Parents / Guardians and Beginning Drivers
Parents
often
ask,
“Will
Driver
Education
make
my
son
or
daughter
a
safe
driver?”
Unfortunately,
there
is
no
honest
way
to
offer
that
guarantee.
Driver
Education
programs
can
teach
safe
driving
in
the
classroom
and
in
the
car,
but
no
program
can
control
what
their
graduates
will
actually
do
when
they
are
on
their
own.
Of
course
Driver
Education
is
beneficial,
but
most
of
our
students
have
had
a
lot
of
training
before
Driving Instructors ever get to meet them.
The
truth
is
that
we
as
parents
are
our
children's
first
and
most
important
teachers,
and
they
have
learned
many
driving
habits
in
the
car
long
before
their
sixteenth
birthday.
Did
your
child
watch
you
putting
on
make-up
or
talking
on
your
cell-phone
while
you
drove? Have they watched you speeding, tailgating, yelling at other drivers?
We
have
all
done
things
that
we
shouldn't,
but
that
doesn't
mean
we
can't
change
and
that
we
can't
encourage
safer
habits
in
our
teens
as
they
get
ready
to
drive.
It
does
mean,
though,
that
you
as
parents
and
we
as
Driving
Instructors
are
now
partners.
We
can
teach
the
course,
but
parents
have
to
set
the
examples
and
the
expectations.
Avoid
"driving
distracted".
Cell
phones,
food,
putting
on
make-up:
anything
that
takes
your
eyes
off
the
road
and
your
mind
off
driving
the
car.
Point
out
drivers
who
are
distracted
and
ask
your
teen
what
he
or
she
thinks.
Teach
your
teen
that
it's difficult, but o.k., to tell passengers not to distract them while they're driving.
Avoid
driving
drowsy,
upset
or
intoxicated.
Talk
about
these
situations
and
how
to
avoid
them,
and
when
you're
going
out
for
an
evening
and
drinking
will
be
involved,
have
a
designated
driver
or
take
a
taxi.
We
all
know
that
actions
speak
louder than words.
Wear
your
seatbelt
and
make
it
clear
that
it's
o.k.
to
insist
that
passengers
wear
theirs.
Obey
speed
limits
and
explain
that
the
speed
limit
is
a
maximum
and
that
you
need to slow down when weather and/or road conditions are poor.
Come to a complete stop at red lights and stop signs.
Use your turn signal and a shoulder check when changing lanes or turning.
Keep
a
safe
following
distance
on
the
road
(a
minimum
of
3
seconds)
and
a
safe
distance
from
the
vehicle
ahead
when
you
are
stopped
-
which
means
you
can
see
the
rear
wheels
of
the
car
ahead
touch
the
road.
Explain
that
these
distances
need to increase when road conditions are poor.
Statistically,
the
first
four
to
five
years
after
getting
a
license
are
the
most
dangerous
time
for
beginning
drivers
and
the
first
year
is
the
most
dangerous
of
all.
Set
house
rules
for
driving
and
set
the
consequences
for
disobeying.
The
police
can't
catch
every
infraction,
but
there's
a
good
chance
that
you
will
be
aware,
and
you
need
to
do
whatever
it
takes
to
protect
your
teen's
safety.
Introduce
the
driving
privilege
gradually.
There
are
suggestions
and
links to more information in this guide.
Becoming
a
licensed
and
independent
driver
is
a
big
step
on
the
road
from
childhood
to
adulthood,
and
as
parents
we
need
to
find
that
balance
between
holding
on
too
tightly
and
letting
go
too
soon.
Parents
are
right
to
hold
on
and
maintain
control,
though,
because
the
alternatives
are unthinkable.
As Driving Instructors we wish you patience and success.
