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Teaching your teen to be safe behind the wheel is a very valuable and potentially life-saving lesson. Getting young drivers to put safety first can be a difficult task because many teenagers want to focus on the fact that driving gives them freedom. You can help provide a safer environment for your teens by going to http://www.411.ca and learning about information and places that can help you. Here are also some safety tips to pass along before your son or daughter gets in the driver’s seat.
Plan a route before you start the car. Talk to your teen about the importance of mapping out the roads they’ll take before they put the keys in the ignition. This can reduce the stress associated with trying to make last minute decisions about which roads to take.
Eliminate distractions. Set strict rules that include no talking on the cell phone or texting while driving. Remind them that car stereos, food, drinks, and passengers can also be dangerous distractions for new drivers.
Limit their opportunities to drive solo or with friends. Driving with a parent or another responsible adult is one thing. Tearing down the road with a car full of friends is another. Consider barring your teen from transporting more than one friend at a time initially. Also, be sure they have plenty of practice driving with you in the twilight and dark before you allow them to drive alone at night.
Encourage them to pay attention to the car’s maintenance schedule. Teen drivers need to know what to do if a warning light flashes. If your teen has a car, he or she should be responsible for ensuring regular maintenance such as oil changes gets done, even if that means taking it into an auto shop.
