Although there are various traffic schools for teaching teens to drive safely yet, we cannot ignore the importance of parents in this regard. Getting a certificate from a traffic school or passing a driving test does not mean your kid has become an expert in driving. Driving is a skill, and it takes some time in mastering any skill, which is why parents should be extra supportive during this new phase of a kid’s life.

How Parents can Help

The rate of injury among teens in car crash is much more than adults, and it is mainly due to distracted driving. The sense to avoid things like these cannot be fully learned from any institution. Parents must teach kids what to do and what not to do while driving. Start training your kid to drive safely right from today. Just follow these simple tips.

Become a Role Model

How can you expect your kid to drive responsibly if you are a careless driver yourself? The first thing parents need to understand is that kids tend to copy adults. So when it comes to driving, your behavior and attitude matters a lot. Try to follow all traffic rules and remain focused on the road, thus setting an example that you’d want your kid to follow when he’s behind the steering wheel.

Supervise in the Initial Days

It’s best to supervise the kid during first few weeks of driving in order to note his weaknesses and guide him accordingly. Provide on-the-road training by telling him important things in simple way like how to control speed, how to drive in bad weather, how to take turn etc. Also teach him how to do road scanning, as drivers have to keep an eye on other vehicles present in their surroundings to drive safely.

Set Driving Rules

Being a parent, you still have a right to set driving rules for your teen. Make sure that you and your kid agree on following things before handing him the car keys:

• Always wear safety belt while driving,
• Never eat or drink anything while driving,
• Do not drive late at night or in extremely weather conditions,
• Do not use mobile phones or any other electronic device while driving,
• Drive within the speed limit,
• Never drive car when you are drunk,
• Do not change clothes, do self-grooming or play games with friends while driving,
• Never take your eyes away from road, not even for a few seconds.

Discuss the Consequences

Teens naturally feel excited about getting to drive, but they should also know that with a car come great responsibilities. Inform your kids about the consequences of distracted driving. It’s time you tell them about the things that can possibly go wrong while on the road. This includes everything from getting a ticket and crashing the car to something even more serious, like running someone over for instance.

Show Your Support

Sometimes, teens get stuck in bad situations due to their own mistakes and they hide it from parents, fearing that parents will be mad at them. You should ask your teen to promise you that he will immediately inform you in case of any problem irrespective of how serious the situation is. Tell him that you love him and that your support is unconditional.