Few things make parents more nervous than when their teenager prepares to take driver’s education. Many emotions are in play here: fear for the child, sadness that the child is growing up, anticipation of their independence. Teens are usually equally apprehensive and thrilled to be taking the class, also. Parents can ease the way for their teens when they start driver’s education by helping them prepare for the class.
Parents should start helping their teens prepare for driver’s ed by looking at their own driving habits. We all have poor driving habits that have become unconscious over the years. However, if a teen sees the parent driving a certain way, then he or she will see that as a correct way to drive, even if it isn’t. So, parents should examine their driving skills. Do they tailgate, zoom through red lights, punctuate their sentences with pumps on the accelerator, talk on the cell phone incessantly? If they do, so will their teen drivers. This is a great time for parents to start improving their driving habits, so they can set a good example for their teens.
Most driver’s license examining offices have copies of the state driver’s manual. Parents should pick up a copy for their teens and have them start studying it. This will help them understand the concepts that will be presented in class.
Most driver’s education classes have a section of class work, where the students talk about good driving habits, rules of the road, etc., and a practical section, where they use simulators or drive cars around the school neighborhood. Parents can help here by quizzing the teen on the driver’s manual, and taking them to an empty parking lot and allowing them to drive so they can get a feel for operating an automobile. School parking lots are good for this in the summer, and church parking lots during the week.
Parents should make an effort to answer teens’ questions honestly. “Were you ever in a wreck? What happened?” Even if the parent did something stupid, he or she should admit this to the teen. “Well, I did a really stupid thing. I had too much to drink and got behind the wheel” or “I let my friend drive my car, which was a dumb thing to do.” Teens appreciate it when their parents are honest with them, but parents should stress the inappropriate nature of their behavior and should caution the teens against it.
This is also a good time to hammer out what will be the ground rules for driving. Parents may want to make driving privileges contingent on the teen making good grades in all subjects, not just in driver’s education. They may also want to talk about who will be allowed to drive the car, and what the teen should if he finds himself unable to drive, for whatever reason. Most experts recommend that parents stress to teens that, if they call their parents or a taxi to take them home if they are drunk or high, that no penalties for calling home will follow. What the parents choose to do about the teen being at the party to start with, of course, is another matter entirely. But talking about these things in advance leaves less room for misunderstandings later on.
One facet of driver’s education that a teen should be prepared for are the infamous “driver’s ed movies.” Some schools still show these films, and some do not. The films are usually real-life footage of real accidents, and the injuries and deaths that follow. They are usually very graphic. Parents with sensitive teens should caution them about these films, and should talk to the teacher to see if the films are even shown, and if so, if they are mandatory viewing. Even “macho” boys, accustomed to gory horror movies, have been known to be affected by these films. The point of the films, of course, is to illustrate how unsafe driving can result in horrific accidents.
Many schools will also have a local law enforcement officer speak to the class about safe driving, and parents should encourage their teens to ask the officer questions they want answered, particularly if the parent feels unqualified to answer these.
The best thing a parent can to help prepare a teen for driver’s education is to set a good driving example, and to talk honestly with the teen about safety on the road, how to handle road rage, and how to cultivate other good driving habits.
