How to Determine Teen Readiness to Drive Alone
Car crashes are a major cause of teen deaths in America, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, so it's understandable that parents use caution when agreeing to allow kids take the keys for a solo drive. Teenage drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 have the highest risk for traffic accidents. The CDC reports that teenage males, teen drivers with passengers and inexperienced teen drivers with less than a year of driving experience had the most vehicle accidents in 2010. Your decision to allow your teen to drive alone comes with major risks for your child and others -- if he's not fully trained and prepared for the experience.
Instructions
Ask your teen to demonstrate how to use the important safety features on the vehicle. Focus on turn signals and emergency flashers. Ask your teen to explain the lights on the driver's panel to ensure he understands important warning signals listed on the dash. Accompany your teen on frequent driving excursions during different times of the day to see her readiness to drive in different traffic densities. The AAA recommends teens have a minimum of 100 hours of supervised driving practice before taking on solo driving duties. Drive with your teen during inclement weather to observe how he handles potentially dangerous road conditions. Test his ability to control the car by driving in an empty parking lot in rain and snow. Ask him to drive and quickly break or turn the vehicle simulating a turn onto a street. Select an open parking lot with little traffic and few light poles, and without speed bumps or cement or plastic parking spot stops. Set household driving rules. The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry recommends setting driving rules for teens, including prohibitions against talking on the phone while on the road and taking the wheel while wearing headphones or when texting, as well as restricting driving with friends as passengers. Home rules should promote seat-belt use and not driving during bad weather. Parents should require teen permission before taking the car for a drive, even when traveling to work or school. Review the rules and observe your teen's attitude toward the rules. A negative or argumentative attitude means your teen may not cooperate with your family program. Observe your teen's regular driving habits when you supervise her in the vehicle, and note her comfort level with handling the vehicle and stress level when making difficult maneuvers or when confronted with mistakes made by other drivers. High anxiety and stress let you know she's not ready to go solo behind the wheel.