Parents
You're still in the driver's seat!
As the parent of a new driver, you are their single biggest influence behind the wheel. Learning to drive is an exciting time for your teen, and it can be a great opportunity for you and your child to connect. But, teaching your child to drive can also be one of the most stressful things you'll ever do as a parent. There is nothing more important than the safety and security of your children.
To your teen, driving represents independence, but before they are out there alone you have this one opportunity to make sure they are comfortable behind the wheel and can identify the right decisions from the wrong ones. We hope we can help you make this a positive experience for both of you!
Now, let's get started…
Parent Resources
Quiz for Parents — Evaluate Your Driving
Evaluate Your Driving
What is Your Role?
Right now, your teen's driving is more influenced by you than anyone else. Take every opportunity you can to talk to your teen about the seriousness of driving, and the skills and attitudes that are necessary to guarantee their success. And don't forget — they are watching everything you do behind the wheel. Your job is to impart your experience and knowledge to your teen in a positive way so you can reinforce their positive driving habits. In the end, no matter how much coaching or education you give to your teen, they will eventually drive just like you!
Let's list a few things you can do:
- ROLE MODEL
Be a positive role model when you're behind the wheel. - EDUCATE YOURSELF
When in doubt, do your research! We hope our site, among others, can help provide information on driving specifics when you find there's something you want clarified or explained. - PARENTING VS. COACHING
Set aside time every week devoted to just teaching your teen to drive. Don't do it on the way to a place you both need to be, but devote the time to teaching, practical exercises, and lessons to make them identify the right driving decisions and behaviors.
A Parent’s Guide to Safer Teen Driving
Role Model
Educate Yourself
Parenting vs. Coaching
Understanding & Managing Risks
How to Handle Disagreements
Consequences
Driving Activities
Nothing beats hands-on experience, especially when it comes to driving. You won't get better if you don't go out there and drive… A LOT!
First things first — your teen has to feel completely comfortable in whatever vehicle they will be driving. Even if your teen has taken a Drivers' Ed course, the more time they have behind the wheel making correct decisions, the more confident they will be as they learn to drive. It's very important that they get the feel of the vehicle they will be using.
Before starting, have your teen adjust the mirrors, seat and steering wheel, and find all blind spots.
You may have multiple vehicles in your household. These cars likely have different features and controls. To a novice driver, having to learn the location and operation of multiple features can be a distraction in and of itself. We recommend that your teen practice driving on one car only. Once you are comfortable with your teen's performance driving that car, then you can begin to train them on the other vehicles in the household.
Creating a Mutual Driving Agreement
The Cost of Driving
Role-Playing
In-Car Driving Practice
Additional Parent Resources
Check out these safe driving resources for additional information for both you and your teen driver.
Governors Highway Safety Association- The Governors Highway Safety Association's mission is to improve traffic safety, influence national policy and enhance program management. Most states have graduated driver licensing laws in place. For specific information about your state visit http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/license_laws.html
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was created to carry out safety programs, help prevent crashes, save lives and conduct research.
National Safety Council- The National Safety Council educates, as well as monitors, crash trends. The Council saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths on the roads, at work, in homes and communities, through leadership, research, education and advocacy.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving- Mothers Against Drunk Driving's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.
Students Against Destructive Decisions- Students Against Destructive Decisions' purpose is to provide students with the best prevention tools possible to deal with underage drinking, other drug use, impaired driving and other destructive decisions.
Toyota Driving Expectations- Toyota Driving Expectations is a program from Toyota designed to empower and educate teens and parents about driving and road safety through a unique combination of interactive hands on sessions and simulated defensive driving exercises.
Virtual Driver Interactive- Virtual Driver Interactive provides engaging and compelling simulation systems for all aspects of driver safety. By offering a wide range of system hardware options, VDI's customers can expect highly portable, affordable and effective solutions. Simulation titles include One Simple Decision a deterrent to distracted or impaired driving, StreetReady a structured novice driver program measuring and teaching key skills, and the Virtual DDC defensive driver improvement course for organizations that wish to improve the safety of their employees.