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    Home » Parenting

    Tips To Prepare Your Teen For the Road

    Published: Aug 28, 2015 · Modified: Oct 7, 2023 by Jennifer · This post may contain affiliate links · 46 Comments

    1 shares

    Being a new driver is exciting, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. My 17 year old daughter, Angeline, bought her very first car with the help of her dad this summer. She bought...a 2002 Pontiac Firebird convertible! While I knew this day was coming quite a bit in advance (we all know the dread of preparing for our child's first car purchase, don't we?), I had been teaching her to drive after all, it's still alarming how much freedom - and responsibility - a car brings.  In addition passing the state requirements we had also spent a lot of time utilizing online driving courses and I gave her real-world driving experience before allowing her to take the leap of purchasing her first car.
     
    PicMonkey Collage

    I also gave her the following real world tips to prepare her for the road, because let's face it - the traffic in Miami is no place for a child without a little experience! One of the most important things when it comes to dealing with traffic in Miami is ensuring that your tires are in great condition. Between the heat and humidity and the rain, maintaining the condition of your tires helps to ensure your safety while driving. I am sure this is even more important if you live in a climate that has all four seasons!

    Tips To Prepare Your Teen For the Road

    Teach Them to Never Assume

    Don’t make assumptions about what other drivers are going to do. The only thing you can assume about another driver with a turn signal on is that they have a turn signal on. He/she might not be turning at all, and just forgot to turn it off.

    Continue to Supervise Driving

    Even though your child has a bona fide license, and reminds you of it often, they still lack experience. Continue driving with them until you're both comfortable.

    Leave for School Early

    Try to get to school five to ten minutes early, and leave five minutes late to avoid the mad dash into and out of the parking lot. Lots of accidents happen when people are rushing around.

    Create Your Own License Program

    Even if your state has an excellent graduated drivers licensing program you can consider implementing your own. Restrict nighttime driving by taking away the keys after 9pm. Additionally limit the number of passengers.

    Keep The Tank Off E

    Teenagers are a notoriously broke bunch. It can be tempting for them to stretch that gas tank as far as possible. However it's dangerous, hard on your vehicle and inconvenient to be running out of gas.

    Keep It Clean

    Make sure your windshield is clean. At sunrise and sunset, light reflecting off your dirty windshield can momentarily blind you from seeing what’s going on.

    Teach Them To Maintain

    In addition to knowing when you should get an oil chance (every 3-5,000 miles) every teenager should know how to check their own tire pressure at home. They can always take it to a local Discount Tire to check their pressure, which makes the entire process so much easier! Even I feel more comfortable having a professional check my tire pressure for me, so it's natural for a teenager to feel more confident with the help of a Discount Tire service tech!

    4703-201508071338213301

    You can also check out the Discount Tire website for more helpful Tire Safety Tips - because you can never be too prepared or too safe when it comes to your teen drivers!

     

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    1 shares

    About Jennifer

    Jennifer, AKA "The Rebel Chick," is a 40-something Gen Xer who strives to help her readers live their best lives possible with easy recipes, travel inspiration and lifestyle tips!

    Comments

    1. Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says

      September 03, 2015 at 12:27 pm

      I still have 5 more years before my oldest can drive, but I do worry. I am going to be a wreck when he gets out on the road.

    2. jo says

      September 03, 2015 at 1:15 pm

      I won't understand how it feels to have a new driver - it becomes your responsibility and worry at the same time. Speaking in a new driver's point-of-view, we or at least I, felt scared at first but when I started to get the hang of it, I felt like I am better than my husband, really not good because I almost ran into an accident! So yes, better be careful ans be strict with the limits! Good luck to her and her cool car. 🙂

    3. Diana Villa says

      September 03, 2015 at 2:16 pm

      Awesome tips! I love her car, red is one of my favorite colors. I think 17 is the ideal age to start driving 🙂

    4. Diana Villa says

      September 03, 2015 at 2:18 pm

      I think 17 is the ideal age to start driving! I love her car, red is one of my favorite colors 😀

    5. Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says

      September 03, 2015 at 4:25 pm

      Oh God. Every parent's worst night mare of a first car. The sports car. O_o

    6. Jenny says

      September 03, 2015 at 7:00 pm

      Great tips. I am not looking forward to this day, but at least I have 16 years before she can try lol

    7. Ourfamilyworld says

      September 03, 2015 at 9:54 pm

      These are very helpful tips. It will also make things easier if you set examples. When they see you driving and you are doing all these, they would most likely do what you are doing.

