Parents as Teachers!

Parents are their children's first teachers. Learning happens even when we are not aware we are teaching! This is true when we, as parents, drive a motor vehicle and our young children ride with us. They learn our habits, good or bad. Fortunately, most of the time most parents probably drive safely and children learn driving habits which will help them become safe drivers.

Parents can help teach their children learn to drive safely by following some common sense ideas. Below are suggestions for parents to use while helping their teen learn to drive safely. These suggestion can be found in the Virginia Department of Education: 40-Hour Parent/Teen Driving Guide: With Freedom Comes Great Responsibility along with practice driving lessons.

Parenting Tips for In-Car Guided Practice Sessions

• Enjoy your time together. Have fun! This is a great “bonding” opportunity. Focus on the driving task and leave “nagging” family issues at home.
• If we do not practice what we teach, we are teaching something else. When you drive, set a good example to model. Always wear your safety belt. Try to correct any unsafe driving habits that may have crept into your driving, such as rolling through stop signs, accelerating through yellow lights, exceeding the speed limit, etc.
• If possible, initial instruction should begin in a car with automatic transmission so that your child can focus on mastering basic vehicle control maneuvers.
• Select driving environments that complement the lesson objectives and the novice driver’s ability. Start in parking lots and progress to quiet neighborhoods. Stay in a safe, low-risk driving environment as long as needed.
• In the beginning, practice driving on routes familiar to the teen.
• Check to make sure your child has a learner’s permit, vehicle registration card, and insurance information with him or her when operating a vehicle.
• Explain the objectives of the lesson and review what was learned in the last lesson.
• Feedback should be precise and immediate. If a mistake is made, repeat the maneuver taking the driver step by step through the process.
• Be patient, calm, and alert at all times. Make positive remarks frequently.
• Have short, well-planned practice sessions. Thirty minutes is the optimum learning period for beginning drivers. The first 30 minutes of each one-hour session should be used to introduce and practice the new skills. The parent should then assess the child’s understanding of the lesson objectives during the second half of the session.
• In a parking lot, practice steering the car with your left hand from the passenger seat.
• If you have a car with a parking brake between the seats, practice stopping the car by depressing the release button and raising the parking brake.
• To prepare yourself to regain speed control in the event your child panics, practice shifting the transmission from drive to neutral from the passenger seat.
• Adjust the vanity mirror on the passenger sun visor so you can use it as a rear view mirror. If the right outside mirror is properly adjusted to reduce mirror blind spot and glare, you can also use that mirror to monitor traffic to the rear from the passenger seat. This contemporary side view mirror adjustment is explained in lesson one.
• Keep instructions simple and concise. First direct where to go, and then state the action to take (e.g., “At the next intersection, turn right.”)
• For each driving maneuver, guide your child through several practice trials, and then allow practice without assistance or direction.
• Check mirrors, and space to the sides and ahead of the vehicle before giving directions.
• Emphasize driving with a large anticipation zone by looking at least 15 seconds ahead. Play the “what if game”; what if the car suddenly changes lanes, stops, turns, etc.
• Reinforce that a green light means one must scan the intersection before proceeding.
• Encourage your child not to panic when approached by an emergency vehicle and to focus on looking for a safe area to pull over.
• Discuss the rules for passing a stopped school bus with flashing lights.
• Encourage new drivers to change their route if they have to make a difficult left turn.
• Set high standards and evaluate each driving session together.
• There is a lot to learn in each lesson, so your child may need extra time to attain adequate skill proficiency. Mastery at each level is important before moving on to the next lesson.

Beginning teenage drivers are different! Parents, please check this out: Teenage Drivers.

Parents are responsible for the raising their children to be responsible citizens. One of the more serious and dangerous activities their children will likely engage in during their teens will be learning to drive a motor vehicle. Prior to learning to drive, a young person should be made aware of his parents' expectations. Below are suggested financial and maintenance considerations and expectations for beginning drivers. It is suggested that parents and their children sign the Parent/Teen Driving Agreement prior to beginning to learn to drive to be sure both understand their agreed upon responsibilities.

Parent/Teen Driving Agreement

Financial responsibilities for vehicle costs (indicate who pays and how much)

• Fuel costs Parent $______ Teen Driver $_______
• Maintenance costs Parent $______ Teen Driver $_______
• Taxes and registration cost Parent $______ Teen Driver $_______
• Monthly insurance costs Parent $______ Teen Driver $_______

Maintenance responsibilities (indicate how has the responsibility for each item below)

• Checking vehicle fluids Parent______ Teen Driver_______
• Checking tire pressure Parent______ Teen Driver_______
• Cleaning vehicle interior Parent______ Teen Driver_______
• Cleaning vehicle windows Parent______ Teen Driver_______
• Cleaning vehicle exterior Parent______ Teen Driver_______

As a beginning driver I agree to

• Wear my seat belt when driving a motor vehicle and require those in a vehicle I am operating to wear their seat belts. If I do not comply the consequence will be ________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________.
• Do well in school academically and behaviorally If I do not comply the consequence will be_____ __________________________________________________________________________________________________.
• Obey traffic laws and drive safely at all times If I do not comply the consequence will be________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________.
• Agree not to drink and drive If I do not comply the consequence will be_________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________.
• Comply with my curfew If I do not comply the consequence will be _____________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________.
• Comply with passenger restrictions If I do not comply the consequence will be _________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________.
• Provide my parents/guardians with my destination and time of return If I do not comply the consequence will be__________________________________________________________________________.
• Not allow others to drive my vehicle If I do not comply the consequence will be_________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________.
• Call if I will be late If I do not comply the consequence will be___________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________.
• Behave responsibly and be a courteous driver If I do not comply the consequence will be_______ __________________________________________________________________________________________________.

As the parent I agree to

• Be patient
• Teach proper driving techniques
• Provide a safe and reliable motor vehicle for my child
• Make sure my child drives in accordance with the laws of the road and the vehicle laws of Virginia
• Not allow my child to drive when he/she is physically, mentally or otherwise not able to drive safely
• Teach my child to be a courteous driver

Signature of Beginning Driver__________________Signature of Parent(s)__________________

**Parents need to know that the custodial parent or guardian of an unmarried or unemancipated minor (any child the parent or guardian is legally responsible for and under 18 years of age) may, after the issuance of a permanent driver's license to the minor, file with the Department of Motor Vehicles, a written request that the license of the minor be canceled. The DMV shall cancel the license of the minor for a period of 6 months or until the minor reaches his 18th birthday, whichever occurs sooner.**

Parents: If you are interested in additional information please check out the websites found on the Home page.