Independence!
New drivers, especially teens, anticipate it eagerly, but parents have mixed feelings when it comes to seeing their own teen driving.
There is something about handing your keys over to your teen for the first time that can inspire fear in even the most stoic of us for obvious reasons.
Road crashes are the leading cause of death among young people, beating suicide and other accidents. (Traffic Injury Research Foundation, 2008)
For teenagers and new drivers, driving promises freedom, independence, status and pleasure.
Perhaps you are looking forward to your teen learning to drive for the same reasons. It is a relief when you are finally able to relinquish the role of “taxi driver” and gain more independence and freedom from your driving obligations
However, it is important that your eagerness to have your teen drive does not unduly influence your decision to allow them on the road.
Are they ready to handle the responsibilities and manage the risks of driving?
Every stage of your teen’s development has a readiness component. By now you have probably realized that rushing them through a stage doesn’t make it happen any faster.
When your teen is ready, they will more easily grasp the concepts of driving easier and use better judgement than if they had been pushed along before their time.
As a coach, you play a critical role in helping new drivers to become responsible proactive drivers.
As a parent, even though you may have enrolled your teen in driver education, you still play a major role in helping your teen become a proficient driver.
Knowing how to approach the new role of “driving coach” has an impact on how well the information is received.
With this in mind, we want to help you and your teen to work together to make the road safe for everyone.
Driving Matters understands your teen and you as a parent. If uncertainties and apprehension is present, allow us to work with your teen.
We can offer lifelong strategies as extra tools to help them give you peace of mind.
We’ll take them through winter driving covering what to do if the vehicle goes out of control, wheels dropping off the pavement, how to read “what other drivers are thinking” along with much more.
Driving Matters provide defensive driving techniques that will allow better strategies while on the road.
All of this using your personal vehicle!
Call or email us through our contacts page.