    8. HilLesha says

      September 04, 2015 at 2:36 am

      Wonderful tips! I'll admit that I'm not really looking forward to the day when my children are old enough to drive.

    9. rika says

      September 04, 2015 at 3:47 am

      The hardest part is to keep it clean 😉 My kids always bring foods to the car and throw unwanted items on the floor 🙂

    10. Annemarie LeBlanc says

      September 04, 2015 at 4:18 am

      Very valuable advice you've written here. Having a car is not a luxury. Teens should put that in mind. It is about being responsible for themselves and for their car.

    11. Rebecca Swenor says

      September 04, 2015 at 6:19 am

      These are great tips to preparing your teen for the road. It is so important to teach them the responsibilities of driving and maintaining a vehicle. My dad made sure I knew how to change a tire on a car before I got my first car.

    12. Jesica H says

      September 04, 2015 at 8:00 am

      These are really good tips! I was part of a graduated license program, and I think it was a really smart program! I am sure when my kids are of driving age, I will have a lot of rules myself!

    13. Tatanisha Pitts-Worthey says

      September 04, 2015 at 9:10 am

      Looks like a very cool car. I have to agree most of your tips. It is important to teach and remind them to be responsible drivers.

    14. Chubskulit Rose says

      September 04, 2015 at 11:06 am

      That's a beautiful car Angeline got. I still have a few years before my daughter starts driving but I am already worrying about it.

    15. Lynndee says

      September 04, 2015 at 11:07 am

      Just thinking about my son driving for the first time worries me. I don't even know if I'll let him drive. Such a worry-wart mom I am. But thanks for the tips.

    16. becka says

      September 04, 2015 at 11:34 am

      My 10 year old thinks she is ready... I don't think I will ever be ready. That car is awesome!

    17. Jeanine says

      September 04, 2015 at 1:37 pm

      Great tips! It won't be long before my oldest is on the road and I haven't the first clue about any of it...I don't drive so this is great info!

    18. Angela says

      September 04, 2015 at 4:49 pm

      These are some great tips! Thanks so much for this post!

    19. Maureen says

      September 04, 2015 at 6:20 pm

      These are all great lessons. Leaving for school early is a great one to avoid unnecessary rushing.

    20. Brett Martin says

      September 04, 2015 at 7:22 pm

      My kids are a long way off from driving, but I am already dreading it! These are great tips for new drivers!

    21. Amber Edwards says

      September 04, 2015 at 7:41 pm

      I remember when I got my license, my Mom said, "just because you got the license doesn't mean you know how to drive!"
      And she kept monitoring us all as we drove to make sure we instilled good driving habits.

    22. Mistee Dawn says

      September 04, 2015 at 8:10 pm

      These are really great tips! I will definitely give these to my sister for my niece. Thanks goodness my daughter still has 6 years to go! lol

    23. Mandi @ Moments With Mandi says

      September 04, 2015 at 8:11 pm

      Wow, I can't believe we have just 5.5 years until our oldest is driving. That's crazy! We have a couple new drivers in the family who have been excellent drivers so far!

    24. Wandering Carol says

      September 04, 2015 at 8:35 pm

      Wow! Pretty snazzy car for a 17-year old. She's a lucky girl. I'd add 'steer clear of road rage' and be a polite driver to my list of tips!

    25. tess says

      September 04, 2015 at 9:36 pm

      I just got through another kid finally getting the hang of driving. Thank goodness I have awhile before the last one drives. lol. Great tips!

    26. Autumn @Mamachallenge says

      September 05, 2015 at 1:02 am

      These are great tips! I still have a few years before my oldest starts driving.

    27. Sabrina @ Dinner, then Dessert says

      September 05, 2015 at 3:29 am

      Teen drivers don't have all the parts of driving that are instinct to more experienced drivers! They have to practice until it's second nature!

    28. Ann Bacciaglia says

      September 05, 2015 at 12:52 pm

      These are great tips. I have two kids that are now driving. It is a struggle to get them to keep gas in the car.

