Getting a driver’s license is a rite of passage for most kids. Across the U.S., teens as young as 14 are getting behind the wheel; teens can have full driving privileges at 16 in some states. The Governors Highway Safety Association state-by-state guide can give you the rules and regulations for novice drivers in your area.
Are you and your teen both ready to roll? The American Academy of Pediatrics offers tips on teaching your teen to drive. Their recommendations include discussing your route and the skills you’ll be practicing, giving clear and simple instructions calmly, addressing mistakes as they occur and reviewing their progress at the end of the lesson. Eventually your teen will be driving off without you and your expert guidance. But now what?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2,608 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver in 2021. Some due to speeding. Others were caused by impaired driving. These are obvious safety risks for your teen driver. Teens who complete Drivers Ed, at school, online or with a private instructor, are less likely to take part in risky behavior or be involved in an accident. Student drivers learn the rules of the road and defensive driving techniques to help them become safer drivers. Most school districts and all states have programming available, find your local provider at the NHTSA website.
Here are a few more that you need to address before a drive ends in disaster.