5 Tips For Parents Teaching Their Teens To Drive

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Once your child is old enough to drive, there’s a lot of advice you will want to pass down to them. Even after Driver’s ED, their driving test and the earning of their license, there’s still lots to learn. The following guide, with information from Geico, contains some of the most important tips you will want to pass down to your new driver.

Road Rule #1: Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

Young drivers have a tendency to keep their eyes straight ahead, even as they turn. Be sure to let your child know they should look where they’re going, not always at what is straight ahead.
 

Road Rule #2: Brake Room

As your child’s speed increases, so should their following distance. In the instance of an emergency at fast speeds, your teen’s vehicle will take a longer time to stop, even if they slam on the brakes. By providing a safe following distance from the cars in front of them, they will have plenty of brake room to stop and go safely.
 

Road Rule #3: Speed Up Slowly

It is both safe for passengers and good for your vehicle to speed up steadily. Sudden accelerations can damage your vehicle and put your child in dangerous situations. Slower acceleration lets drivers scan the area ahead and be sure there’s no unexpected hesitation or sudden stops from other drivers on the road.
 

Road Rule #4: Lead By Example

One fantastic way to teach your child how to drive is to drive the way you would want them to. This includes keeping your phone out of your hands when you’re behind the wheel. Smartphone use behind the wheel is one of the leading causes of accidents among teen drivers. By staying off your phone and letting your child know the potential consequences, you will be providing your new driver with a strong example.
 

Road Rule #5: No New Friends

Many states have laws against how many passengers a teen driver can have in their car. Even if your state does not have rules like this in effect, you may want to create your own rules for your teen driver. The more people in the car, the more distractions your child is facing. Having only one other teenage passenger in the car is a safe rule to put into place for your new driver.

If you’re looking for a trustworthy vehicle for your new teen driver, Penn Toyota has what you need. We prioritize the safety of our drivers, both new and experienced, and have a wide range of cars perfect for your needs and budget. To check out our selection, feel free to stop by 2400 Northern Blvd. in Greenvale, New York.