Parents


Hello Parents,

Thank you for visiting the Parents page of our site but most of all for taking interest in seeing that your son or daughter begin their driving experience with a solid and safe foundation. Learning to drive is an exciting and challenging time for your teen but a sometimes stressful experience for the parents. The information below will give you tips and resources that will make the  driving experience less stressful, more effective and more enjoyable for the parent and teen.

Why the Big Deal?

Motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for adolescents (16-19). The largest contributing factor to the high rate of traffic collisions for young drivers is their inexperience. Teens driving with teen passengers increases their crash risk and that risk increases with the addition of each passenger. A teen drivers crash risk increases significantly when transitioning from supervised driving to driving alone. Teens whose parents have set rules and monitor their activities are almost half as likely to be in a collision.

Parent Tips

  *Believe it or not studies show your kids do take your opinion and guidance to heart. So begin by setting a good example and practicing what you will preach. Obey the rules that you will ask them to adhere to.

  *Get their learners permit as soon as possible so they can begin to build their driving experience under supervision. Studies show that young drivers who had closer to 2 years of driving practice were less likely to have collisions once they received their license. You can allow them to get their license when they have earned the privilege by exhibiting their maturity and driving skills.

  *Sign a safe driving Parent/Teen Driver Agreement. Your teen is anxious to get their license and you the parent have the leverage to establish safe driving rules and consequences. Click on the following link for a word document example that you can change to meet your concerns and house rules. Sample Parent Teen Driving Contract.

  *Practice, practice and more practice while making sure that you are practicing the skills properly and within the guidelines prescribed by the State. Go to the following link to download a comprehensive State approved parent teen driving guide Georgia Department of Driver Services 40 hour teen driving guide. You may also want to consider going with your young driver on any driving lessons that they take. Keep in mind, your young driver should have a minimum of 40 hours of practice prior to taking their road test.

  *Have a coaching plan. Agree on how you and your young driver will communicate. Keep it interesting. Use commentary driving. Be patient. Be positive. Set goals.  

  *Other Resources:

- Food for thought when considering Online vs. Classroom Training
- Guide for talking to your teen about drugs and alcohol
- Georgia Department of Driver Services Driving Manual
- Newly Licensed Drivers, Caution/Car Magnet - www.newlylicensed.org
- www.allstate.com/teen
- www.betterteendriving.com  
- www.geicoteendriving.com
- www.dds.ga.gov/docs/teen/JoshuaCourtChart.pdf

We also have resources that can be emailed at your request. Some examples are a Parent Guide for Practice Driving Sessions, Step by Step Checklists for Driving Sessions, Driving Logs and Strategies for Coaching Your Teen.

We are interested in learning about what you are doing and would like to pass that on to other parents. So if you have a tried and true method, strategy or piece of advice, email it to us at aedrivingschool@gmail.com.