and 2,000 of their passengers die every year, and 400,000 kids
are seriously injured, the driving manuals and other literature
usually say little more than ‘Be careful.’ Cigarette packs carry
warnings about death, and patients going into surgery are
warned multiple times that death is a potential consequence,
but the driving literature doesn’t warn parents about how
dangerous teen driving is, and why. Meanwhile, every night
on television we see ads with cars doing 360’s on busy city
streets, crashing through glass, spinning into parking spaces,
and weaving through dense traffic at high speeds, all without
a scratch. Our culture glorifies risky driving. We need a
counterbalance that will caution parents and teens
]]>Plan Ahead – Before you leave the house, have a plan and let your child know, where your going and were your driving. Let your child take their time to make adjustments in the vehicle with the seat and mirrors, so their comfortable and confident.
Be Careful with Directions – Make sure to give them plenty time follow directions. Give them plenty of warning of were their going next. Its important that you use the street names, so they have a sense of direction and remember directions.
Guide them through the process – When you first begin driving with your child, you will help them make decisions, and that’s ok. It also helps you as a parent recognize that they see what you see. After a few weeks of driving, when your child ask you for help, respond by saying “I don’t know”, should you. Get your child to think for themselves.
Provide plenty of time for driving – The key is to plan on the extra time you need to get to your location, so that you can be patient with them through the process
]]>