Parents as Good Role Models for Teen Drivers

Posted by Susan Epstein on September 3rd, 2010 at 05:23pm

Before you get into your car this morning think about some of the messages you are sending to your kids and start acting like you want your kids to act.

• Wear seatbelts
• Don’t exhibit road rage
• Don’t use the cell phone
• Don’t be distracted
• Don’t tailgate
• Don’t drink and drive…ever
• Be courteous to other drivers
• Take care of your car inside and out

Write up a contract with your teen that explicitly states the rules and responsibilities of driving.

Issues to address are:

• Consequences for drinking/drugs
• Speeding and cell phone use
• Curfew with the car
• Who pays for what (gas, insurance, upkeep, etc?)
• Insist with your teen that driving and use of the car is a privilege and not a rite of passage into adulthood

Parents and teens sign the contract and post in a prominent area of the house…no arguments, no exceptions. Break the rules lose the privilege.

Tags: calm parenting, driving, parenting powers, role models, rules of the road, safety, susan epstein, teens

Under Teens/Tweens