It's a day that many parents dread, the day when their teen turns sixteen and finally asks for the keys to the car. Hopefully, your teen has taken drivers ed classes and knows the basics. But how do you know your teen is finally ready to drive on their own and can be trusted with the family car?
A few simple things should be checked off the list before handing those keys over to your teen and their friends, and they all can be examined by a patient parent who knows what signs to look for.
First, think about your teen's general temperament. Do they make good calls in judgment or are you often arguing about their poor decisions? Also, when with friends do they resist the pressure to listen to them? And has he or she studied your state's driver's guide as a means to learn more about driving? If you feel that your teen is responsible enough to handle the car on their own, then it might be a good time for them to start driving without a parent in the car.
If your teen has taken drivers ed Baltimore courses, take them out on the road for a test drive. Calmly direct them so that you can see their driving skills first hand. Practice things like: following directions, parking, braking safely and changing lanes. Have a discussion with your teen about what to don in emergency situations, such as a blown tire or cut brake line. This will equip your teen with the right information to navigate through different stressful situations while driving.
Finally, set down rules with them on what is allowed in the car. For instance, you might decide that music is okay in the car, but switching through radio stations while driving is against the rules. You may also want to specify the number of passengers you feel comfortable with your teen driving with in the car. Similarly, a good idea is to set some guidelines for usage of the car after dark or after curfew. A responsible teen will understand the rules and be able to adhere to them. Specify that their car usage is dependent on their ability to follow the rules.
Having your teen finally drive on their own might be a nerve-wracking process. But giving them the correct tools and strict rules for using the car can help them to become responsible and dependable drivers.
Author Resource:-
ABC Driver Education (http://driveabc.com/) is a company that does drivers ed in Baltimore. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
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