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Teen Driving Safety Tips: Help Your New Teen Driver Succeed on the Road
If you have a new teen driver in the family — or a teen about to get their permit — you might be feeling the teeniest, tiniest bit of stress. Okay, you’re probably feeling a lot of stress. It can be very scary to let your child get behind the wheel. Driving is a huge responsibility and there are so many variables that make it challenging. However, it’s also one of the most exciting milestones for young adults because it’s a new step toward independence.
While we can’t completely alleviate your anxiety about your teen getting their license and driving without you (we are mechanics, not magicians), we can help you take some steps that may give you some peace of mind. Not only will you feel a little better about letting them take the keys, you’ll also feel confident that you’ve provided them with lifetime skills that will help them as an adult driver and vehicle owner. Check out some of our top tips for parents of teen drivers!
Give Your Teen Driver the Strongest Start Possible
Colorado laws require that all teen drivers under the age of 18 complete a graduated driver’s license program. Aspiring young drivers must hold a permit for at least one year, complete a driving log of day and night hours, and pass a driver’s test. If your child wants to get their permit between 15 and 15 ½ , they also need to take a 30-hour driving education course with an approved driving school before they can apply for their permit. If they wait until 15 ½ , they only need to take a four-hour course.
It may be tempting to hold off on obtaining a permit to save money on driving school. However, it’s probably a good idea to get that early start and support their driving education. The more diverse their experience, the safer your teen will be on the road. Some programs include time on the road with an instructor.
Look into supplemental classes:
- Defensive driving
- Winter driving
- Courses for neurodivergent students
Even if your teen driver only takes an online driving course, you’ll be helping them be a safer, more aware driver. You can find approved local driving schools (where the driving lessons can count toward your teen’s permit and licensing requirements) here.
Last, for a truly strong start, spend a lot of time on the road with your teen. Yes, it can sometimes be a frustrating experience for everyone — that’s for sure. However, try your best to let them drive as much as possible in a variety of traffic and terrain. More importantly, be patient with one another and try to be kind.
When your teen makes a mistake, they are usually just worried you’ll be mad. They often do not realize they’ve had a close call because they aren’t experienced enough to know better. They may even get defensive when you correct them. Meanwhile, you’re imagining every possible way that seemingly small mistake could go wrong when you won’t be there to help or stop it. That stress can certainly come across as anger.
If you can take a deep breath and keep your cool, you can usually work through it together. Just try to keep in mind that you both want the same goal: a safe, independent driver!
On that note, there’s an easy step you can take to help teens stay safe on the road when you’re not around, and that’s teaching them proper phone safety.
Teach (and Model) Phone Safety
It’s not just unsafe to use your phone while driving. It’s also a ticketable offense! Teach your teen how to turn on “do not disturb,” pick their music (before leaving the driveway) and put the phone down. Let them know it’s okay to wait until they are parked to check texts and take calls. They’re just obeying the law.
You can also teach them the dangers of using phones while driving by providing examples during rides where they are a passenger. Show them how fast cars can travel in the few seconds they are “just sending a quick text” by asking them to look at the road, glance at their phone and look back.
Point out how much road has passed in that short look. Note where other drivers hit their brakes in that time and point out hazards and slowdowns that could have caused an accident in that short time.
Complete this exercise in traffic and at stoplights, too. You don’t just want your child to be deterred by the possibility of getting a ticket. You want them to understand the potential dangers so they won’t be tempted when there’s no one there to catch them.
Phone safety really is important, especially for teen drivers. More than 1.6 million crashes are estimated to be caused by cell phone use each year. With so little time and experience on the road, your teen can’t afford the extra distractions. In short, good phone use equals safer driving.
Let’s look at another way you can help ensure your teen driver stays safe. As mechanics, this one is our favorite — teaching them the basics of vehicle maintenance.
Quick Tips for Building Safer Phone Habits . . .
- Make sure they also know they won’t be in trouble for not responding to phone calls or texts from you while driving.
- Purchase hands-free equipment to keep phones safely out of their hands.
- Model good phone behavior while driving. You’ll save yourself a ticket, too.
Give Teens Basic Skills in Automotive Maintenance
No one is born knowing how to maintain a vehicle. It’s also not something you want to learn through trial and error. Mistakes make good lessons, but they can be expensive when it comes to owning a car. Not only that, they can put your young driver in unsafe situations.
How do you prevent costly mistakes? Teach your teen that basic automotive maintenance is an important part of being a responsible driver. You won’t always be there to help when a tire goes flat or a dash light comes on. You may not hear the brakes grinding at stoplights or notice the headlights seem dim. These tips will help your teen start solving the problem while they wait for an adult to help.
Teach Them What the Dashlights Mean
Everyone hates to see a dashlight come on. Your teen won’t be any different. However, it is really important that they know what the individual lights mean, as well as the consequences of ignoring them. Teach them the most common lights, like oil pressure, tire pressure, temperature, battery, low fuel and any other key indicators. You can also show them where to find the information on dashboard symbols in their vehicle owner’s manual, as well as searching online.
