Related Sponsors

Becoming a Good Driving Teacher

Home » Automobiles » Teaching Your Teen to Drive » Becoming a Good Driving Teacher

Besides knowing when to teach your teen which skill, the other most important aspect of the driving teacher's job is giving instructions clearly and calmly. Tell her what you are going to want her to do before she even starts the car -- for example, "Let's drive out of the neighborhood, turn right onto Poplar Street, and then turn right into the grocery store parking lot." Then, once she is driving, give very clear instructions well in advance of the moment at which she needs to act (if possible). The following are examples of clearly stated instructions.

• "When you can, go ahead and signal, check your mirrors, and move into the right lane."
• "You're going to turn right at the next street."
• "There is a stop sign about 50 feet ahead."
• "There is a dog up there, so you need to slow down."

The more clearly and calmly you present information, the more likely your teen will be able to react appropriately to that information. If you let a note of panic into your voice, your teen may panic, too, and lose the ability to understand what you are saying! There are times when you may need to raise your voice, or even express panic -- but if you shout suddenly, or unintelligibly, or otherwise fluster your teen, you may make the situation worse. It is best to talk to your child about this possibility beforehand. Ask her, "If I see that you are probably about to hit something, what is the best way for me let you know?" I she knows ahead of time that you are going to say "Brake!" in a loud voice in that situation, she may be able to respond more quickly. The best way to prevent this problem is simply to move her slowly from one stage to the next, not putting her in a situation where she really doesn't know what to do.

Try to use the same term as much as possible, rather than multiple interchangeable terms like "accelerator" and "gas pedal." Another clarity problem that many parents and teens experience is the confusion with the word "right." Since "right" can be both the opposite of "left" and the opposite of "wrong," use it in the car only as a direction. Use the word "correct" or simply the word "yes" to answer questions like, "Dad, is this the way I'm supposed to turn?"

Remember that everything you say is a small distraction to the driver, so try not to say anything that isn't really necessary.

Next Page: Setting Limits on Your Teen's Driving

Related Teaching Your Teen to Drive Articles