When your children reach an age where they can begin to learn to drive, it’s important that you give them the insight they need to make good decisions behind the wheel. Teenagers are exposed to peer pressure and are still learning everything they need to know, so without the right guidance, it’s possible that they could make dangerous or deadly decisions while driving.
In 2019, it was reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that 2,042 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver between the ages of 15 and 18. This highlights the reality that some teens may not be ready to drive, and those who do drive may need further education about what’s safe or unsafe while behind the wheel.
To help your teenage kids become better drivers, there are a few things you can do.
Talk to them about drunk driving
The first thing you should do is talk to your teens about behaviors like drinking and driving. Explain that it is illegal, but also go over other impacts that it could have. Since your teens aren’t 21, they could face underage drinking penalties, and their actions could end up hurting or killing them or someone else.
Express your concerns about distractions behind the wheel
While the driving school will go over distraction and drunk driving topics, it’s smart to spend some time explaining what they are to your children, too. Go over common distractions as well as those they may not have realized are distractions, like eating behind the wheel or having an argument with someone in the vehicle.
Set the right example
Finally, set a good example for your children. Don’t drive while impaired, never use distracting technology behind the wheel and be responsible on the road. Many teenagers mimic the driving behaviors their parents have, so you will want to set the best example you can.
These are a few things you can do to help your teens be better drivers. Taking the time to do this may help prevent a car crash, because they will know to pay close attention to the road to avoid making mistakes themselves and to avoid others who may make errors on the road.
