Step-by-Step Guide to Teach Your Teen How to Drive
May 28th, 2015 by Eli P
When your teen comes of driving age and begins to show the maturity needed to learn to drive, it opens the door to independence. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teens are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident. It’s your responsibility as a parent or guardian to educate your teen of the dangers of risky behaviors and distractions to lessen, or eliminate, the risk for accidents.
Once your teen has their learner’s permit, you can safely teach your teen how to drive by following a few key steps:
Before Driving
1. Review your teen’s instruction permit with them.
2. Make your teen familiar with the vehicle and its features. Cars have more features than you think!
3. During daylight hours, choose an area that’s not congested with traffic to practice during good weather conditions.
4. Remain patient, sympathetic, and understanding.
5. Position yourself in the vehicle so you’re able to take control of the steering wheel or brake, if need be.
Begin Driving
1. Have your teen adjust the seats, steering wheel, and all mirrors prior to putting the vehicle into Drive.
2. Fasten seatbelts.
3. Start the engine.
4. Start driving slow and practice braking.
5. Work on both right and left turns.
6. Practice lane changes.
7. Practice parking and pulling over.
8. Give your teen commands prior to what you want done to give them advanced warning to take action, such as turning, so they don’t panic.
Advanced Driving
Slowly accustom your child to different roads and driving conditions as their driving skills progress and introduce more advanced diving skills, including:
- Intersections and traffic.
- Parallel parking, u-turns, and parking on hills (noting the proper method of positioning the front wheels).
- Freeway driving, night driving, and emergencies.
Although we are in the collision repair business, we don’t want you or your teen to be a victim of one of the 10 million auto accidents each year. Fix Auto USA encourages you to take the time to properly educate your child about the responsibility and skills needed to safely operate a vehicle.
Sources:
“Teen Drivers: Get the Facts” CDC.gov
