5 Myths About Teen Driver’s Ed
Learning to drive can be exciting for many teenagers, but such a critical milestone comes with extra responsibility. Teen drivers must learn road and traffic laws and how to be safe drivers. Parents enroll their children in teen drivers ed to prepare them adequately before they can get behind the wheel.
While drivers ed for teens equips aspiring drivers with critical information, there are some misconceptions surrounding earning a license. Such facts can interfere with the safe driving practices teens learn at driving school. This article highlights five common myths about teen drivers’ education:
1. Responsible Teens Are Risk-free Drivers
Responsible children can usually win over their parents’ trust, but it is incorrect to assume they are risk-free drivers. While well-mannered teens can make great drivers, they still need proper training and adequate experience.
Teen drivers pose a higher risk when behind the wheel than seasoned drivers. Their lack of driving experience can affect their judgment and concentration. As a parent, you should enroll your child in a drivers ed course for proper training per state laws.
Before letting them drive on their own, accompany them during their initial drives without an instructor. Only let them drive alone once you are satisfied they have had enough experience, can observe all safety rules, and have successfully earned their license.
2. Driving School Practice Offers Your Teen Enough Road Experience
The department of transportation requires teen drivers to complete a certain number of practice hours before earning a driver’s license. Some parents believe their teens are great drivers after completing the drivers ed program, which is not always the case. Teenage drivers need more practice hours before they can drive safely.
Taking a drivers ed course offers teens knowledge about road laws and teaches them practice lessons behind the wheel. While the practice lessons are enough as a prerequisite to qualifying for a driver’s license, new drivers are not always ready to drive by themselves. Your teenager will need more supervised hours to enhance their skills and reaction times before entrusting them to go alone.
3. It Is Safe for Teens to Have Passengers
Some parents often delegate the observing duty to the teen’s friends or other family members that are old enough. They assume it is safe for new drivers to have passengers, which often amounts to negligence. Letting teenagers drive with passengers may increase the risk of causing accidents, especially since they are not experienced drivers.
The teen’s friends or siblings may not be strict when observing their driving habits, creating room for complacency. Friends can affect teens’ willingness to follow road laws or even distract them when driving. Poor driving can put the passengers’ lives at risk. As a parent, observe your teen’s driving until they are confident. Once they have received their license, let them drive solo until they are experienced enough to carry passengers.
4. Having a Driver’s License Is a Safety Guarantee
Teen drivers must undergo drivers ed and pass qualification tests to earn a driver’s license. Although having a driver’s license shows you are qualified to drive, it is not a safety guarantee. New drivers that are not yet confident often pose an accident risk each time they are behind the wheel. New drivers need more practice to become comfortable drivers and offer better safety assurance. Additional practice sessions at drivers ed may provide experiences that help them develop into professionals.
5. Teenagers Are Responsible Drivers if They Own Their Car
Owning an asset comes with additional responsibility, which prompts drivers to be more cautious. Many parents assume getting teenagers their personal cars will make them responsible drivers, which does not always happen. Unlimited access to vehicles and little supervision may cause teenagers to drive recklessly.
Enroll them in a reliable drivers ed course to avoid risking your child’s safety. Restrict their car use and necessitate your presence until they gain confidence while on the road.
Enroll in Teen Drivers Ed
Drivers ed is one of the requirements teens must complete to qualify for a driver’s license. During their training period, teens learn traffic rules and road laws. They also enjoy practicing lessons behind the wheel under an instructor’s watchful eye to gain confidence on the road. Enroll your child in teen drivers ed to help them become safe drivers.
