Preparing a teen driver for the road is often a team effort. Both parents may work with the new driver to teach them the rules of the road. They usually also enroll their young driver in a specialized program that can help them learn how to drive.
Driver’s education is mandatory for aspiring teen motorists, and the process of getting a license usually involves many hours of practice driving with a parent in the vehicle. Parents can use those hours of road time with their teen drivers to educate them about safety on the streets. They also need to prioritize leading by example. Consistently following the same rules that a parent expects a teen to observe can encourage better driving habits.
What basic traffic rules should parents want their teen drivers to internalize?
1. Treat every drive as safety-critical
Motorists often become complacent when driving in certain locations, such as the roads closest to their homes and places of employment. The more often people travel roads, the easier it may be for them to take their safety for granted on those streets.
Ensuring that young drivers understand they need to follow the rules of the road even on the shortest trips could potentially save their lives. Using turn signals, coming to a complete stop and consistently using safety restraints are important regardless of how short a drive might be.
2. Limit opportunities for distraction
Parents sometimes make the mistake of lecturing teen drivers about digital distraction without exploring other sources of distraction. Drinking and eating at the wheel, conversing with passengers and even singing along to the radio can force drivers to split their attention.
Parents should set a positive example by minimizing their own distractions and consistently choosing not to handle mobile devices while driving. Ensuring that young adults recognize the various sources of distraction and understand the importance of avoiding them can reduce their risk of a preventable crash.
3. Recognize other drivers as a threat
Defensive driving can potentially save a young person’s life. Yielding the right of way at a busy four-way stop, pausing to double-check another driver’s intentions and giving other vehicles plenty of space in traffic can help people increase their safety on the road.
Teaching young drivers that they need to not just be proactive about following the rules but also cautious about the risk generated by other people in traffic could help them significantly limit their risk of a wreck.
Young adults typically learn the technicalities of complying with the law in driver’s education. Learning important long-term safety practices from their parents can help them prioritize their safety on the road. Focusing on consistent rule compliance can help teen drivers adopt the skills and habits necessary to minimize their chances of causing a motor vehicle collision.