Learning to drive can be stressful for teens and parents. Parents can ease their anxiety and protect their kids by getting actively involved in the learning process. 

Talking frequently about driving safety, creating a driving agreement, practicing driving together and leading by example can make a huge difference in helping your teen drive safer—especially when you’re not in the car. 

Here are some tips to help keep your teen driver safe:

• Talk about driving safety early and often. Start by teaching your kids what kinds of driving behaviors are risky:
  • Speeding: Discuss the importance of adhering to posted speed limits and knowing when to slow down for bad road or weather conditions.
  • Distraction: A AAA study found that interacting with passengers and cell phones were the most frequent distractions for teen drivers. 
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: Make sure your teen understands that impaired driving should never be an option.
  • Poor visual scanning: Talk to your young driver about the importance of staying alert and constantly scanning the road for hazards. 
• Lay out the rules of the road. Visit AAA Parent–Teen Driving Agreement for a sample agreement and other information to help parents and teens navigate the learning-to-drive process.
• Prepare with practice. Plan to log at least 100 hours of driving practice with your teen before letting them drive solo. Expose them to different situations while driving together – night and day, freeways and gravel roads, sunny days and wet weather – to increase their experience.
• Set a good example. Show your teen that you take driving as seriously as you expect them to. Avoid speeding and distractions. Always wear your seat belt. Obey traffic laws. Never drive impaired. 
• Insure your new driver. Talk with your agent about adjusting your policies:
  • Check for discounts. Ask about discounts for good students or teens who complete safe driving courses. You may also be able to save money by combining your auto and homeowners policies with a single insurer. 

For more information, talk to a AAA Insurance agent or visit your local branch office.