Quick Tips for Parents and Caregivers

Here are the most important tips that you should keep in mind as your teen starts their supervised driving journey. These tips apply on those very first days of driving, and into your child’s young adulthood as independent drivers.

1. Take it seriously: car crashes are the second leading cause of death for people ages 16–24. The more parents/caregivers are involved, the less likely it is that your teen will crash. 
2. Be a good role model and remember that making your teen practice a skill over and over again is the best practice. 
3. Before you drive: walk around the car with your teen, explain the importance of tire health, review seating position, mirror settings, identify blind spots, etc.
4. Plan ahead: consider when and where to start the first driving lesson — a large, level, and empty parking lot at a time when no one is stressed out. Review the necessary skills the night before planning to take your teen out for their first time behind the wheel.
5. Progress through the skills: follow this guidebook in order as your teen advances in their comfort and skill level. Remember that they should not advance to the next skill/s until they have practiced the previous skills many times.
6. Encourage as much supervised driving as possible, in many different conditions and on different road types. They will know how to steer into a skid on an icy road only if they have practiced it with you.
7. GDL laws, such as passenger restrictions and curfews, are there for a reason: read through your states’ restrictions for when your teen has their permit AND when newly licensed. These are in place to protect your teen!
8. Download and use the RoadReady mobile app to track your teen’s driving hours. It’s easy to use, completely free, and helps ensure that your teen completes the required number of hours.