A Message to Parents & Guardians

Take a moment to think back to the time when you were first learning to drive. What do you remember most? Do you remember who taught you? Those who helped you learn the rules of the road may be the reason you are reading this book today, and helping to teach someone else how to drive safely.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of teen injuries and fatalities, but many of these crashes are avoidable. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is excited to provide you with an updated version of The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program (PSDP) guide. Using this simple, methodic approach can help your teen become a safe and responsible driver, while making the roads safer for all.

We recognize the critical role parents and guardians play in teaching teens how to become safe and responsible drivers. The time you spend teaching your teen how to drive safely will impact their life and the lives of those around them.

As a parent or guardian, you are both a teacher and role model. Your teen has been watching you drive and has been observing how you handle situations on the road. The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program allows you to confidently teach your teen how to drive in a variety of situations, and encourages you to ride with them at different times of day or night and in a variety of traffic patterns and weather conditions. This guide highlights Massachusetts laws and each section focuses on core driving skills that progress from basic to complex situations.

By offering this enhanced supervised driving experience, we hope that parents and guardians will extend the supervised driving period well beyond the 40-hour state requirement.

Thank you for taking the time to read and use this guide – the time you spend teaching your teen how to drive could save their life, and the lives of others.

For more information about Massachusetts Junior Operator License laws or for additional teen driver resources, please visit us at Mass.Gov/RMV.

Sincerely,

Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles