Pros & Cons of Teens Driving to School

Many parents dream of the day when they no longer have to shuttle their teen to school each morning or pick her up after practice because the school bus doesn't run late enough. Having your teen drive herself to school can be a wonderfully liberating experience for both of you. However, given that automobile accidents are the number one cause of death for teens between the ages of 16 and 19 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you should weigh this decision carefully.

  1. Less Morning Stress

    • A teen driving herself -- and possibly her younger siblings -- to school each morning means you don't have to worry about her missing the bus by 30 seconds or that you might be late for your first meeting at work because the town was repaving one of the school crosswalks. In short, once you feel comfortable with your teen driving to school, you no longer need to adjust your already hectic schedule each morning just to help her avoid detention.

    Less Afternoon Logistics Juggling

    • Not long ago, if your teen had to stay late for play rehearsal, cross country or track practice, it meant she had to get a ride from an older friend or you had to make a separate trip to school, which can be a hassle when you have younger children to worry about. Driving her own car to school means your teen can stay as late as she needs to without inconveniencing the rest of the family's plans for the evening.

    Driver Error

    • Friends distracting a teen driver, teens who are texting while driving and driving under the influence are among the reasons why teens are more likely to experience fatal car accidents, according to the CDC. Establishing rules, such as no driving with friends, no texting or talking the phone while driving, can help reduce these risks considerably, according to Safe Teen Driving Club. Emphasize that you still want your teen to call or text you in an emergency, but that you expect her to pull off the road to safe place and turn off the car before doing so.

    No Supervision

    • While logging her driving hours, you probably didn't hesitate to correct your teen's driving speed, sharp turns and drastic lane shifting, but once she is driving herself to school, these areas become impossible to monitor. GPS programs exist that can track her driving and send you weeks̵7; worth of data, but even these cannot replace the experience of supervising her while sitting in the seat next to her. For concerned parents, not knowing what is going on inside the car she is driving can be nerve wracking, even if your teen is exceptionally trustworthy.

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