Parents Set an Example for Teen Drivers

As a parent of a young driver, it’s understandable that you get nervous each and every time they leave in their car (and maybe even more nervous when they leave in your car!). You want to do everything possible to ensure their safety when they’re behind the wheel but sometimes it seems like there’s only so much you can do before it’s out of your hands. That doesn’t mean you should give up, however, it just means you need to be more efficient in how you try to pass along defensive driving techniques to them so that they both learn those techniques and appreciate their value.

Probably the most important thing you can do is set a good example. Anytime you tell a teen driver that they need to exhibit caution in a specific driving scenario and then they witness you not exhibit caution in that same scenario, they’re going to value what you have to say less, both in this situation and in others. When you’re driving and they’re a passenger, make sure to point out things that you’re doing that show the you’re utilizing the same defensive driving techniques you’re trying to impart onto them. They’ll see that even an experienced driver is practicing these techniques and understand why they’re important.

You should also set up rules and restrictions about when they can drive and who they can drive with but stick to those rules. They may be upset with these rules but they’ll eventually understand that you’re enforcing them for their own good.