Tips for Teaching Teens to Drive

As a parent, there are many milestones your children will reach. One of the major milestones of a teenager is learning how to drive, which is often times taught by parents. Teaching your teenager to drive is one of the scariest, yet exciting goals for parents and teenagers. When you begin teaching your teenager to drive, follow these tips to ensure safety.

 Turn Off and Put Phone Away

In recent years, cellphones have become an increasingly dangerous hazard for drivers. Whether it is dialing to make a phone call or sending a text message, cellphones appear to be the primary distraction of all drivers. Turning cell phones off and putting them out of sight eliminates the temptation for teens to use their cell phones while driving.

Follow the Speed Limit

Many crashes are the result of speeding, especially for teenagers who are becoming affiliated with operating a vehicle. When teaching your teens to drive, mention every time they go above the speed limit so that they learn to self-monitor their driving speed over time.

Make Seat Belts a Habit

Many drivers still drive without wearing their seat belt. Specifically, teens have a lower rate of wearing seat belts. Ensure your teen puts on their seat belt, as a habit, every time they get behind the wheel.

Maintain a Safe Following Distance

Maintaining a safe following distance is one of the best ways to prevent auto accidents. A safe following distance allows for enough reaction time, especially for teenagers who have minimal experience behind the wheel. Teach your teens that for every 10 miles per hour of speed, they should allow one car length between their vehicle and the vehicle they are following behind.

Avoid Unnecessary Lane Changes

In order to prevent accidents, parents should emphasize the risk of certain driving behaviors. Aggressive driving behaviors, such as swerving in and out of lanes, dangerous passing, and cutting other drivers off should be avoided altogether. Teaching your teenager to avoid unnecessary lane changes reminds them to follow the rules of the road, and to be a defensive driver.

Teaching a teenager to drive can be a challenging, yet rewarding experience. In order to teach your teenager the proper rules of the road and to teach them methods to avoid accidents, proper steps can be taken. A few main points that should be emphasized to new teenage drivers include turning off and putting phones away, following the speed limit, always wearing seat belts, maintaining a safe following distance, and avoiding unnecessary lane changes.

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