It might feel like yesterday that you and your child were blowing bubbles, but now they have a limited driver’s license or learning permit. Teaching your teen to drive is an important processfor their safety and others. Even if your teenager does not listen to everything you say, do your best to teach them how to drive safely. Your efforts could give them the practice and experience to become a responsible new driver. In this post, we will cover useful lessons for teaching your teen to drive safely and responsibly.

Reinforce Driving Laws 

While your teen may have a driver’s permit, you should review the rules before getting in the car. You should discuss the basic rules of the road. Talk about what to do if an emergency vehicle comes on the road. Moreover, use this lesson as an opportunity to talk about drugs or alcohol. Since fatal accidents are much more likely to be caused by drivers under the influence, there are severe consequences for a DUI. According to reckless driving lawyers in Emporia VA, “A DUI conviction carries serious consequences including a hefty fine, a driver’s license suspension of up to 1 year, an alcohol education program to attend and possible incarceration.”This initial conversation can have a lasting impact on your teen. By reinforcing the driving laws from a parental position, you can show your teen the connection between the rules and safety.

Practice Driving A Vehicle 

At the start, your teen needs an introduction to operating the vehicle for safe driving and carmaintenance. Rather than assuming they know the basics, review the gear shifter, brakes, gas, turn signals and other essential automotive components. When you start practicing for the first time, you can use a large empty parking lot or deserted side street. They need to learn how to accelerate, stop and turn safely. This can take some time for you to communicate. Keep your cool throughout the process. By starting out slowly, you can teach them how to control the vehicle with practice.

Drive In Different Situations 

After your teen has the basics down for a while, you can teach them how to drive in different conditions. One of the rights of passage, learning to drive on the highway can take some time to work up to. After your child has the control and skill set, take them on to higher speed roads. Build up to driving on the highway. Teach them how to check their blind spot, merge and exit safely. Additionally, you can take them driving in different conditions like bad weather, night time or through traffic. These lessons will give your teen required experience to drive safer later on down the road.

Encourage A Defensive Driving Approach 

As your teen gains some experience, encourage them to practice defensive driving. This practice includes proceeding through intersections with caution, watching for road hazards or staying out of other drivers’ blind spot. Since accidents can be caused by other drivers, your teen can learn the practice of driving defensively. This will make them more aware of their driving habits and the impact they have on other cars on the road. In both ways, the defensive driving lesson can dramatically improve their overall safety.

Demand No Phones While Driving 

Especially while learning, demand that your teenager does not use their phone while driving. Whether it is to make a phone call, play music or navigate with a GPS, the distractions are risky. You want your teen to understand the importance of placing their 100% focus on the road whether it is a short errand or long road trip. Their phone can wait until they are done driving. This lesson should be carried through their learning process. It should prevent them from ever texting and driving. Minimizing the distractions of their phone will keep your teen safe behind the wheel.

Parents have a major responsibility in teaching their new drivers safety. Before getting started, reiterate the rule of driving and why they are important for safety. Then, you need to teach the basics like operating the car and driving in the rain. However, your role needs to shift more to coaching to show them how to drive defensively and limit distractions while driving. One of the best ways to teach these lessons is to practice them yourself. Your teen can learn to drive safely through your instruction and example.