Helpful Tips for Parents with an Upcoming New Teen Driver

As a parent, your involvement can make a world of difference. The most important thing you can do to protect your teen's life is to be actively involved in their learning-to-drive journey. Research shows that teens value their parents' opinions the most (even if it doesn't always seem that way). Sharing your knowledge and experience about safe driving is crucial. Now is the perfect time to start a potentially life-saving conversation with your teen.

Your role as a parent is to manage and coach your teen into becoming a safe, experienced driver through practice driving and mentoring. Be aware of the risks, set and enforce rules, and model safe and responsible driving. It's important to provide a framework for your teen that guides their decision-making and behaviors, even when you’re not around. Here are some key actions you can take:

Evaluate Your Teen’s Readiness

Talk with your teen about personal responsibility, the ability to follow rules, and any other concerns before starting the learning-to-drive process. Before you begin practice driving, set strict ground rules related to distractions.

Get Informed

A lot has changed since you earned your driver’s license. Graduated driver licensing (GDL), driver education, license restrictions, and supervised practice driving are all part of today’s licensing process. Make sure to learn the rules in your state.

Start Talking Now

You have acquired valuable “road wisdom” over the years – insight that could save your teen from having to learn things the hard way. Share this knowledge with them early on.

Focus on Safety

Traffic crashes are a real danger. Crash risks start increasing at age 12. Talk to your teen about:

• Always buckling up.

• Being a safe passenger with teen and adult drivers.

• Prohibiting your teen from riding with other teen drivers or transporting other teens during the learning-to-drive process. Other teen passengers can be a major distraction.

• Not allowing cell phone use by you or your teen while driving, and blocking out other distractions. Include strict rules related to distraction in your Parent-Teen Driving Agreement before your teen drives solo.

Be Engaged and Talk

When you’re behind the wheel, talk about what you see (road signs, pedestrians, other vehicles, etc.) that could require changing speed, direction, or both. Have your teen comment, too. The more time your teen spends behind the wheel, the more experiences you’ll both have to discuss, like dealing with tailgaters, distractions, speeding, poor weather conditions, and more. Emphasize the dangers of these common hazards.

Be Active in the Learning-to-Drive Process

The more issues you address early, the safer and smoother the whole process will be. AGI offers StartSmart, a set of research-based e-newsletters you can use to guide discussions with your teen throughout the entire learning-to-drive process.

Stay Involved

Continue to practice supervised driving until your teen logs at least 100 hours. Your teen might obtain an intermediate driver’s license before completing 100 hours of practice driving. This doesn’t mean your teen driver no longer needs to practice, though. Solo driving is actually the riskiest phase for your teen, so stay engaged.

Be a Good Role Model

Your teen has been watching your driving habits for years. As your teen begins the learning-to-drive process, they’ll likely pay even more attention. Make sure to prevent any poor driving habits from being passed on. Show that you take driving seriously and always set a good example.

What You Can Do

• Always wear your seat belt.

• Obey traffic laws.

• Do not use a cell phone while driving.

• Watch your speed.

• Don’t tailgate.

• Use your turn signals.

• Don’t drive when angry or tired.

StartSmart…Online Parent Session

It’s no secret that parents play a critical role in the learning-to-drive process, from checking into state licensing processes to supervising practice driving. With all the details involved in getting your teen safely behind the wheel, it’s smart to have a game plan.