Tips
to Help Your Driving Teen
Notoriously
known for pumping invisible brakes and
clutching passenger-seat door handles,
parents aren’t always the best driving
instructors while riding with their young
teens. Despite being experienced drivers,
parents often fail miserably when it comes
to serving as a cool copilot.
One
way parents can ensure sanity during driving
practice sessions with their teens is
by attempting to focus on just one aspect
of driving for each lesson. Driving lessons
in small doses may just provide the best
way for parents and teens to cover the
most ground.
According
to national insurance company MetLife,
these common problems between parents
and young drivers can be easily solved
through a series of important, yet simple,
driving lessons.
From
driving tips, to common problems, to safe
driving habits, MetLife provides parents
with suggestions and tips they can use
prior to jumping into the car with their
young teen. A good lesson plan and simple
communication can ensure any parent/teen
combo will have a safe, but fun time,
while on the road.
Before
You Begin
Get
a View From the Copilot's Seat
As a driver, it's simple to tell just
how close your surroundings are. However,
one look at those mailboxes from the copilot's
seat and you might think your teen driver
is about to run them over.
It's
important to remember the road looks very
different from the passenger side of the
car. Take a ride in the passenger’s
seat before experiencing it with your
new driver. This way you have a feel for
how the road looks from a passenger’s
viewpoint, and you’ll have one less
surprise when your teen takes the wheel.
This
is especially important if you plan to
check how well your teen centers the vehicle
in its lane. The road's center line looks
very different from the passenger's seat
as well.
Act
as the New Driver
Roll play and try pretending to be the
new driver with an experienced adult driver
giving you instructions. You might find
being told to “turn left,” “turn
right,” “stop here” or
“pull in there” can be awkward
— and downright annoying! This experience
can help you better understand what the
new driver goes through, and how they
feel when their driving lessons begin.
Stay
Alert
It’s important to stay alert. Though
this probably won’t be a problem,
since only a very fortunate parent or
guardian can truly relax while their teenager
is behind the wheel. However, remember
that the minute you start to relax could
be the very minute your teen needs help.
Be comfortable, but remain alert.
Remember
Your Goal
Make sure you realize that you can only
cover so much ground in each driving lesson.
However, practicing with your teen can
pay off in the years to come. With repeated
practicing, you can help your teenager
learn to make important decisions and
judgements rather than rely on trial —
and quite possibly — error.
First
Practice Sessions
Try to practice with your teen as often
as possible, with the first few sessions
lasting only 15 to 20 minutes. You can
eventually increase the practice periods
to one hour during daylight hours, eventually
reaching one-hour increments at night
and during poor weather conditions. Try
and take advantage of every opportunity
to practice with your teen in the vehicle.
Always feel free to take a break if either
you or your teen become tired or frustrated.
Your teen's driving can't improve under
tense conditions. It’s all part of
staying cool behind the wheel!
Start
in a Parking Lot
Empty parking lots are great places to
test if your teen can drive in a straight
line, start up and drive short distances
or stop smoothly.
Try
testing your teen’s ability to turn
the wheel while accelerating. Decide on
a point in the parking lot to turn right,
and make sure your teen can complete the
turn without first drifting to the left
or cutting the corner. Then, complete
a left turn the same way. Also have your
young driver practice making right and
left turns after coming to a complete
stop.
Helping
Your New Driver See
The
key to being in tune with other traffic
and staying in control of a driving situation
is continuously looking ahead, to the
sides and behind your vehicle.
Doing
it Well
Remind your teen to look as far ahead
as possible at all times. Driving through
town often requires observing at least
a block ahead of you. The ability to glance
frequently in both the inside and outside
mirrors, and look over your shoulder before
turning or changing lanes, helps young
drivers better observe the road around
them.
Your
Role
To improve their observation skills, ask
your teen to tell you as soon as they
notice something change, such as a new
traffic light, stop sign or intersection.
You can also ask the new driver to point
out areas where their vision could be
restricted including hillcrests and blind
intersections.
Make
sure your young driver is aware of when
there are other vehicles behind them.
You can also quiz your teen to see if
they know how fast they are driving without
first looking at the speedometer.
Common
Problems and Solutions
First time drivers often stare straight
ahead for a long periods of time without
scanning the sides of the vehicle or checking
its mirrors and instruments frequently
enough. Inexperienced drivers may also
drive through intersections without slowing,
which could mean they aren't observing
the situation properly. Also keep an eye
on the vehicle to ensure it isn't drifting
in the lane. These are good tests to see
if your teen is paying adequete attention.
Try
to encourage your new driver to be prepared
to react to everything in the driving
path or objects that could cross the road
and end up in the way. Also, encourage
your teen to look beyond the vehicle ahead
and notice any brake lights in the lane
as a sign that traffic may be slowing
down.
Also
try and teach your teenager to watch for
danger signals including car exhust, improperly
positioned front wheels, turn signals
or brakes lights that could signify a
parked or slowed vehicle ahead.
Key
Lessons
Remind your new driver to observe all
sides of the vehicle, as well as the instrument
panel, while they drive. This ensures
they have all the information necessary
to make good driving decisions.
Places
to Practice
Quiet residential streets are some of
the best places to practice observing
all sides of a vehicle. While driving,
make sure your teen looks out for special
hazards including parked vehicles, driveways,
children playing, bicyclists and pedestrians.
Intersections demand scanning from side
to side. As your teen begins moving onto
heavier traffic and higher-speed roads,
this skill becomes increasingly important
for safety.
Click
here to read more Tips to Help
Your Driving Teen
Source: MetLife
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