If you are clueless about how to teach a teen to drive, read on the following tips to help your teen learn to drive safely.
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Parenting is not easy, and teaching teens how to drive could be challenging indeed.
For that reason, Rachel Withers, manager of Bridgestone Teens Drive Smart, has put forward some tips for defensive driving.
#1 Pay maximum attention to your surroundings
This is something that not only applies to teenagers, but also experienced drivers.
It’s important for teens to understand that driving safely involves paying attention to every side of the road and not just what’s going on right in front of you.
Use your rear windows, side windows, and be able to predict how other vehicles react while on the road.
#2 Use your brakes properly
The way your teen brakes says a lot about his confidence as a driver.
“It’s important for teens to understand that braking distance grows exponentially with the car’s speed. For example, doubling your speed more than doubles your stopping distance. Always brake earlier than you think you need to.,” Withers commented.
Your teen needs to learn how to make a quick stop or handle slow braking. The goal is to enhance driving safety awareness for teenagers.
SEE ALSO: Teens and Distracted Driving: Dangers and Solutions
#3 Speed up but not too fast
The basic way of driving safe is to stay always alert for any unexpected situation.
As a parent, you need to teach your kid about the dangers on the road. Things happen and the best we could do is to drive safely.
“Always scan the area around you before you accelerate, and watch out for unexpected hesitations or sudden stops from other drivers,” Withers advised.
#4 Educate your teen about texting and driving
Texting and driving, as any other source of distracted driving, causes car fatalities and parents are responsible for teaching their kids by example.
It would be pointless to teach your teen about the risks of texting and driving if he/she see you don’t practice what you preach.
We encourage families to make a pact to never text and drive. Discussing the many, many reasons why texting and driving is dangerous will make the pact more meaningful,” Withers commented.
#5 Don’t let your teen drive with more than one passenger
This a preventive way of ensuring your teen does not get distracted by other teens who may be joining him as passengers.
Note that in most states teens are only allowed to drive on the road with only one passenger in the car.
If your state doesn’t have that rule, try to enforce that rule yourself, so your teen drives safely, which is the ultimate goal.
SEE ALSO: Mom Makes Example of Teen Who Crashed While Texting and Driving
2 comments
Sounds Good, I like your Article, but the fact is now I am 25 years old and my parents are not with me, so it is difficult to Get driving from them, but I wish every teenager will get the opportunity to learn driving from their parents
Hello James. Thank you for your input. You could always share that with some parents who may need some guidance on teen driving. Who knows? You may be able to share some tips with younger drivers who may need some guidance.