Your teenagers are about to become independent, and that means they will be driving your car. No more chauffeur, no more having them push you around town – now it’s their turn. But before you relinquish the keys, you want to make sure they know what to do when your teenager starts driving your car.
Teaching your teenager to drive is a big responsibility, but it’s also an opportunity for you as a parent to bond with and teach your child at the same time.
Before You Let Your Teenager Drive a Car:
Driving is a privilege, not a right. Because of the nature of the responsibility that comes with driving, you need to make sure they are responsible enough to handle that power before letting them drive your car. Have contact details available for car accident lawyers, you may need them.
They need to show you and prove to you they can handle the responsibility:
- Get good grades in school.
- Follow all traffic rules and regulations when driving, such as speed limit, stop signs, right of way, etc.
- Take driving lessons, even if it’s only an hour of supervised driving.
If your child shows signs that they are not responsible enough or mature enough to handle driving your car, you might want to reevaluate their ability to drive before giving them access to the vehicle. They need to learn how to be responsible and know the rules of driving before they can follow them.
Preparing your child for what to do when they start driving your car
If you decide that your teenager is responsible enough, there are some things you can do to prepare them for what to do when they start driving your car. Parents need to be patient and encouraging when teaching their teenagers to drive.
Repetition works
Deciding to let your child learn how to drive with you in the passenger seat is one of the best things you can do when they start driving your car. It’s essential for them to get used to driving, even if they are driving around the block.
Be responsible
Make sure your child understands what to do. Teach them about road signs, speed limits, and safety precautions before you let them behind the wheel of your vehicle on the roads. Let them know that driving is a privilege, so it’s their job to be responsible enough. Rough driving could put them in trouble as they can get into accidents. Some cases of accidents can be severe enough that you might need a lawyer from Wattel & York to help you with injury claims.
Understand basics
Make sure your child follows all the rules in the manual when they start driving your car. Make sure they understand what parking, accelerating, braking, and steering are. It’s best to go through these things first before letting them drive around town.
Practice parking
You might want to consider practicing parallel parking together. Teach them how to turn on the car, be aware of their surroundings and use caution when driving.
Practice driving
Drive with your teenager for a few days before letting them drive alone. It’s essential to get used to moving around town and in different environments so they can feel more comfortable behind the wheel and know what to do when they start driving your car.
Be the Parent
If your teenager does not listen to any of your rules when driving or fails their driving test, do NOT let them drive your car. Teach them how to be responsible enough by letting them go through some consequences first before they start driving again.
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