The first time I took Spencer on a higher speed rural road (50 mph speed limit), he panicked when he reached 40 miles per hour. He broke into a cold sweat as he watched objects whizzing beside him on the drivers side of the car. I finally coaxed him into getting up to 50, but it was not without a fair amount of fear from his perspective. He had a similar experience the first time he merged onto a freeway.
As a dad who has been the primary driving instructor for three teens, and who will be starting on the fourth in the next six months, I have learned some pretty good tips for teaching teenagers to safely work behind the wheel. If you are embarking on the process of teaching your first teen to drive, or if you are trying for a first "successful" experience, then there are some things you should know.
Why Should a Dad Be Involved?
While many public schools or private companies offer driving instruction, dads play a critical role in the development of a good teen driver. Consider some of the following reasons why you should take an active role in teaching your teen to drive.
Parents are the best example. Your teens will learn much more from your driving skills and behavior than they will from a professional instructor. Plus, they have probably been watching you closely for the past year or so, and have formed some of their attitudes from their observations.
Crashes are deadly for teens. In the United States alone, we lose 5,000 teens each year to fatal vehicle accidents. Your involvement in giving your teen experience behind the wheel when you are in the passenger seat will greatly reduce the risk of your teen being in an accident.
More states require more hours practicing. The standards for teens to get a drivers license is higher today than it was when we were learning to drive. Many states now require at least 30 hours behind the wheel before issuing a license, and your teen's drivers ed program in school probably provides only 5-6. And veteran driving instructors suggest at least 40 hours practice. So your time with your teen will be most of the time he or she spends learning to drive.
Next, let's look at some general guidelines to follow as you take on the driver teaching role.
