Teaching Your Teen to Drive

Photo by William Krause on Unsplash

Learning how to drive a car is something lots of teens can’t wait to do. Parents, on the other hand, are never excited about this. It is normal to feel anxious about your teen driving. This phase is quite normal.

Note that the risk of a car crash for a learner is lower than an experienced driver.

You can help your child by:

Planning ahead before driving lessons

If you plan properly, your teen will be a responsible and safe driver.

You can start preparing your child for this process when they reach early to mid-teen age. This is before the child is qualified to apply for a learner’s permit. Consider these factors:

  • How will she learn? Will you prefer to teach her by yourself or you prefer a driving instructor? Do you want a combination of both?
  • You should also consider the legal age requirement for learners. The number of passengers and type of car should be considered according to the requirements of your jurisdiction.
  • Ground rules on using the family’s car. Will the child be allowed to drive with her friends in the car after being licensed? Can she drive at night?
  • Car insurance. Check if your car insurance covers the teenager.

Be sure to inform your child that the process of learning to drive and being licensed to drive is the beginning of a lifelong learning process.