As a parent, when do you feel it is best for your teenager to learn how to drive?
Yes, that question can be answered in many different ways by many different parents.
That said you want to be sure that your son or daughter is responsible enough to get behind the wheel and go.
So, is now the time in your home for your teen to get the keys and drive?
Will Your Teenager Be Responsible Behind the Wheel?
In deciding if now in fact is the right time for your teenager to learn how to drive, examine the following:
- Responsibility – Above all else, how responsible would you say your teen is? If he or she is lacking in this area, you may want to hold off on granting them permission to learn how to drive. Some teens are quite responsible for their ages. For others, the answer is not so much. The last thing you or anyone else wants on the roads in a teenager behind the wheel who is not very responsible. Make sure you talk about responsibility with your teen and its importance in being a good driver.
- Vehicle – What vehicle will your teen drive if they get their driver’s license? For many families, the family vehicle is the car or truck of choice. That said you may need the family vehicle for work and other situations. As a result, letting your teen drive it may not be doable. In such cases, it is not uncommon for families to go out and look for a used car or truck as a second auto in the home. If this sounds like your family, be sure to do diligent research on any vehicles you look at. The last thing you would ever want is for your child to be behind the wheel of an unsafe vehicle. In looking at used vehicles around your area for sale, do your best to get the license plate number. With such info, you can go online and do a free plate lookup. If you are in the right place at the right time, you can learn details about a used car or truck you may want to buy for your teen. Remember, their safety and the safety of others they are with or come across on the roads is priority number one.
- Distractions – As part of the need for responsibility, is your teen one who gets distracted? Unfortunately, some teens have problems with distractions. If your teen has distractions on highway at 60 mph or even on a local street at a slower speed, it can mean disaster. By having a focus while driving, there is less of a chance your teenager will be in an accident.
If you think back to your later teen years, did you get a license at 16 or 17? If so, what was it like for you to learn how to drive and have some freedom from your parents?
In giving your teen the ability to drive, you may look back on this one day as one of the best decisions you ever made.
That said make sure their safety is always be driven forward.