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Important driving behaviors to teach your teen

Know these teen driving behaviors to pass on to your child

Dawn Miller
By

Getting your driver’s permit is a rite of passage for teens. It’s an exciting milestone for them, but an anxious one for parents. Thankfully, parents have a whole year of driving with their teens to help prepare them. When they eventually pass their driver’s test and hit the road on their own, you want to feel confident their driving behaviors are safe.

Teenage driving behavior typically gets a bad rap for good reason. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, teens between the ages of 16 and 17 have the highest risk of being involved in fatal car accidents. It’s one of the reasons states began using the graduated licensing system in the 90s. Let’s leave the car in park and make sure to teach these teen driving behaviors.

A teen driving a car with their parent in the passenger seat
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Teaching your teen to drive

As parents, you are your child’s first teacher. You’ve been a role model for your teen’s driving for a long time. Now that you’re in the passenger seat, make sure to pass on these vital teen driving behaviors.

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Understand the vehicle

Before pulling out of the driveway after those 6 driving school hours, teens should know the ins and outs of the car. Car basics like how to turn on the lights, where the hazards are, how to open the trunk, how to pump gas, and how to change a tire are important lessons.

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Eyes on the road

Distracted driving is the cause of many accidents. A major teen driving behavior is to have eyes on the road at all times. Talking on the phone, texting, changing radio stations, and even passenger triggers are distracted driving activities.

Two hands on the wheel

Having two hands on the wheel is safer than driving with one. With two hands, drivers are ready to react to the unexpected. Two hands on the wheel also help limit distracted driving.

Be aware of speed

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speed is a contributing factor in 31% of car accidents involving teens in 2020. A critical teen driving behavior is monitoring speed in situations like bad weather. Also, obeying posted speed limits is a must.

Buckle up

Seatbelt use among teens is typically not high. Buckling up does save lives. In 2020, 52% of teens driving without a seatbelt died in crashes.

Be awake behind the wheel

Teens have a lot on their plates and tend to put sleep on the back burner. When teaching a teen to drive, talk about the dangers of drowsy driving.

Driving under the influence

According to the CDC, drinking and driving increases the risk of crashes with teen drivers. Make sure your teenager understands the consequences of driving under the influence.

Teen boy driving with Dad

Inexperience leads to accidents among teens

The gradual licensing system is in place for a reason. Teens are at a higher risk for fatal crashes for a lot of reasons. In order for teens to become safe drivers, they need experience behind the wheel. Drive with your teen at all times of the day and in different types of weather to help them learn how to be a safe driver.

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Dawn Miller
Dawn Miller
Contributor
Dawn Miller began her professional life as an elementary school teacher before returning to her first love, writing. In…
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