It is natural for a parent to be concerned about the behavior of their teenager. With limited driving experience, you’re worried that your child will come home safely every night. While time and practice will help them become more efficient, it is your responsibility to protect your teenager ahead of time by teaching them the rules of the road. Most likely, they already know the basic rules of the road by training drivers, but more detailed information may be exactly what protects them. Here are some things to discuss with your teenage driver:
1) Distracted driving
Distracted driving is a very important topic of conversation with a teenager. Driving your vehicle while trying to text, take pictures, answer a phone, put on makeup or do your hair increases your chances of having an accident. Explain to your child how important it is to focus on the road.
2) Seat belts
It might sound cool to ride without a seat belt, but it’s illegal. Not to mention that if your teenager drives without a seat belt, an accident can cause significant damage. There are many demo videos online that you can use to explain what happens to a driver without a seat belt. It can be scary for them to watch, but this fear can cause them to buckle up before take off.
3) Driving under the influence
The teenage years are usually the time when children begin to experiment with drugs and alcohol. Although you hope your teenager will avoid this kind of behavior, you still need to educate them about the dangers and consequences of using a car after using drugs or alcohol. You should talk to them about how these substances affect their ability to drive and increase their chances of having an accident. You should also talk about what would happen if they stopped being affected. Discuss the difference between driving under the influence of driving and driving with a disability and the fines and legal consequences that can result.
4) Car safety check
Before getting behind the wheel, your teen should learn how to thoroughly inspect the car to make sure it is safe. It doesn’t mean maintenance and repair, but just a basic check. Let them see that all of their lights are working, check the tires to make sure they are inflated, and check the dash to make sure they have enough gas and oil.
5) Driving in bad weather
While your inexperienced teens stay perfectly off the road in bad weather, you can’t predict what Mother Nature will face. So it is better to prepare them. Talk to them about using fog lights in foggy or heavy rain conditions. Discuss the importance of driving at or below the speed limit to avoid slipping or hydroplaning. Drive in bad weather to teach them some driving tips, such as how to brake slowly when the ice is on the ground or navigate poorly lit roads in the rain. The more they train, the less likely they are to have an accident.
6) What to do in the event of an accident
While the hope is that your teenager will never participate randomly, the reality is that it can happen. It is important for your teen to know what to do in the event of an accident in order to stay safe. Go through the process of what they need to do, including contacting authorities, getting out of the vehicle (if they can), photographing the damage, exchanging information with another driver (but not pleading guilty), and obtaining information. of any witness. Then proceed to the insurance claim filing process. While you are ready to fill out this part for them now that they are older and have their own insurance and car, it is good that they know.
You are very proud that your teenager has learned all the basics of driving. Either way, you also care about that on the road. While you can’t control everything that happens while your teenager is driving, you can do your part to keep them safe. It starts by educating them about the dangers of driving and teaching them how to avoid crashes and what to do if they end up in an accident, giving you peace of mind and reducing the chances of your teen being seriously injured.