Above all, teach your new driver not to ignore the warning lights. This particular lesson can be difficult. Plenty of adult drivers are out there with a dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, just hoping their car will make it another day. However, if you can instill the good habits to stop and solve the problem, whether it’s topping off fluids or bringing the car into the mechanic, they’ll save time and money for the rest of their lives.
How and When to Make Periodic Fluid Checks
Fluids keep the engine running smoothly, as well as other key systems in the car. Explain the importance of each fluid so your teen understands why they can’t neglect this routine check. For example, explain how a lack of oil can destroy an engine. Show how low antifreeze, or poorly mixed antifreeze, can cause the engine to overheat and warp/ruin the components.
Show your teen driver how to check their oil levels using the dip stick. Explain how the markings on the dip stick work. Show them the reservoirs for washer fluid, antifreeze and any other refillable fluids and help them learn how to top them off. Then, be sure to check up on them monthly. Remember, these new drivers are young and forming good habits can take more than a few reminders from their parents. Some day, they’re going to be great car owners because you gave them the skills.
Share Basic Battery Maintenance
Battery maintenance is an especially great lesson for Colorado teens. They will definitely experience a day when the weather is so cold that their car won’t start. You want to be sure they know the right way to jumpstart a car, how to safely use jumper cables and how to know when it’s time to take the battery in. You can also teach them how to disconnect it and bring it into the shop for an inspection/test/recharge. Impress upon your teen that jumper cable safety is incredibly important! Have your teen practice while under supervision so they feel confident when you’re not around.
Tires and Brakes and Lights, Oh My!
Tires, brakes and lights are systems your teen can easily monitor while driving and through periodic inspections.
Tires: Check for unusual wear — this guide is super helpful. Show them where on the tire to find the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. Teach them how to inflate a tire and how to read a pressure gauge. Explain how to use a gas station air pump. If your car does not have TPMS monitors or dashlight indicators, your teen should also know how to check tire pressure and how often — monthly, at least. They should also know how to change a tire, from checking the spare to tightening the final lug.
Brakes: Brakes are trickier to check if you’re not a mechanic. However, you can help your teen by explaining the sounds and smells worn/busted brakes make. Additionally, you can also discuss how they may feel the car grinding when the brakes are worn or how they may feel “soft” if there is a problem. This way, they’ll know when they need to alert you it’s time for a visit to the mechanic.
Lights: Headlights, brake lights, turn signals, dash lights … There’s a lot going on inside and outside your car. Show your teen how to ensure that brake lights and turn signals are working properly while parked. Have them inform you if their headlights are suddenly dimming or if they feel like they cannot see well at night. If they understand how important their signaling and lighting systems are, they are more likely to address the problem quickly.
Set Your Teen Up for Success During Emergencies
Give your teenager a simplified list on how to handle basic emergencies. They can keep one version on their phone in a note app and another printed version in the glove compartment. That way, you can be sure these helpful resources are available to them even if they are out of service or their phone has died.
For example, provide them with simple steps for jumping a battery, including tips on identifying the right color wiring on the cables and the positive and negative nodes on the battery itself. Or, share tips for safely changing a tire, like proper jack placement and the correct order for tightening lug nuts. Make sure you reinforce they have this list when they are driving alone. An easy, “Be safe, don’t forget the list if something goes wrong!” Some lists to include:
- Emergency Phone Numbers: Include a list of helpful numbers to call in an emergency. Yes, that includes yours. If their phone is dead, they may not have your number memorized. Include the phone numbers of any competent adult you trust to help your teen in an emergency. That way, even if they can’t reach you, they’ll have a whole line-up of people they can call next. Include your insurance company, preferred tow company (if you have one), roadside assistance numbers and the number of your mechanic (in case the car is towed).
- What to Do in an Accident: It’s also handy to instruct teen drivers on how to handle a car accident. Teens can be easily intimidated when an accident happens and they may feel scared or pressured to admit fault. They also may be tempted to leave the scene if they are afraid they’ll be in trouble. Remember, their brains are still developing and it can lead to rash decisions. It’s important to stress the consequences of leaving the scene of an accident as part of your safety brief. We have a great article on what to do in an accident, including hit and run situations and cold reporting.
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Creating and Using a Car Emergency Kit:
We’ve built out an excellent car emergency kit list that will benefit any driver, not just teens. Help your teen put together their own kit. As you build it, you can instruct them on how to use the items to protect themselves. You can print out our checklist here and read more about how and why you need these items here.
Help Your Teen Driver (and You) Enter this New Phase with Confidence!
It’s never easy to let our kids grow up, especially when that means letting them drive. On their own. Completely out of our sight. However, driving is a privilege that will give both you and your teen a new sense of freedom and independence. With the right preparation, and a focus on safety and creating good habits, your teen will be equipped with the skills they need to be a safe and responsible driver.
