What to do when your teen starts driving

by Tamsin McCahill on 29.01.08

Handing over your car keys to your teenage son or daughter is a painful process for parents. While you’re happy they’ve passed their test, all you can see ahead of you is sky-high insurance premiums, the loss of your no-claims bonus and expensive garage bills to deal with any bumps and scrapes.

And what about their safety? According to statistics, you’ve every right to worry when your precious youngster gets behind the wheel. Brake, a UK road safety charity, found that young drivers are more likely to get killed than any other road user. And it’s not just your child you have to worry about – more than one in two passengers killed or injured in 2002 were under 25.

So what can do to keep your novice driver safe? Following our top tips will minimise your worries about letting them out on their own.

1. Give them plenty of driving practice before you let them drive your car without you present. Even though they may be busting to get behind the wheel after passing their test, resist the pester power and take them out for at least ten hours’ practice. That way, you can be sure they’re really ready to go out without an adult present.
2. Make sure you set an example with your own driving. Do you ever break the speed limit? Or drive without a seat belt? Then your teenager will too.
3. Find out who they’re driving with. According to this BBC news report based on AA research, teens are more likely to take silly risks and show off when driving with their friends. Consider putting a ban on other teen passengers, then when you feel they’re ready, teach them to let their friends know when they’re being a distraction.
4. Don’t let them drive at night until they’re more experienced. Research by the RAC Foundation indicates a teenager’s risk of crashing increases at night, so make sure they practice night driving with you in the car first.

IMAGES by Flickr users freeparking and sergis blog