When the day finally arrives for your teenager to start learning how to drive a vehicle will you and they be ready?
That time in the life of the teen and the parent for that matter can be quite interesting.
For the son or daughter, they are embarking on a brand new adventure. That said it is an adventure where they must never overlook safety behind the wheel.
Meantime, the parent has to relinquish a little bit of the hold they’ve had on their child over the years. Yes, the teenager can now come and go on a little freer basis.
No matter the feelings involved for you and your loved one, making sure they will be responsible is key.
So, are you all ready for this day? If not, what will it take to get you to the point where you feel comfortable with your teenager getting the keys to a vehicle and driving off?
Teaching Your Teen Good Driving Habits
So your teen does well in testing for a learner’s permit and receiving a license, focus on responsibility.
Part of that responsibility means taking the testing process in a serious manner. In doing so, remember, your teenager should study-up when it comes to the testing. They can do some dry runs before actually going into the DMV and taking their test. This will help them be more prepared and less nervous.
Second, the hope is you’ve been a good teacher to your teen when it comes to driving habits.
If so, you’ve likely done the following as a responsible parent:
- Avoided distractions – Have you shown your teen what it means to not get distracted? From cell phones to being too busy with those in the car with you, you can get distracted. If your teen thinks it is okay to talk on the phone or interact too much with friends, they’re getting it wrong.
- Driven with extra care in bad weather – Even though you can’t control weather, you can use the proper caution. Show your teen that he or she must adjust to road conditions when inclement weather comes their way. Doing otherwise can open the door to a serious auto accident.
- Taken good care of a vehicle – Another lesson in responsibility is vehicle upkeep. A vehicle that is not well-maintained can be a hazard to them and others on the road. Show your teen to check for faulty tires and brakes, issues with lights, and windows with cracks. Any of these problems and others can lead to accidents.
Trusting Your Teen to Do the Right Thing
As your teen gets more comfortable with driving, they should also leave you with a little less worry.
Sure, you’d be lying if you said you did not worry about them being out on the roads with all those people.
Trusting your teen do to the right thing each time, you can feel a little bit better about them having a license.
