Tips on Teaching Your Teen to Drive

Just as a mother bird must patiently instruct her fledglings in the art of flying, so must human parents train their children to drive safely, and most of them do not look forward to this task. In fact, Mom and Dad may have a few pithy conversations about which one of them has the nerves of steel required for the job.

The winner, or loser, of this job could probably use a few tidbits of advice before fastening the passenger’s side seatbelt with their teenager in the driver’s seat. The following ideas are just a few of those that parents have used in the past to teach their offspring to drive safely without inflicting bodily harm during the process:

Know Your Vehicle

Many parents feel that before their teen gets to turn the key in the ignition, he or she should first master some basic skills in caring for their vehicle. They teach them to check air pressure and deal with a flat tire. They show them how to check the oil and give a brief lecture about the various warning lights on the dashboard and what these indicate when flashing. Instruction should be given in how to operate the lights, the wipers, and cruise control. An easy way to bypass this process is to offer to let the beginning driver read the manual that came with the car, but most parents feel better if they have imparted the information personally with a bit of practice on the more difficult skills.

Pile on the Praise

Good parents will remember just how nervous they were the first time they got behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Criticism rarely brings improvement in a teen’s driving skills because it only causes such nervousness to grow. A better way to teach new drivers is to compliment them when they remember instructions and perform well. The following are good practices to instill:

• Keeping both hands on the wheel in the three o’clock and 9 o’clock positions

• Easing into both starts and stops

• Signaling in plenty of time when changing lanes or turning

• Using the side and rearview mirrors before changing lanes

• Keeping plenty of room between their car and the one in front

Practice Unusual Situations

It is impossible to simulate all driving scenarios, but new drivers do need to experience as many driving problems as possible. Some of these might be practiced in an empty parking lot in inclement weather. Students need to learn to stop the vehicle under slick circumstances and how to steer into a slide. Parents may want to set up an obstacle course using cones for their teen to learn to maneuver in small spaces.

Parents should also spend the time alone in the vehicle with their teen to discuss the importance of limiting all distractions while driving. Teens should know that talking or texting on a cell phone is extremely dangerous, but eating while driving is also a big cause of accidents.

Teaching your teen to drive can be a daunting task, but the tips listed here should help make the process easier and help your teen become a safe driver.

About the Author: Charlotte Fletcher writes for www.monkey.co.uk, a site that compares car insurance and offers useful advice for drivers.