9 Tips to Prepare Your Teen for the Open Road

Is your teen ready to hit the open road? Are you becoming increasingly nervous about this reality? Learning to drive is one of the most important rites of passage in a teenager’s life. While getting a license is a joyous occasion for young people, parents are not always as elated with this coming-of-age experience.

Properly preparing your child for the open road is the best way to lower your stress levels while you send your child into the world as a driver. The following tips are intended to give your teen the preparation before they begin to venture out onto the open road.

1. Practice, Practice, Practice

Proper preparation involves plenty of practice. As terrified as you both may be, you and your child can face this fear together and let them drive. Start out on streets with little or no traffic. As they build their skills and confidence, you will need to take them out on the highway.

2. Define Driving Rules

Establishing driving rules for your teen will make everything clear up front. Being a new driver, your child does not know what to expect when they are on the road. Your rules need to address any and all things you can foresee. Your teen needs to show that they are aware of and understand all of the driving rules.

3. Create a Contract with Your Child

Once the driving rules and regulations are defined, your teen must be held accountable for upholding these rules. Create a contract highlighting the rules and identify the punishment for violation of the regulations. Have your teen sign the agreement to acknowledge that they are accountable for their actions.

4. Encourage Safe Driving Habits

Instilling safe driving habits in your teen is one of the most important parts of the preparation process. Habits like wearing a seatbelt and not using mobile phones while driving should become second nature by way of repetition. What safety habits can you think of teaching your teen?

5. Choose an Appropriate Vehicle

If you are going to purchase a vehicle for your child, it is vital that you pick an appropriate vehicle. The objective is to find a safe used car. Conduct research on reliable and safe vehicles for new drivers.

6. Teach Your Teen Vehicle Maintenance

Every car owner should know basic vehicle maintenance. Teach your child about checking their oil and other fluid levels and changing their tires. Maintenance can increase the life of the car’s engine and other systems. It can be hazardous if a car malfunctions from low oil levels.

7. Use a Driving App

The power of smartphones is prevalent in today’s world. There seems to be an app for practically everything you can imagine. It is no wonder that there are apps developed for driving safety.

These apps keep your teens from using their phones while driving and also tend to have features that notify parents when the app has been disabled. Take a look at some of these apps, and decide which is best for you and your teen.

8. Keep an Emergency Kit in the Trunk

There are certain items that your teen should have handy in the trunk. Aside from the obvious spare tire, an emergency kit should be on hand in case of an emergency.

The emergency kit should include:

Jumper cables
Tool kit
Compass
Flashlight
Reflective triangles
First aid kit
Reflective vest
Rain poncho

9. Trust Their Judgment

If you have done your job in preparing your teen to drive, you should be able to trust their judgment on the road. There is not much you can do about the natural fear you may have when your child pulls out of the driveway, but if your child is responsible and reliable, trust that they will drive safely.

Conclusion

While nearly every parent feels some level of fear when their teen begins to drive, thoroughly preparing them for the experience will help to ease a guardian’s mind. The tips given here will certainly impart a sense of responsibility and accountability in your teen.

Although you can’t be there to protect your child on the road, by preparing them, you can be that voice of reason in their head as they drive. How do you intend to prepare your child for the open road?