Thankfully, though, you can be involved in your teen’s learning process so you can rest assured that they’ll be fully prepared to always drive smart. Check out the tips below so you can properly teach your teen how to be a safe driver.
Really Enforce the Importance of Driving Theory
Driving theory is just as important as gathering the practical skills necessary to safely navigate the streets behind the wheel of a vehicle, so you definitely want your teenager to study and understand driving theory.
To ensure your teenager really knows driving theory inside and out and will be able to pass the driving theory test with confidence the first time they take it, have them take some practice tests from Top Tests before taking the real test. Passing this test the first time will give your teen even more confidence to get behind the wheel.
Always Start Slow
When you learn anything new, you should start off slow and take things easy before progressing onto more advanced concepts, and the same holds true for teaching your teen how to drive. The last thing you should do is tell your teen to head out onto a motorway the first or second time that they get behind the wheel.
Instead, you should start off slow by teaching your teen how to drive safely on suburban and rural roads first. Your teen should also be comfortable driving in a variety of weather conditions before getting on the motorway, where higher speeds and faster reaction times are necessary.
Always Maintain Your Patience
Your teen is probably nervous, and they want to do well to impress you with their driving skills, but mistakes are inevitable, especially at the beginning. To keep things positive, always maintain your patience.
Be firm with your teen when mistakes are made so they can be corrected, but don’t lose your cool. Avoid raising your voice; instead, have them pull the car over to a safe spot so you can fully explain what they did wrong.
Always Drive Safely When Behind the Wheel
Whenever you’re the driver in your vehicle and your teen is in the car with you, make it a point to serve as a great role model. Follow the rules of the road and drive carefully, and point out important lessons and tips along the way.
With the tips above, you can be a really great teacher for your teenage driver. You’ll confidently be able to teach your teen how to drive with safety in mind at all times, and that will give you the peace of mind you need to let your son or daughter venture out on their own.