    29. Tammi Roy says

      September 05, 2015 at 12:53 pm

      I have a few years left before my kids start driving. It will be exciting and scary at the same time. I will have to remember these great tips.

    30. gingermommyrants says

      September 05, 2015 at 12:55 pm

      I will be putting my kids into a drivers ed program when they start to learn how to drive. There are so many important skills they need to master and i do not think they will listen to me if i try to teach them.

    31. Elizabeth Lampman says

      September 05, 2015 at 12:56 pm

      That is an amazing car. I am looking forward to the independence my kids will get when they start to drive. I will ave to share these tips with my friends.

    32. Ora Lee Gurr says

      September 05, 2015 at 2:50 pm

      Firebirds definitely have style. What a great choice your teen made for a vehicle. Your point about the turn signals is spot on. One of my cars has a sensor that turns the blinker off when the turn's completed. The other car will blink forever and finally gives a series of pings to remind me to shut it off. I've seen drivers signal a left turn and then veer across traffic to take the right-hand off-ramp.

    33. Uplifting Families says

      September 05, 2015 at 3:17 pm

      These are great tips. I think it is super important to teach your child how to properly maintain a car. I watched my dad but one thing that I didn't know was to change the timing belt on my car. Mine broke one time and needless to say I was left stranded for a little bit.

    34. Debbie Denny says

      September 05, 2015 at 7:30 pm

      Very good tips. All kids need tolearn the responsibilities of owning a car.

    35. Kristin Wheeler (Mama Luvs Books) says

      September 05, 2015 at 8:43 pm

      What a sporty car! Great tips for young drivers! Luckily we have a few more years here until our daughter drives!

    36. Debbie L. says

      September 06, 2015 at 10:07 am

      Very good tips...Keep the tank off E - was something my Dad told me and we told our kids. Living in Wisconsin having your tank on E in the middle of winter when temps are -25 is dangerous. The water in the gas will freeze and you car will not run.

    37. Catherine S says

      September 06, 2015 at 11:57 am

      These are all great tips. My son is in the process of learning how to drive. I showed him how to change a tire a couple weeks ago. We got a flat and I told him we didn't need to call AAA. I had the spare put on in 30 minutes.

    38. Chrystal | Nevermore Lane says

      September 06, 2015 at 5:17 pm

      Seems like just yesterday my parents were teaching me how to drive. Kiddo is only 10, so we have a few years. Honestly though, I can't wait for her to start driving. Since her mom lives a bit away and we plan to move a bit further from where we are now, when she can drive herself it will really help.

    39. Pam says

      September 06, 2015 at 6:29 pm

      My son has a Pontiac Firebird too. His isn't a convertible though! These are great tips for teens getting ready to hit the road.

    40. Isabella Grey says

      September 06, 2015 at 6:43 pm

      Great tips, and even better first car! I have a gold 2001 Pontiac Firebird with T-tops, so I know good cars, lol.

    41. Brandy says

      September 07, 2015 at 11:28 am

      These are great tips, I have 3 more years before I have to start worrying about this, or maybe I should start thinking now.

    42. Lisa Bristol says

      September 07, 2015 at 1:35 pm

      My Daughter is going for her drivers test this month. I am nervous for her to have her licence. These are great tips i will have to share with her. I am not looking forward to her wanting to borrow the car all the time.

    43. Rosey says

      September 07, 2015 at 2:38 pm

      Smart tip on the gas. Most kids will try to get away with running on E. It's even a standing joke at times. 😉

    44. Lena says

      September 08, 2015 at 12:52 am

      Super cool tips! I will keep them in mind for the time my children are ready to drive

    45. Jenn says

      September 08, 2015 at 10:13 am

      Oh, I can imagine how awful it would be to get stuck without gas in a really cold weather climate!

    46. Fariha N. says

      September 10, 2015 at 1:48 am

      I am bookmarking this post because I will need it sometime soon. I still have some time but I am already thinking and worrying about my son being a driver. It's a bit scary!

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    Hi, I'm Jennifer! I'm a Miami native and I love sharing easy dinner recipes, baking recipes, travel ideas and general Miami Lifestyle fun! Follow along for inspiration on how to make the most of your life!

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