Coping with Teen Drivers

The thought of your teen behind the wheel can be not only terrifying, but overwhelming.

There’s the fear of what could happen to them on the open road and on top of that comes some major expenses, driver’s education courses, auto insurance, and maybe even a car of their own. It’s enough to send even the most prepared mom into a minor panic. The statistics out there aren’t much help to ease a worried mind.

Try these strategies to keep your teen safe and save yourself a few headaches.

1. Have a discussion on who is going to pay for what costs.

All the expenses that are associated with driving add can up quick. Decide with your teen who will pay for what expenses like gas, maintenance and insurance. Keep in mind auto Insurance for teen drivers can cost parents a pretty penny. Most insurance companies are well aware of those statistics on teen drivers. However; there are a few ways to keep the budget in check. Several of the more popular insurance companies like Allstate and State Farm have good student discounts as well as special devices that monitor driving and reward safe drivers. If your insurance company doesn’t offer these things try downloading a free app like Drive Alive Lite. When your teen drives without using his or her phone, they will earn points that can add up to cash. This app is a real motivator to ignore your phone while driving in order to make some money. Plus, what they earn can be put toward their car insurance bill.

2. Make a contract between you and your new driver.

A contract may sound extreme, but it can be the easiest way to keep you and your teen on the same page about what you feel comfortable with when they start to drive. It also encourages discussion on what the consequences might be if the contract is broken. First talk about curfews and passengers. Most accidents involving teens occur between the hours of 9 p.m. to midnight so it might be wise to have them hand over the keys after that time. The same goes for other teenage passengers which can be a huge distraction in the car. If you need some reassurance your teen is adhering to your contract, there are quite a few monitoring devices out there. For example, with the free Canary -Teen Safety app you can monitor your teen’s driving. You’ll get regular alerts, reports, and can check in to make sure they aren’t texting and driving, talking on the phone, or speeding. You can even set a perimeter so you’ll know if they travel outside of a designated area or at a time that’s later than their curfew. Having this watchful eye will remind your teen to drive safely and by your rules at all times.

3. Remember you are not the only one flooded with emotions.

The coming of age time when your child steps a little bit closer to adulthood comes with a lot of emotions. They range everywhere from panic and worry to tears of nostalgia for those years past. When teaching your teen to drive or negotiating the contract sometimes these emotions can run high. Take a deep breath and remember this is a scary time for your child as well. He or she may be scared to drive or worried about making a mistake behind the wheel. Having a heart to heart with your teen before you set them on their course with make both of you feel better and ease at least some of those emotions.



Gabrielle is a full time over-thinker, daydreamer and part time shower singer and editor for Obrella. She is also a self proclaimed cookie monster.