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Only speak if absolutely needed. Just let them focus on driving and learning. When you are driving though, model correct behavior. That means, no going thru yellow lights any longer, no talking on your cell phone while driving, go the speed limit, and discuss things that look dangerous. Just be glad you don't live in Miami.
I still remember my mother saying "A green light is not a command to go. It merely suggests permission". I hear her voice and see her body language out of the corner of my right eye.... It clearly made an impression!
So smart of you to seek advice! Be sure to let your car insurance company know, maybe they'll give you a break on the rates. My best advice is that your teen should never let his guard down when driving in a parking lot. You would think, its easy driving in a parking lot, right? Nope! That's where a good majority of accidents happen.
So smart of you to seek advice! Be sure to let your car insurance company know, maybe they'll give you a break on the rates. My best advice is that your teen should never let his guard down when driving in a parking lot. You would think, its easy driving in a parking lot, right? Nope! That's where a good majority of accidents happen.
Oh, I work for an insurance company; that's probably why I'm so paranoid!
And I have no illusions about any kind of rate break once a teen-age driver starts driving! Cha-ching.
So, my son finally got his permit; he's been putting it off forever.
We went out today for his first time in the car. He did beautifully in the school parking lot and on our neighborhood streets.
We accidentally ended up on a main road and I offered to take the wheel but he thought he could make it home. We were both nervous. He did fine until we got to our neighborhood and turned into our street; there was a car coming out of the same street and he almost hit it head on. He did not stop prior to executing his turn.
I told him to stop and he did not ~ he kept aiming for the oncoming vehicle. I finally yelled 'Stop" and he did but he became very upset that I yelled at him.
How do I not raise my voice when he is not stopping (I realize he panicked) and we are about to hit an oncoming vehicle?
I need some help as to how to handle this thing. We got in way over our heads by ending up on the main road (we're new to the area to boot).
Have you thought of getting a driver education teacher? they have those special cars with a break on the passenger side. I know when I was learning to drive, my parents would drive me around the neighborhood and other smaller roads. Never on the highway or avenues. That was the job of the teacher's ed lady. practice, practice, practice.
Thankfully I don't have to worry about teaching my daughter for another 13 years :-)
So, my son finally got his permit; he's been putting it off forever.
We went out today for his first time in the car. He did beautifully in the school parking lot and on our neighborhood streets.
We accidentally ended up on a main road and I offered to take the wheel but he thought he could make it home. We were both nervous. He did fine until we got to our neighborhood and turned into our street; there was a car coming out of the same street and he almost hit it head on. He did not stop prior to executing his turn.
I told him to stop and he did not ~ he kept aiming for the oncoming vehicle. I finally yelled 'Stop" and he did but he became very upset that I yelled at him.
How do I not raise my voice when he is not stopping (I realize he panicked) and we are about to hit an oncoming vehicle?
I need some help as to how to handle this thing. We got in way over our heads by ending up on the main road (we're new to the area to boot).
Any words of advice for me??
Fearing for your life....yelling is a natural response.
Here in Kansas kids can get permits at 14 years old. And restricted license at 15 yrs old. At 17 they can have an unrestricted license. Our oldest daughter is 13. I took her way out in the country on a gravel road and told her to get in the driver's seat for a pre-permit evaluation.....oh boy do we ever have our work cut out for us. The good thing is that she actually realizes it and doesn't care to admit it.
Boys are proud. Most all think they are good drivers even if they have never had any seat time on the left side. He probably told you he 'meant to do that' when it appeared that he was going to run head-on into the other car. You just need give him more seat time and try to explain that he needs to do what he can to not make his passengers or other motorists nervous.
One problem I had when I was learning was that I had always sat on the right side and never saw the world on the highway from the driver's seat. When I finally got to drive on the highway when I got my permit it was freaky. The seatbelt was on the wrong shoulder. I was sitting on the wrong side. It felt like the car was a mile wide. How does this thing fit on the road? I felt like if I was driving on a street with cars or other objects parked on the right side of the road that I was too close and was going to hit them. LOL Also being on the driver's side it looked like the cars in the oncoming lane were barreling at me compared to being in the passenger seat. So every time a car came I eased over to the right because I was affraid they were going to hit me.
The more I drove the better feel I had for the size of the car I was in. It's the same even today. If I have been driving a compact car around and then I get into a Suburban I feel as though I do not have a good feel for how big the car is and I'm clumbsy. After a while I get a feel for it and everything is fine. He just needs a chance to get the feel of the car. When he's learning he should probably just stick to one car (like a set of golf clubs).
Fearing for your life....yelling is a natural response.
Here in Kansas kids can get permits at 14 years old. And restricted license at 15 yrs old. At 17 they can have an unrestricted license. Our oldest daughter is 13. I took her way out in the country on a gravel road and told her to get in the driver's seat for a pre-permit evaluation.....oh boy do we ever have our work cut out for us. The good thing is that she actually realizes it and doesn't care to admit it.
Boys are proud. Most all think they are good drivers even if they have never had any seat time on the left side. He probably told you he 'meant to do that' when it appeared that he was going to run head-on into the other car. You just need give him more seat time and try to explain that he needs to do what he can to not make his passengers or other motorists nervous.
One problem I had when I was learning was that I had always sat on the right side and never saw the world on the highway from the driver's seat. When I finally got to drive on the highway when I got my permit it was freaky. The seatbelt was on the wrong shoulder. I was sitting on the wrong side. It felt like the car was a mile wide. How does this thing fit on the road? I felt like if I was driving on a street with cars or other objects parked on the right side of the road that I was too close and was going to hit them. LOL Also being on the driver's side it looked like the cars in the oncoming lane were barreling at me compared to being in the passenger seat. So every time a car came I eased over to the right because I was affraid they were going to hit me.
The more I drove the better feel I had for the size of the car I was in. It's the same even today. If I have been driving a compact car around and then I get into a Suburban I feel as though I do not have a good feel for how big the car is and I'm clumbsy. After a while I get a feel for it and everything is fine. He just needs a chance to get the feel of the car. When he's learning he should probably just stick to one car (like a set of golf clubs).
How did you know? That's exactly what he said. Thanks for your insight.
How did you know? That's exactly what he said. Thanks for your insight.
Hey man....I was that kid at one time. I've got tons of stories from when I was learning.
Once I was driving with my dad. I was driving on a curvy road and this big turtle was crossing the road in front of me. I had plenty of time to avoid it but my dad had just gotten on my case about staying between the lines. He said, "You see that turtle?". I said, "Yep." He said,"Well?" "Thump-Thump", said the tire to the turtle. Poor guy never stood a chance. LMAO
I have a similar story about a dog and my older cousin's learning period.....
Seriously...do what my dad did when he wasn't able to teach me how to drive stick (something about how he was telling me to do it made no sense):
Hire someone else to do it.
There are plenty of driving schools out there, and they have the special extra brake on the passenger side. And there are no hard feelings.
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My best advice is that your teen should never let his guard down when driving in a parking lot. You would think, its easy driving in a parking lot, right? Nope! That's where a good majority of accidents happen.
