subject: Drivers Ed Tips For Parents [print this page] Getting a drivers license is one of the first major milestones in a teenagers journey to adulthood. Its a huge responsibility but not just for them. Youre essentially giving your child a deadly weapon, and its up to you to make sure they know what theyre doing.
While many parents will choose to enroll their teenager in official drivers ed training (which is advisable), its probably a wise idea for you to take them on their first few test drives yourself. This article includes some tips on how and what you should be teaching them.
Find some private pavement
Since your child has little to no experience operating a vehicle, its probably a little premature to set them free on the main drag. Instead, you should opt for an empty parking lot somewhere, like at a school on the weekend or somewhere in the country. Not only is it safer in general for them to start off somewhere private, but it will also ease your childs nerves knowing they arent at risk of hurting or embarrassing themselves. And calm nerves mean better driving.
D is for defense
No matter what aspect of driving youre teaching your child, the number one thing you want them to understand is the importance of being a defensive driver. Defensive doesnt mean you have to be a worried or hesitant driver. To be a defensive driver means to be aware of whats happening around you at all times. Defensive drivers exercise caution, and are ready to respond instantly if another car threatens to move into their space.
Show them what speed looks like
Many of us spend a lot of time on the highway, and are pretty desensitized to traveling at 100 km/h. One trick to help give your teenager some perspective on the dangers of highway driving is to find a safe spot close to a highway (try to find a service road that runs alongside it) and step out of the car. Just standing near a highway as cars whip past at top speed will remind your child (and maybe even you) just how fast cars really move. Staying focused can mean the difference between life and death.
Parkers ed
Most of us know how daunting a parallel parking job can be, and it will certainly be a point of focus on your childs final driving test. Youll want to spend almost as much time teaching them how to park as you do teaching them how to drive. And keep in mind that parallel parking isnt the only kind that might be on the test. Remember there is back-stall parking (reversing into a parking spot) and parking safely on a hill (point your wheels toward the curb if facing downward; away from the curb if facing upward).
A little legal reading
Not all drivers ed has to do with driving. You should also spend some time explaining to your child the many legalities of being a driver. Consequences of traffic violations, driving under the influence, and keeping their ID and insurance up to date are just a few areas worth studying. Your child will likely see this as the least exciting part of learning how to drive, so they may need some coaxing to absorb it. You could even devise a written test for them to take so they have to seek out the information on their own.
These are just a few tips to get you started. And remember that even if its a stressful task for you, it can be a very exciting one for them so be sure to also teach them that driving is fun! Just remind them to check those blind spots.
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