So, your teen is ready to drive solo. What to do about
your own fears as a parent?
Boys Town in Nebraska has come out with a five key
tips all parents should keep in mind as they hand over the keys to their young
ones.
1. Know the law. Research
rules specific to your location and your teen’s age. This includes curfew for
new drivers, regulations about how many people can be in the car with a new
driver, texting and talking on the phone while driving, etc. Make sure your
teen can recite these back to you — and revisit them often. Be abundantly clear
that driving is a privilege, not a right, and he or she will lose car
privileges immediately for violating any driving or traffic laws.
2. Review what your teens should
do in the event of an accident — regardless of who’s at fault. Print the
procedure out and put a copy in the car. Make sure your kids know where the
registration and insurance cards are in the vehicle they’re using. Role play
what to say and do if they’re involved in an accident.
3. Increase teens’ driving
privileges slowly. Safe driving takes both skill and good judgment,
which develop with practice over time. Let them have the keys for some short
runs—to school, the grocery store, etc. As they gain confidence and experience
driving on their own, you and your teens can decide together how and when to
increase their driving days and ranges.
4. Consider installing a GPS
tracker for the vehicles your teens are driving. Or at least their phones. This
increases peace of mind for both you and your new drivers. You’ll know where
they are, and they’ll know you can find them if they get lost, run out of fuel,
or have an emergency.
5. Decide ahead of time on who
pays for what. Will you provide them with a vehicle? Do they need to pay
for their own gas or auto insurance? Kids take privileges more seriously when
they have some skin in the game. Making them responsible for some of the costs
of driving helps teach responsibility.
Review these rules for the road early and often. Then hug
your teens and tell them you’re proud of their growing independence.
https://omaha.com/lifestyles/parenting/scared-for-your-new-driver-these-parenting-tips-might-ease-your-fears/article_28fad378-d401-5b89-a63d-a40926f96b63.html