mom advice for teen drivers? looking 4 help

Gracejon,

It's not easy...but you will make it through.  As Lexi stated, do allot of driving with him.  Here in Ohio, you have to log a certain number of driving, daytime, evening, highway.  The more experience the better you will feel about him being solo.  When they drive with friends..that is actually a little scarier.  Just remind them to not distract their friends and to always buckle up!!

In the end, you have to take deep breaths, remind them to be safe, and trust that they will be careful and remember what they have been taught. You can get from your insurance company a video for them to watch also.

I have been through this 3 times..so I feel like a pro.  Luckily, only 2 fender benders, and one occured in my driveway.  A few speeding tickets, but once she had to appear before a judge and the threat of her licensce being taken away...that made her slow down.

Good luck to you,

Lisa

Best advice I heard from my insurance company was that for new teen drivers - there is a 100% increase for an accident with each additional teenage occupant riding in the car with the teen.  The percentage goes up from 100% to 200% to 300% per additional teenage passenger.  So no driving with other teens for 6 months to a year.  (This is a tough one to enforce, but is important).

Also, there is an actual neurological developmental issue for teens in the 15 to 16 year old range where they have difficulty appreciating the distance and speed of other vehicles approaching them when gauging if it is safe to make a turn crossing the oncoming traffic.  They should simply wait with their turn signal flashing until there is no oncoming traffic to turn, rather than to turn in front of oncoming traffic. 

In addition, young teens do not fully appreciate the necessity of slowing down while going around curves as accurately as they will when this neurological growth evolves - typically around age 17 and up.  They must be cautioned frequently while you ride around with them about these issues.

Winding country roads are statistically roads where teenagers are more likely to misjudge the road and have an accident than in typical straight town traffic.  Practice these types of roads frequently before letting your teen drive them alone. Practice all types of roads and conditions frequently before letting them take their driver's license test.

So, my rules were one year of driving around with a parent until taking the driver's test at age 17.  Naturally, this is nerve-wracking and involves a lot of commentary back and forth.  Once you ride with your child over and over in the daytime, nightime, inclement weather, heavy traffic, all types of roads including winding country roads, highways, and town traffic - you will have had many "discussions" and opportunities to give advice.  The most patient, non-hyper parent is usually the best one to accompany the teen. Anytime you need to go somewhere, give the keys to your teen and have them do the driving.  Let them get plenty of experience with you in the car.

One rule that I drive by and make a mandatory rule is to ALWAYS drive with the HEADLIGHTS ON. Seatbelts too of course.  Always use the turn signals.  Teens become lax about those turn signals and need to be reminded. 

Also, they should always have a cellphone with them but should not talk on the cellphone while driving.  If they need to talk, pull into a safe place and stop to talk. 

One other thing I've advised is if there is an unmarked vehicle with a flashing light driving behind them, they should call 911 to report they are being followed by an unmarked vehicle and are proceeding to the next safest place where there are lights and people where they will stop.  By law, if a driver is going the speed limit and has reported to 911 they are aware of being followed, they cannot be charged with failure to stop.  Everyone is allowed to proceed to a "safe" place - i.e. a place with population and lights.  This is the one time I say it is ok to talk on the phone while driving.

Best advice I heard from my insurance company was that for new teen drivers - there is a 100% increase for an accident with each additional teenage occupant riding in the car with the teen.  The percentage goes up from 100% to 200% to 300% per additional teenage passenger.  So no driving with other teens for 6 months to a year.  (This is a tough one to enforce, but is important).

Also, there is an actual neurological developmental issue for teens in the 15 to 16 year old range where they have difficulty appreciating the distance and speed of other vehicles approaching them when gauging if it is safe to make a turn crossing the oncoming traffic.  They should simply wait with their turn signal flashing until there is no oncoming traffic to turn, rather than to turn in front of oncoming traffic. 

In addition, young teens do not fully appreciate the necessity of slowing down while going around curves as accurately as they will when this neurological growth evolves - typically around age 17 and up.  They must be cautioned frequently while you ride around with them about these issues.

Winding country roads are statistically roads where teenagers are more likely to misjudge the road and have an accident than in typical straight town traffic.  Practice these types of roads frequently before letting your teen drive them alone. Practice all types of roads and conditions frequently before letting them take their driver's license test.

So, my rules were one year of driving around with a parent until taking the driver's test at age 17.  Naturally, this is nerve-wracking and involves a lot of commentary back and forth.  Once you ride with your child over and over in the daytime, nightime, inclement weather, heavy traffic, all types of roads including winding country roads, highways, and town traffic - you will have had many "discussions" and opportunities to give advice.  The most patient, non-hyper parent is usually the best one to accompany the teen. Anytime you need to go somewhere, give the keys to your teen and have them do the driving.  Let them get plenty of experience with you in the car.

One rule that I drive by and make a mandatory rule is to ALWAYS drive with the HEADLIGHTS ON. Seatbelts too of course.  Always use the turn signals.  Teens become lax about those turn signals and need to be reminded. 

Also, they should always have a cellphone with them but should not talk on the cellphone while driving.  If they need to talk, pull into a safe place and stop to talk. 

One other thing I've advised is if there is an unmarked vehicle with a flashing light driving behind them, they should call 911 to report they are being followed by an unmarked vehicle and are proceeding to the next safest place where there are lights and people where they will stop.  By law, if a driver is going the speed limit and has reported to 911 they are aware of being followed, they cannot be charged with failure to stop.  Everyone is allowed to proceed to a "safe" place - i.e. a place with population and lights.  This is the one time I say it is ok to talk on the phone while driving.

I made it through 3 tens....My first ( son) got his and came home from the court house with his dad. I sent him out to the grocery store with list in hand.

He picked up 2 of his friends and was gone about three hours. I was fine with it. I knew he had to make the rounds and show everyone he got them. And he did well on the list, and I never had to leave the house.

From then on it was shopping for him.... LOL

It was also great for running his younger brother around to his friends.

There is 7 years between them. It was so nice till he got married. There went the taxi....