Your kid has grown up and it\u2019s time for them to start learning how to drive<\/b>. Taking time to teach your teen how to drive can be a great bonding experience, but it could lead to some hectic problems if you\u2019re both unprepared. To keep your teen safe and give them proper instruction, you need to be sure that you\u2019re teaching them the proper rules of the road and practice properly. Here are some teenage driving<\/b> tips that can help you make you a better teacher and your teen a smarter driver.<\/p>\nBefore You Begin<\/h2>\n
Contact your auto insurance<\/b> provider to see if your teen is covered under your plan when using your car for driving lessons. You may need to get additional protection if you plan on having your teen drive your car regularly. Research your state\u2019s teen driving laws<\/b> to know when and how to get a learner\u2019s permit. Now that all the proper forms are filled out, it\u2019s time for an introduction.<\/p>\nReintroduce Your Teen to Your Vehicle<\/h2>\n
Up until this point, your teen has never known the driver\u2019s perspective when sitting inside a car. It\u2019s important for your teen to be reintroduced in your car, only this time not as a passenger. Give them time to get familiar with it before starting the engine. Teach them how to turn on the headlights, use the windshield wipers, adjust the mirrors, and other functions of the car. Teach them what certain icons mean on the dashboard. Once they become familiar with the controls and feel comfortable, it\u2019s time to take the car out of the garage.<\/p>\n
The next step is for your teen to feel out the vehicle from behind the wheel. Take your teen and the car to an empty parking lot or other uncrowded safe location to learn the basic controls. Let them press on the accelerator and touch the brakes in order to feel out and gauge the car\u2019s response time. Have them learn how to parallel park and back into parking spaces. Once they have mastered basic maneuvering, it\u2019s time to take the car out for a spin.<\/p>\n
In order to ease your teen into driving well, It\u2019s best to start off slow in low traffic areas to reduce stress and decrease the risk of an accident. Stay on roads where the speed limit is under 35 M.P.H. This will allow them to comfortably learn how the car functions and boost their confidence.<\/p>\n
During these beginning driving lessons, teach them and have them practice the following:<\/p>\n
Once they have mastered beginner skills and become comfortable driving on slower roads, it is time for the next challenge.<\/p>\n
Highway driving can make your teen driver anxious, so aim for driving during quieter times of the day to properly practice without the stress of rush hour traffic. Before you do this, you must be sure that your teen driver can react quickly and calmly within the faster traffic.<\/p>\n
While driving on the highway, you should teach your teen to:<\/p>\n
Once your teen displays a solid fundamentals in driving, you should schedule a driving session when it is raining, snowing, and at nighttime. This helps them learn how to spot hazards in the darkness and the importance of keeping a slower speed during slick conditions. It also teaches them how to stay calm when there is fog or other instances of low visibility.<\/p>\n
Once you think your teen has learned it all, it\u2019s time for them to take their driver\u2019s test. Once they pass, they\u2019ll likely want to start using your vehicle regularly. Have a talk with your teen create a Parent-Teen Driving Contract to establish rules and the consequences if the teen gets breaks any traffic laws. It can also help spell out who pays for gas or insurance when your teen gets to drive your car. At the end of it all, you have a safe, informed driver on the road.<\/p>\n