The day your teen begins driving can be filled with mixed emotions. Your teen will probably be ecstatic, excited, and chomping at the bit. You may be a little more reserved, fearing the worst. You can help your teen drive more safely by providing good advice, but not by overwhelming your teen with too many suggestions. Here are five driving tips to consider telling your teen to improve safety and make you both more comfortable.

1. Share the road
It is tempting to think you are entitled to the entire road, but teens need to realize there are other vehicles and pedestrians that they need to be aware of.

– Big trucks have blind spots that you should stay out of.
– Bicycles are entitled to the whole lane, and you need at least three feet of space before passing them.
– Pedestrians have the right of way. Be aware of pedestrians at all times.

2. Don’t rush
Whatever it is, it is not that important. Do not ever try to get anywhere in a hurry when you are driving. When you do, you may start making dangerous decisions, such as the following.

– Changing lanes too often and without looking.
– Driving too fast.
– Driving through red lights and stop signs.

3. Keep your eyes on the road
This may be the oldest tip in the book, but it is just as relevant now as it always has been. Taking your eyes off the road for a second can be fatal. This includes looking at distractions such as your hair or makeup in the mirror or your phone as you send a text message.

4. Being safe is more important than being cool
Generous teens often drive their friends around, but the situation can become dangerous if your teen gets distracted by their friends. Let your teen know that it’s okay to tell their friends they need them to be quiet while they concentrate on their driving.

5. Call for help whenever you need it
Driving is a step toward independence from their parents, but teen still need their parents and should be able to depend on them. Let your teen know that they can call for help whenever they need it. This could be after a party where they’ve been drinking, or at night when they simply do not feel comfortable driving.

For more information, click here.