Just getting behind the wheel and driving to work or going to the mall on today's highways can be a very stressful experience -- even for the expert driver. Why is this? Our society continues, as in the 80s, to want to do more in less time! There are many more offensive drivers on the road and, in many cases, it is a miracle each time we reach our destination safely without incident. We parents can remember our first driving days on less crowded highways. Drivers were referred to as "laid back" and the term road rage had never been heard before. Now people are driving at much faster speeds while dealing with many more distractions.
If you have a new, or fairly new, teen driver on today's roads, it is usually the parents or guardians who experience the most stress. DIA understands your concerns and has outlined "The Parent's Five Steps to Improving Your Teen's Driving." By following these steps, your teen's initial driving experience will be improved. Remember, it will take both the parent (or guardian) and the teen to commit to making their teen's driving experience successful.
Step 1: Obtain the Proper Knowledge of the Subject and Work With an Expert
Every parent or guardian wants the very best for their children. When we choose a piano teacher or tutor, we usually interview several experts before making the final choice of who will teach our children. With the teen driver, this is also what every parent needs to do. The most important step is to Obtain the proper knowledge of the subject and find a true expert. Most parents would not qualify as experts regarding proper defensive-driver training, therefore the step of finding a true expert is very critical.
Parents need to invest time in finding an expert. Start by obtaining referrals from friends who have had luck with a good trainer. Sometimes defensive-driving schools are not the answer. Ask your teens if they liked the trainer in their Driver's Ed class and if they learned from that person. Obtain an outline of the curriculum of the prospective trainer and study it closely. Does it make good sense? Ask for a resume of the trainer and how long he or she has been working with their curriculum? Who developed the curriculum? The curriculum should be well-rounded to include night driving, interstate and rural highways, and focus on root causes and solutions for avoiding any possible type of accident. You want a trainer who will teach skid avoidance and proper detection skills. Try to find a trainer who really is sincere and cares for teenagers. Try to find if there is a true passion for their job. Finding someone with whom you feel comfortable teaching a solid program may take some time, but it is certainly worth the investment. Invest in someone who will lead you and your teen with sound fundamental habits and philosophies.
Step 2: Understanding A Parent's Responsibility and Attitude
This is so very crucial. Your responsibility is to make sure your teen understands that driving is a privilege. Inform your teens of their responsibilities to you, their community, and themselves to drive responsibly and safely at all times. Your responsibility is to lead by example in your driving skills. Some good examples would be how you handle cellular phone calls while driving and your habits of signalling when making lane changes. If you are a tailgater, what kind of example are you sending your teen? DIA insists your responsibility does not end when your teen completes Driver's Ed class. Driver's Ed is only a small percentage of what your teen needs to know to be a proficient driver. It is, as mentioned, in STEP ONE your RESPONSIBILITY to find someone who can follow up with additional training. This responsibility also includes parental participation in the follow-up training.
DIA strongly suggests one of your responsibilities is to purchase an updated city map for your teen driver. Teach the numbering system, such as major hundred blocks, even-odd numbering system. This will greatly help your teen driver to eliminate possible distractions, and accidents when trying to locate certain destinations.
Parental Attitude
During the initial training with your teen, your attitude can make or break the entire training process. Focus on being patient, being positive, and staying calm. Try to remember your own training. You were already nervous and someone shouting, ranting, and raving "WATCH OUT!" made you even more nervous. As riders, it is your duty to inform your teen of any impending hazards in a pro-active manner. Look farther ahead to all your surroundings, then plan your comments so you can avoid panic and shouting. You are your teen's second pair of eyes, so stay alert. Wearing your seatbelt, stopping completely at stops signs, and railroad crossings are "good attitude and good example" driving. If you need to use a map when driving with your teen, pull off road to a safe area and refer to the map. Avoid referring to the map while driving or stopped in traffic. If an argument starts while training, parents should stop the vehicle and settle down before proceeding. This demonstrates to teenagers how dangerous it is to continue driving with emotional distractions and that it is okay -- actually imperative -- to stop the car and cool down.
Parents have every right to be very fearful when handing their keys to their teens, or allowing them to ride with other teens. The chances of their children causing or being involved in an accident are very high. As a parent you have the right to limit driving for several years until your teens prove to be responsible drivers. Parents should take away teen driving privileges if necessary due to un-responsible driving performances. Let them know ahead of time that there is a consequence to irresponsible driving behavior.
Step 3: Invest Time in Teen's Training
After working with an expert and obtaining improved skills yourself, you can also invest your time with your teen. This means taking time to ride along during night-driving situations and freeway driving. I recommend doing this in a gradual step process. Do not take your teen on the Interstate at 8:00 a.m. with all the hectic, bumper-to-bumper traffic! Instead, choose a time when traffic is lighter, such as early Sunday afternoon. As a parent you want to take your teen to driving routes which they will be using the most. Take them through their driving route to school, to their workplace, or to the grocery store. Key on these routes and strive to learn the types of situations which may be detrimental to your teen. Focus on low visibility areas and stress reducing speed according to visibility and conditions. During these driving situations, your goal is stressing proper speed control at all times and avoiding any distractions while the wheels are moving forward. Speed control becomes a very important issue when teens start driving alone.
Don't forget the routes going to your teen's friend's homes, the bowling alley, the skating rink, the mall, or movie theater. This will help in the learning process. Remember to invest time with your teen.
Five Steps...continued
Step 4: continued
Limit the number of teens riding in the vehicle with your teen driver. Let them know anyone riding with your teen must be responsible and avoid adding any distractions while your teen is driving. Absolutely no alcohol in the car, even for the passengers. Give your teen a goal and incentive such as, "if you do not have any accidents in a year, this is what I will do for you." It may be a new CD player, something for their car, or paying their insurance (if they are paying). This gives an incentive for focusing on responsible driving habits. Do not forget to remind them that by driving safely, the insurance payment will be reduced and more money will be going to them (maybe, huh). Give them a goal and incentive! Start acquainting your teen driver with the rules that will be in force, when they first begin expressing an interest in cars and driving. Don't hesitate to repeat those rules all throughout their formative years. This may start when they are seven or eight and see their first Ferrari!
Step 5: Give Them Follow-up and Continual Dialogue
Very, very important. When you see them off in the morning or see them leaving in the afternoon, or upon their return, you want to ask them questions. "How was your driving?" "Did you have any close calls?" "How was your speed control?" (This one very important to re-iterate and cannot be over-emphasized) "Did you need to use your map?" "How are your signalling habits?" "Are you staying back enough from the car in front of you?" These questions need to be asked on a daily basis. This creates an understanding with your teen that you are really concerned. Your teen will be expecting this. Also inform your spouse to ask these types of questions also. And most important, relate to them every time they leave -- Drive safely -- Control your speed -- Avoid distractions -- Stay in control -- and Drive responsibly. DIA believes that if you follow these steps your teen driver's experience should be successful. Follow these five steps and stay focused with your teen. SAFE DRIVING!
All DIA articles are intended as increased professional knowledge for improving perception of driving and driving skills. This information will not eliminate any accident on the part of anyone who fails to drive according to these principles. Drive courteously and responsibly!
