5 Tips to Teach Your Teen How to be a Safe Driver 

By Alison Kotch

Getting a driver’s license is a significant milestone in a teen’s life. It brings them independence and a new sense for freedom and empowerment on their journey to adulthood. 

But it can be terrifying for parents. Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury and death for young adults in the United States. While handing over the keys is a right of passage, many parents may hesitate, unsure about sending their teen out on the road by themselves. 

Teaching teens safe driving habits can help parents overcome their fear and doubt. During National Teen Driver Safety Week, National PTA is sharing these five safe driving tips to help parents teach their teens how to be a safe driver. 

1. Schedule Multiple Driving Practice Sessions With Your Teen

As with anything, practice can improve driving skills. As your teen prepares to get their license, make time to practice with them. This will help them build confidence in their driving abilities and help you overcome fears that they may not be ready to drive.

Practice in different driving conditions, including during the day, at night and when it is raining. Take them out in neighborhoods and on highways. Put them in driving situations they will encounter when they are driving on their own. They can ask questions while you are there so they will know what to do when they drive solo. 

It’s also important to set a good example for them when you’re driving—don’t speed, be sure to stop at red lights and stop signs, use turn signals and keep a safe distance from other cars. Kids follow your actions more than your words, so if you follow safe driving habits, they will likely follow.

2. Keep Calm and Be Patient

When you do go out driving with your teen, it helps to be in the right state of mind when getting in the car with them. If you just had an argument or are upset, you may reflect those feelings during your practice time, which could make them nervous or cause them to make mistakes—and lose confidence. Find a time where you are calm so you can be calm with them.

3. Eliminate Distractions 

Experienced drivers know that it’s often other drivers that cause crashes—or their own momentary lapses in attention. When driving with your teen, stress the importance of staying focused. Teach them to scan the road for obstacles or hazards (like potholes, fallen debris or roadkill). Show them how to safely drive around them. Eliminate distractions like music until they are more comfortable with driving. 

Perhaps most importantly, explain that driving distracted leads to crashes. 58% of teen accidents are caused by distracted driving. Tell them to keep their phones away while driving— no texting or talking when they are behind the wheel. Limit the number of friends your teen can have in the car. Many states have rules for new drivers that don’t allow them to have anyone under 25 in the car with them outside of family for the first six months to a year after getting their license for a reason—friends and younger siblings are distracting for new drivers. Also remind them not to fiddle with radio or heating/cooling settings unless the car is stopped.

4. Create a New Driver Deal 

A good way to get teens to adhere to your family’s rules of the road is to create a written document. The National Safety Council recommends adding these topics:

  • When the car can be used 
  • Who will pay for gas and insurance 
  • What the rules are for passengers
  • What the consequences are for breaking the driving agreement

By completing a driver agreement together and referring to it when things go wrong, you’ll avoid fights about revoked privileges if any rules are broken. 

5. Set a Good Example for Your Family

While teens get into accidents because they are inexperienced drivers, adults often drive too fast or are easily distracted. Switching between tasks slows your reaction time, and taking calls on the road can cause drivers to miss up to 50 percent of their driving environment. Sharing your own driving mistakes with your teen during practice time can keep them safe and discourage risky behavior. 

Safe Driving Resources 

Find more resources about helping your teen become a safe and confident driver from the National Safety Council: 5-Minute Safety Talk – Parental Involvement Keeps Teen Drivers Safe

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