantly calmer than the other, the calmer person should be the one who goes in the car, especially for the first few lessons. Calmly directing your children and knowing when it is truly appropriate to intervene are important.

Enroll Them in Courses

You’ve probably seen your kids listen to other people better than they listen to you at some point in their lives. This trend may continue when they start to drive, so you should consider enrolling them in classes that teach them more of the rules and allow them to obtain even greater experience on the road. These classes are generally offered at high schools.

Your teenagers will likely eventually want to learn how to drive, and this prospect might alarm you. However, you should not avoid teaching them. When you take initiative, you can show them how to operate a vehicle in a safe and efficient manner.

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