It is an important milestone that teens look forward to and parents dread – learning how to drive. When teaching teens to drive, parents have the responsibility of emphasizing and teaching the importance of vehicle safety. This includes talking to their teen about not texting and driving. Car accidents, sadly, are the leading cause of death for teens. Distracted driving is a major cause of those car accidents. While some parents may think their teen won’t listen to them or will just ignore the information they are giving their children, there are many ways to teach their young driver about not driving while distracted.
Here are 7 ways you can approach your teen about driving safely:
- Emphasize the responsibility of having a driver’s license: Talking to your teen about just how many people they will be responsible for while driving may give them a new perspective to think about. Explaining that they are now responsible for their own safety, as well as the safety of their passengers, other drivers on the road, cyclists, and pedestrians may make your teen step back and think about keeping others, as well as themselves, safe. There is also the responsibility of keeping their, or the family’s, vehicle in good physical condition. Expanding their worldview may help emphasize how important being safe is while driving.
- Explain the dangers of driving to your teen: Being honest and direct is important when teaching your teen about the dangers of driving. Each time they drive a vehicle, they are taking lives into their hands. While driving can be fun, and you can admit that to them, it is still serious business. Let your teen know that distracted driving kills. Explain what driving while distracted is, including talking and texting, wearing headphones, eating food, or talking on the phone, and then let them know the hard facts about how many car accidents distracted driving causes. In 2018 alone, there were over 400,000 injuries in car crashes caused by distracted drivers as well as 2,800 deaths. Explain that reading a text message is not worth dying for.
- Be their role model and set a good example: The best way to show your teen that distracted driving is not acceptable is avoid doing it yourself. Wear your seatbelt, keep your hands on the wheel, and keep your eyes on the road every time you drive. Your teen will follow your lead, especially when learning such an important new skill. Your actions will show them what is safe. Do not use your cell phone while driving. If you do, your teen may see it and, even after having a talk about not texting and driving, might do it anyway because they saw you using your phone in the car.
- Driving is a privilege – teach your teen it can be taken away: Explain to your teen that driving is not a right – it is a privilege. A driver’s license can be revoked at any time. Sit down and learn the laws and expectations of driving in Texas – then hold your teenage driver to these expectations.
- Gently offer safe driving tips: By teaching your teen how to use the basic functions of the car, including the lights, windshield wipers, turn signals, seatbelts, etc., you can help them feel comfortable in using these important functions while on the road. Talk to them about driving defensively and looking for potential threats, including erratic drivers or unexpected debris on the road. These tips can help a new driver learn how to be comfortable but alert while driving.
- Practice, practice, practice: When your teen first gets their license, set limits on solo-driving. While your teen may want to take the car out for a spin right away to see their friends, having them drive with you for a while is a very good way to safely practice driving. This will allow you to coach them a bit more and learn how to be comfortable in all driving situations. Help them park in a parking lot, get onto the highway, drive at night, and in any other situations that may come up that can be scary the first time.
- Talk to your teen about what to do in a car accident: If your teen does get into a car accident, they need to know what to do and who to call. They may be very scared or hurt and need to be able to get help and all the necessary information they can. Let them know to call emergency services right away, even if they are scared, to get medical attention. Let them know you will not be mad at them and that it is very important to call you after calling 911.
With these tips, you can approach your teen in a way that can help teach them how to be a safe driver.
South Texas Car Accident Lawyers
Being in an accident as a teenager can be incredibly scary and stressful, but your family doesn’t have to handle it all on your own. By selecting quality legal representation, the injured won’t have to worry as much about their next steps because they will have the guidance and support of an experienced personal injury attorney. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a car accident, contact the Weslaco car accident lawyers at Ezequiel Reyna, Jr. Law Office today to discuss your case. There is limited time to act following a car accident in Texas, so don’t delay.
