The dreaded time has come, your child is finally old enough to get their driver’s license. This is a scary time for a lot of parents, and that’s completely understandable. We’re here to hopefully calm your nerves a bit with 5 tips for parents of new teen drivers.
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1. Choose a Reliable Vehicle
It should come as no surprise that you want to make sure your teenager is driving around in a reliable and safe vehicle. No matter how much your child begs and pleads to cruise around town in a fast convertible, you’ll want to make sure, especially if you’re not in the car with them, that they’re driving a car that’s more suitable and practical for new drivers. It’s also important that you ensure the car they’re driving is properly maintained to keep them safe while they’re behind the wheel.
2. Teach Them Driving Safety
While driver’s education courses that teenagers take in school emphasize and teach roadway safety, you also want to make sure to talk to your teenager about the importance of safe driving. There’s a lot of risk that’s associated with operating a vehicle, and that’s why teaching and discussing the safest ways to drive is paramount when it comes to your teens when they first start out driving. Also keep in mind to be a safe driver yourself, as children often follow the lead of their parents!
3. Minimize Their Nighttime Driving
When teens are new to driving, you want to minimize their time on the road after the sun goes down. Driving at night is less safe than driving during the day, so you want to make sure that your teen has plenty of miles on the road in the daylight hours before they start cruising around at night.
4. Make Sure They Have an Emergency Roadside Kit
Every vehicle should have an emergency roadside kit in it at all times. However, this is even more important when it comes to your children driving by themselves. Make sure that before your teen driver leaves the house, you’ve ensured an emergency roadside kit is in the vehicle with them. If you don’t have an emergency roadside kit, there are plenty of them available online or at local hardware stores.
5. Explain The Risks Of Driving Under The Influence
The legal drinking age in the United States is 21, but we all know that some start to drink before then. Some teens start to experiment and consume alcohol before they start driving, so it’s paramount that you discuss the risks that are associated with driving under the influence. Even if you’re adamant that your child doesn’t drink, it’s still important that they know the consequences of drinking and driving, as it will at least less the chances of them getting in a car with a driver who is intoxicated.
Article Submitted By Community Writer