Parents of teens getting ready to learn to drive have a lot of decisions to make. Where should your teen take driver’s ed? What car should they practice on? What are the family rules around driving?
And maybe the most challenging question: Should I really be teaching my teen to drive?
There is no right answer to this question. Every teen is different, and every family is different. What works for one person might be a disaster for someone else. The most important thing is to figure out which type of driver’s ed setup will best support you and your teen.
Many parents instinctively think that driver’s ed is best left to professionals. But, many parents actually make great driving instructors. Here’s a look at a few of the most compelling reasons why you should consider taking over the task of teaching your teen to drive.
You Know Your Teen Best
When weighing the pros and cons of parent-taught vs instructor-taught driver's ed, remember that you know your teen better than any instructor can. This is a person you’ve been guiding, supporting, and teaching for their whole lives. It only makes sense that you would know how best to help them learn to drive.
Many teens are rightfully anxious when they start their driver’s ed instruction. Having a trusted parent in the passenger seat can help calm those nerves. Of course, on the flip side, it’s no secret that parent-child relationships can become strained in the teen years. Before you embark on the driver’s ed journey, make sure you’ve got a strategy for keeping yourself calm when faced with eye-rolls or sarcastic comments.
You Can Instill Important Values
Multiple studies show the impact parental involvement has on teen driving behaviors. One notable report released by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm found that when parents actively engage and supervise their teen’s driving, teens are 50% less likely to have an accident, 30% less likely to engage in distracted driving, and twice as likely to wear seatbelts. They’re also 71% less likely to drive while intoxicated.
It’s a Bonding Experience
Research shows that 40% of U.S. children lack strong emotional bonds with their parents. Helping your teen learn to drive is a great way to spend quality time together. Remember, it will likely only be a few years before they’re off to college or moving out to live on their own. Spending hours together in the car can be a special time for parents and teens to hang out and enjoy each other’s company.
Or, in the case where a teen and their parent are not getting along, focusing on a task together and having shared goals can be a great way to find shared successes at a time when you might otherwise be having difficulty seeing eye-to-eye.
You Can Transfer Your Driving Skills
Parent-taught driver’s ed gives you the chance to transfer the driving skills you’ve spent a whole life learning and share your insider driving tips with your teen.
A driving instructor will cover all the basics. However, they probably won’t have time to share the more subtle knowledge that separates okay drivers from good drivers. Sharing these finer points can give your teen an edge and help them become a truly skilled driver.
It’s Convenient and Cost-Effective
One of the biggest advantages of parent-taught driver's ed is its convenience and cost-effectiveness. Professional driving lessons can be expensive and often require fitting into a tight schedule that may not align with your family’s availability. By teaching your teen yourself, you can save money and have more control over the schedule.
Plus, even if you choose instructor-taught driver’s ed, the instructor will likely only be doing a limited number of instructional driving hours with your teen. The bulk of their driving practice (usually in the range of 30 hours or so) will still need to be supervised by a parent or other licensed driver. So if you’re thinking that outsourcing driver’s ed to an instructor means no white-knuckling it while your teen tries to merge onto the highway, well, think again.
Making the Right Choice for Your Family
In the end, deciding how to approach driver’s ed is a personal choice that depends on your family’s needs. Whether you choose parent-taught, instructor-taught, or a combination of both, the goal remains the same: to help your teen become a safe and confident driver.
Engage your teen in the decision-making process. They might have insights and preferences based on their experiences and those of their friends. Discuss the options openly and consider the benefits of each approach.
When you’re ready to help your teen get started with their driving journey, DriversEd.com is here to help! Explore our online Teen Driver’s Ed courses today.
Updated 7/16/24