BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Cope With a Teen Driver

By eHow Parenting Editor

Rate: (1 Ratings)

Every year thousands of teenagers get their driver's license for the first time. This means lots of new drivers on the road and lots of nervous parents sitting next to them. Teaching a teen how to be a confident driver requires patience and calmness on the part of parents. Parents need some special skills when it comes to coping with a teen driver.

Flag Article

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Talk to your teen often about good driving habits long before they ever take drivers training. When kids are in there preteen and early teen years, they are usually pretty interested in learning all they can about driving.

Step2

Point out things that other drivers are doing as you drive that are dangerous or risky. Stay clam, don't get angry and use these opportunities to teach.

Step3

Use a confident but calm tone of voice when pointing out errors in your teens driving. Try not to be too critical as this can cause a breakdown in communication.

Step4

Remember what it was like when you were a new driver. How did your parents handle you and how did it make you feel?

Step5

Let your kids drive with you as much as you can. Don't shy away from all those road hours. The more they drive with you, the better driver they will be and the more confidence you will have in their driving skills.

Step6

Set reasonable limits after they get their license even if your state doesn't require it. No driving after a certain time at night, no more than two friends in the car at a time and no talking on cell phones while driving are just a few suggestions.

Step7

Be very clear about consequences for breaking driving rules with your new driver. Remind them that driving is a privilege for adults. As long as they behave like responsible adults behind the wheel then they will have driving privileges.

Tips & Warnings

Work on your communication skills with your teen long before they being driving. If you are communicating well about other things, then you will communicate well about driving.
As hard as it may be, try and relax. Let your kids drive where they are comfortable and introduce new driving situations as they are ready.

Comments

ChrisWright said

Flag This Comment

on 11/16/2007 Good article! When my child starting driving the biggest problem was not getting ready for school in time to allow a safe amount of time to drive there. So, I set the alarm clock for 15 minutes before school started, and if the alarm rang and she was still in the house, I got to drive her to school. This worked really well - kids hate having to ride with their parents once they have gotten their own cars!!