10 Things Your Kids Should Know before they Start Driving

First off, “What? My kids, drive? You’ve got to be kidding!”

Okay, now we’ve got that out of the way, we’d better talk. Yes, like it or not, our soon-to-be-16 offspring are going to be driving.  Without exception, the parents are going to be worried out of their minds until the moment the children pull safely into the driveway.

All Pro Dad suggests the following ten principles for starters for you and your children’s peace of mind.

1. Your kids need to know exactly what is expected of them when they get behind the wheel:
   Leave nothing to chance. There should be no unspoken or unwritten agreements. Here are some items that must be crystal clear:

   - How many people are allowed in the car (the more friends the less safety)

   - Where and when your teen can drive

   - What they should NOT be doing while they drive

   - How many driving laws they can flout (that would be “none”)

2. Exactly what consequences are in play if they abuse the privilege (and driving is a privilege, not a right):

   - Be clear about the “contract,” it must be in writing, it needs to be a document you draw up with their input, and it should be easy for all of you understand.

   - Enforce the contract with 100% consistency

3. The facts regarding how deadly and ruthless a car can be when it is out of control:
   Videos, “closed course” experiences, eye-witness account—make it thorough and make it crystal clear.

   - Talk to them about how easy it is to lose control of the vehicle under different circumstances

   - Make sure they know what to do when they lose control…skidding in the rain, slipping on the ice or snow, overcorrecting from a swerve—make sure the proper response is second nature to them

4. How to respond in the event that they are pulled over:

   - It happens to all of us at one point…we see the flash of lights then we hear the sound we all dread—sirens.  Teach them how to respond when it happens to them.

   - ALWAYS be polite to the officer, even if you did nothing wrong!

   - Have your driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance ready…don’t want to keep the nice trooper waiting.

   - Speak clearly, use appropriate language, and don’t make excuses.  Answer questions directly and don’t argue…now is not the time.

5. That their parent is a reliable and consistent driver:

   This one is hard for parents, but listen up.  You need to be a close-to-perfect example of the rules and responsibilities you expect of your teen. If your child catches you flouting your own rules…? Think about it.

6. How to ask for help if they feel they are not competent to drive:

   Kids need to know the protocols, and they need to understand that safety is always the overriding consideration. It’s critically important that your teen feel free and clear to be honest with you when they’re going to need your help.

7. The exact cost of driving a car, in dollars, and who will be paying for these items:

   There’s nothing like participation in the cost to promote serious driving. Make sure your child has something at stake—other than their life.

   - Insurance

   - Gas

   - Road taxes and registration fees

   - Maintenance

   - Car-payment

8. Scientific—theoretical and practical evidence that makes clear how the body responds to substance abuse and how that impacts driving:

   “Don’t drink and drive” is a good start, but it’s woefully inadequate in terms of telling the complete story.

9. Details regarding the deadly consequences of any distraction while driving

   Young people need to understand the cost of a split-second distraction at driving speeds, and to translate that loss of attention into facts such as “distance travelled,” “degrees of deviation,” likelihood of head-on crash,” etc.

   - Texting

   - Using a cell-phone

   - Drinking any beverage

   - Eating

   - Fiddling with the sound system

   - Taking eyes off the road to make eye-contact with friends

   - Goofing around…

10. That you are confident in their judgment and their ability:

    If you’re not confident, then they don’t need to be driving. If you are confident, then you need to trust accordingly.

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