Tips for Expressing the Importance of Driving Safely with Your Teen
Teens anticipate getting their license for what feels like years – they cannot wait to get behind the wheel and hit the open road. Although parents should join them in this excitement, it is also important to discuss driver safety with young motorists. Although this discussion may not be easy, given the sometimes trying “teens know everything” mentality, there are some strategies that can be used to help parents discuss safety while on the road with their teenagers.
Be Direct and Share Learning Experiences
Parents want to protect their children – this is a given for anyone who has kids or teenagers. But, hazards and dangers on the road are real and there is no way to escape them. This is why it is vital for parents to take teen driver safety head on. It is important to discuss these dangerous situations in a direct manner without sugar coating the sorted details. This approach opens teens’ eyes to the true consequences of not driving safely and helps them to understand the importance of practicing safe driving habits.
Another tactic that can be used is sharing driving stories with your teen. Tell teens about times when you were not driving safely or other incidents that have happened while on the road as well as situations where driving safely protected you or other drivers around you. Doing this will help teens connect with their parents on the topic of safety and further show them that the dangers of not driving safely are serious. Hopefully they will learn from their parents shared experiences.
Discuss Driving Safety Regularly
A great habit to get into is setting aside time on a regular basis with teens to review driver safety and also commend teens for their safe driving progress. This will help to set the standard for what is expected of teens while they are behind the wheel and have a constant reminder of what they can do to protect themselves while driving. Acknowledging their accomplishments will also help them to feel empowered and confident while driving – something that can helps to keep them safe on the road.
Driving is exciting for teens and it should be an exciting time for a parent as well. With technology and other factors creating more of a distraction for drivers, expressing the importance of safety with teens is highly important. Make sure to directly address the dangers that teens will face and share stories that allow them to connect with your experiences. Setting aside time regularly will help to constantly remind teens of what driver safety is and how they can protect themselves and others while on the road.
In addition to talking to your teen about driving safety, you may also want to enroll them in a Northfield driving school like Training Wheels to ensure they learn the proper rules of the road. For more information about Training Wheels, please click here.
*Photo Courtesy of State Farm via Creative Commons License