How Parents Are Handling Their Teen's Driving Milestone
Summary:
Why Parents Are Anxious About Their Teens Learning to Drive
The Benefits of Teens Learning to Drive
How Parents Are Overcoming Their Anxiety About Their Teens Learning to Drive
Case Study: Alexa and Kadah
Aceable's Key Findings
In a new study, Aceable found that 56% of parents feel anxious about their teens starting to drive. Furthermore, 21% report feeling frustrated with the process of helping their teens learn to drive. Learning to drive is an important milestone. But it’s important to realize that teaching your teen to drive is an important milestone as well. This parental milestone comes with a wide range of emotions, including excitement, fear, and maybe just a bit of sadness as your “baby” takes a big step toward independence. Balancing all these emotions while teaching the practical applications of safe driving behaviors is a challenge. In fact, 88% of parents surveyed say that teen driving is more challenging than any other teen milestones encountered thus far.
Why Parents Are Anxious About Their Teens Learning to Drive
The world you learned to drive in may not feel like the same world you’re teaching your teen to drive in. Of the parents surveyed, 87% agree that the current generation of teen drivers faces different challenges than they did. This adds to the anxiety parents face in the following areas.
Teen’s Core Driving Abilities
52% of parents confirm being concerned about their teen’s core driving abilities. Inexperienced drivers are naturally less skilled than more experienced drivers. This is why the highest risk of a car crash for teens comes in the first three months of drivingTeen Crash Risk Highest In First 3 Months After Getting A License Blog.
Part of the problem for today’s drivers is simply traffic. According to independent research firm, GitnuxTraffic Congestion Statistics Gitnux.org, the total vehicle miles traveled in the US increased by more than 46% from 1993 to 2018. This means more cars on the road and less room for error. No wonder 64% of respondents agree they are more worried about their teen driving than their parents were about them driving.
The Dangers of the Road
Lack of Control
Tech Challenges
The Benefits of Teens Learning to Drive
Despite the anxiety, many parents are genuinely excited about this milestone. 62% of those surveyed report feeling excitement as their teens start to drive.
We’re mostly excited for our teens to enjoy the benefits of getting a driver’s licenseShould You Get License Pros And Cons Teens Blog, like new opportunities to socialize or work, but there are also benefits for the parents.
Consider these findings from Aceable’s recent survey:
90% of parents surveyed found that teaching their teens to drive strengthened their bond.
75% agree that having another driver in the home allows the parent to get more done.
55% report that their driving teen can help around the house by running errands.
Pro Tips For Ensuring Your Teen Becomes A Safe Driver
Enroll Your Teen in a Comprehensive Drivers EdWhy Choose Aceable Company Course
Take an Active PartGuide Teaching Your Teen Drive Blog in Your Teen’s Driver Education
How Parents Are Overcoming Their Anxiety About Their Teens Learning to Drive
The best way to ease any anxiety about your teen learning to drive is to make sure your teen knows how to drive safelySafe Driving. And there are multiple ways to achieve this.
1. Enroll Your Teen in a Drivers Ed Course
Of the parents surveyed, 95% agree they prefer to have assistance when teaching their teens to drive. This fits with the data showing that parents feel that today’s drivers face different challenges than our generation did. Parents might not feel equipped to properly train drivers in the 2020s.
Drivers ed has changedHow Has Drivers Ed Changed Over Last 10 Years Blog with the times. For example, did you know that drivers are no longer encouraged to keep their hands at “10 and 2”? A certified drivers ed courseDrivers Ed will make sure your teen gets the most accurate, up-to-date information on safe driving.
2. Take an Active Part in Your Teen’s Driver Education
While a drivers ed course can help put your mind at ease, you may feel even better if you can directly watch your teen’s progress. 48% of parents surveyed report that active involvement in their teen’s driver education program made them more confident in letting their teen drive. You may even learn a thing or two that can help make you a safer driver!
3. Implement Driving Curfews
Some states impose curfews on newly licensed teen drivers. For example, California’s nighttime driving restrictionCalifornia Driving Laws For Minors Blog prevents teens from driving between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM without adult supervision. These late-night/early-morning hours are known to be more dangerous, so you may be more comfortable keeping your teen off the roads during those hours. Around 44% of parents feel less anxious about their teens driving when curfews are in place.
You don’t need a law to enforce a curfew. You can set your own curfew rules. Clearly communicate the rules to your teen so they understand that you can take away their driving privileges if they break curfew.
4. Limit the Number of Passengers in the Car
Similar to curfew laws, some states limit the number of passengers a newly licensed teen can have in the car. Texas, for example, only allows 16 and 17-year-olds with provisional licensesWhat Provisional Drivers License Texas And How Do I Get One Blog to have up to one non-family passenger under 21 in the car. This is because newer teen drivers are more susceptible to social distractions than more experienced, mature drivers.
Just over half of parents surveyed (51%), say that limits on the number of passengers their teens can have make them feel better about their teens driving.
5. Consider Tracking Your Teen’s Driving
Simply knowing where your teen is may help ease your anxiety about allowing them to drive. Of the parents surveyed, 55% report that location-sharing apps make them more comfortable with their teens driving.
If you want to take this a step further, you can use driving-monitoring apps (such as OtoZen, Safe2Save, or Life360) to make sure your teen is driving safely when you’re not around. 45% of parents have become more confident in their teens’ driving habits by confirming safe driving with the monitoring apps.
Want to learn more about how Aceable is changing Drivers Ed?
More Resources
Find this article helpful? Want to learn more about parents just like you, who are navigating the driving teen milestone? Below you'll find some first-hand accounts and some reading material on how Aceable can be a resources not only for your teen but for you as well.
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