Preparing Teen Drivers
Giving Your Kid the Keys: Is Driver’s Ed Enough?
According to the CDC, teenaged drivers are three times more likely than older drivers to be involved in a fatal car accident, so it’s no wonder that kids getting driver’s licenses is a rite of passage most parents are not entirely excited about.
Aside from the added costs associated with having a young driver, there is also increased anxiety as parents are eventually left behind to wonder what kind of driver their teenager is without them in the passenger seat. Is she distracted by the phone or the radio? Is he going too fast?
Teen drivers today face more and different challenges than their parents did. With increased temptations by technology, both hand-held and in the car, frequency of road rage and more congested streets and intersections, it’s more important than ever for kids to be prepared when they hit the streets alone.
But how can you ensure your kids are road-ready before you turn them loose? The driver education they receive is key.
Texas allows parents to choose between parent-taught driver’s ed or outside driving schools, and both types must adhere to state-mandated regulations that usually involve a required amount of study before taking a state permitting test, additional safety education and a required number of behind-the-wheel hours under the supervision of a licensed adult.
But the way the material is taught and the amount of additional practice time above and beyond the minimum requirements can vary greatly, and this is perhaps what makes the difference in a confident young driver and one who is a potential danger to themselves and others.
Whether you choose a parent-taught program for your child’s driver’s education or a driving school, the parent must take a proactive role in preparing and educating their new driver.
Even though they are online, parent-taught home programs are called parent taught (vs. computer taught) for a reason. The intention is not to turn teens loose with a computer and allow them to quickly skim timed lessons counting down the seconds until they can move on to the next section. Make sure they understand what they’re reading, and point out real life examples of topics discussed when you’re driving and why they’re important.
If you choose a driving school, put it to the test in the same way you would a sports gym or music teacher you’re thinking about entrusting your child’s training to. Check for an approved curriculum and make sure limited drive time with the instructor takes place in a variety of weather and road conditions, and is not restricted to the route the student will test on. The goal is not just to pass the test; it is to create a safe driver.
When they are with you, allow them to drive as much as possible at different times of day and in different situations. Remember that while learning to drive, passenger time is valuable time as well. Teens follow adults’ examples concerning seat-belt use, texting/cell phone use, road rage and obeying traffic laws, so the years leading up to a teen learning to drive are an excellent time for parents to review their own driving habits. Whether behind the wheel or riding shotgun, the time teens spend in the car with a parent creates the most valuable teaching moments for ensuring safe young drivers.
For information on helping create a safe driver in your teen, visit cdc.gov and click on the “teen driver” tab.