Every young teenager who one day aspires to drive a motorized vehicle must understand a few simple concepts. The concept that driving is a privilege and not a right is the principal message. A young driver must understand before ever getting behind the wheel that their actions will have a direct effect on their safety and the safety of others. Both theoretical and practical driving education is necessary when you teach your teen to drive.

Getting Ready

Before one goes out on the road as a driver, they must carefully study the automobile and the relation of the parts to the whole. They must understand the obstacles and concerns that they will encounter on the road such as traffic, road conditions and most importantly, pedestrians. The more knowledge a teen has on these subjects, the more responsible their decisions will be.

Secondly, unless they have studied carefully the subjects of speed, light, vision, strength, reaction time, fatigue, the possibility of mechanical defects, human weaknesses and the dangers of the road, they are not prepared to venture out at the wheel of an automobile. A careful young driver is thoughtful.

Another question that any responsible parent must ask themselves is if their teenage son or daughter has reached a maturity level that indicates that they are ready to embark into a driving education program. As parents, the innate reaction is that we could teach our children to drive better than any driving school. However, a combination of both driving school and additional practice with a parent or guardian is the best formula to teach your teen to drive.

Practice

When one is first learning to drive, they are faced with difficult situations which are stressful for the new driver. It is not recommended that your teen start driving in rush hour traffic. Instead, take them to an empty parking lot or an old country road. Learning to maneuver an automobile without the added stresses of pedestrians and heavy traffic will allow your teen to focus on controlling the vehicle with confidence before embarking on our crowded roads.

As your teen progressively drives in heavier traffic and more complex situations they will be able to apply the knowledge attained in their driving education program. Remember, correct practice educates.

Good methods of training and practice will teach young drivers to think accurately and act precisely. Think of pro athletes for example. They spend countless hours crafting their trade, and although spectacular they are still prone to make mistakes. Should we really allow our youth to get behind the wheel without any preparation of any kind?

Habits

Habits are formed through repetitive action or knowledge. As you drive, voice to your teen some good driving habits such as signaling, maintaining a safe distance between vehicles and obeying speed limits. Eventually, these habits will become second nature. Encourage your teen to discuss proper driving habits with their instructor. By thoughtful consideration of their driving problems followed by training, correct practice and sound habit formation, your teen can become an expert driver.

Before you teach your teen to drive like an expert, make sure that they know about all the privileges and responsibilities that are associated with operating an automobile.