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Essential Skills for Teenage Drivers

By , About.com Guide

Dad Teaching Teen to DrivePhotodisc / Getty Images
What is it that teens need to learn to be a safe driver? Here is a checklist of what you and their drivers education professional will need to emphasize during their process of learning to drive.

The Vehicle Itself

Basic Operations

  • Controlling the car
  • Safe turns
  • Shifting gears
  • Backing up
  • Signaling to other drivers
  • Braking
  • Avoiding distractions

Interactions with Others

  • Making lane changes
  • Dealing with intersections
  • Maintaining safe driving distances
  • Defensive driving skills
  • U-turns
  • Three-point turns

Parking

Advanced skills

Emergency Response

Feeling a little overwhelmed? Well, that's certainly natural in this situation. We forget sometimes how complex driving a car can be. The key to tackling an overwhelming task is to break it down into steps and work each step.

Return to teaching your teen to drive.

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