For your teenager, getting a driver’s license means more freedom. As a parent, having a teenager learn to drive can be a worrisome experience since accident and injury rates among teenage drivers are so high.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that 2,500 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 died in car accidents in 2018. You can reduce your teenager’s likelihood of getting into an injurious or fatal car accident by using certain strategies early on.
1. Lead by example
Your teenager has probably watched the way you drive and your driving habit for years. Set a good example by maintaining your composure as you drive, following the rules of the road, wearing a seatbelt and keeping your phone down.
2. Set clear boundaries
To prevent your teenager from getting into a motor vehicle accident, come up with some driving rules as soon as your child gets his or her license. For example, you may want to prohibit driving at night, driving friends around or driving anywhere else but work or school.
3. Enroll your teen in a driver safety course
A safe driving course offered by your community or your child’s school can teach your teenager safe driving practices. One of these courses can help your teen learn about basic driving practices, driving laws in your local area and driving in difficult conditions, like rain.
You should also be willing to practice driving regularly with your teen. Start practicing at non-busy times in good weather and then help your teenager build driving skills from there.
