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| Teen Drivers: Boys AND Girls Need to be Prepared |
Getting a
Free Quote for Teen Drivers for auto insurance can help your teen budget his or her
money. Keep your teen driver protected and safe. While this season in your
teen’s life is exciting for them, it can be a source of anxiety for parents.
Take the first steps to insuring your young adult is prepared for his or her
new responsibilities. Consider the
following and consider utilizing
Teen Driver Contract with your new driver.
Don’t hide your
excitement for this new step in your son’s or daughter’s life. Ask them if they
have any uneasiness about any areas of driving. You need to make sure they are
prepared for:
- Safety and navigation in unfamiliar areas
- Basic car maintenance
- Breakdowns and flat tires
- General traveling safety
- Defensive driving
- What to do in the event of an accident
- NEVER using phone while driving (safest choice)
- Obeying traffic laws
- How to handle being pulled over
Discuss personal
family rules about curfews, boundaries and other topics beforehand to help the
transition go smoother. It is okay to
also help your child understand what is going on at your end. This is a
transition for you as well. I remember my eldest son telling the next one in
line, ‘be prepared to run out for milk, or butter, or a stamp or fast food now
that you can drive’. In overhearing
this, I had an opportunity to share with second child and all others down the
line how this was “new” for me to. I
explained “as you are growing up, when I send you out it is helping me to let
go. Each time you come home safe and sound; it helps me not worry when you are
gone for a long time. Think of it as breaking your parents in to your new
experiences.” Sorry Son, Number One” I didn’t give you this speech; it was
your words that helped me to recognize the why
behind the what. It also made me laugh thinking “that’s why
kids think their parents are crazy!”
Spend some time
with your teen driver asking how he or she would handle certain situations from
the above list. “What would you do if you made a wrong turn and ended up in a
neighborhood you thought looked dangerous?” “How would you handle being pulled
over by police?” “How do you handle someone dangerously tailgating you?” “What
are the things you need to do if you are in an accident?”
Your new driver might be impatient with you. Keep the doors
of communication open by reminding them that this is a part of your
relationship maturing from child and parent, to responsible young adult and
parent. The point being NOT to drive each other nuts.
Remember, driving
has changed very much since you were a teen driver. Make sure there are maps in
the car and your child knows how to use them. Include a small address book with
important phone numbers. Today’s majority
of young adults are very dependent on electronics, which sometimes fail. Many
do not memorize phone numbers as we used to and many rely heavily of navigation
systems. When electronic back-ups fail, this can put your loved one in a
frightening or dangerous situation.
Whether your teen
driver is using your car, or his own, make them aware of roadside service you
may have. Keep pertinent information in the car and let your teen know what
everything is and where it is located.
Make sure your teen knows how to change a tire, check the oil and know
how to replenish washer fluid. They
should have a basic understanding of the other fluids, their purposes and
troubleshooting the need for them, whether or not the car gives a light up
alert on the dash board.
With a Free Quote
for Teens leading to
affordable car insurance for teens, make sure you ask
about any special offers or discounts your young adult may be eligible
for. You may also want to price compare
on having your teen on your auto insurance policy or having a separate auto
insurance policy for teen drivers.
