The journey of parenting is equally challenging & rewarding, with the teenage years often falling into the ‘challenging’ category. For teenagers learning to drive, this is not only turbulent and stressful for them, but also tremendously tests the strength & patience of the parents. A fundamental right of passage for Aussie teens is the introduction into adulthood by obtaining a learner’s licence and owning their first car. Statistics in Australia show that the overall majority of traffic offenses, accidents, incidents of dangerous driving and road rage occur amongst drivers between the ages of 18-25. Therefore, it is vital for parents to provide a strong foundation for their teenagers to help them become safe, respectful and courteous drivers. Most parents are somewhat hesitant to take on the role of helping offspring learn to drive, and find it easier, and less stressful to pay for driving lessons with a qualified instructor. However, if you are willing to take on the challenge, here are our tips for parents teaching their teens to drive.
- Contact your insurer and add learner drivers / drivers under the age of 25 to your policy. It may come at an added cost, but its best to cough up the extra for peace of mind for you both.
- It may be a good idea to get a head start by sending your teen to three to four lessons with a professional driving school. This way, they will learn the basics whilst you can take the time to prepare yourself mentally on how to equip them moving forward.
- Brush up on your state’s road rules before getting your teenager behind the wheel. Driving skills develop with practice & eventually your teen will get to a point where they incorporate the rules unconsciously.
- Come up with a plan or checklist of things that you want to teach your teen during each lesson. Include driver skills, weather conditions, road conditions and alter the times of the day when they will practice. This will help maintain progress and accountability for the both of you.
- To begin with, practice in quiet open spaces such as empty parking lots and build and vary the level of challenge moving forward. Ensure they practise on all types of roads, driving conditions, times of the day and skills over the allocated learner hours in your state, and do not hesitate to exceed that time if you feel they need more practice.
- As with any other aspect of parenting, it is important to lead by example. It is essential that you stay calm, patient, respectful and courteous of others on the road, allow your teenager to make mistakes and learn from them and focus on positive reinforcement at all times. Your belief in your teenager’s capabilities will make them more confident and skilful as they progress towards driving independently.
Be prepared for the unexpected, your teen will make mistakes, and may likely have a small accident in their first years of driving. Contact Novus Auto Glass Mitcham and ask us about our windscreen saver patches. Keep one handy in your teens first car, for those unexpected stone chips.