Finding Sanity as My Daughter Starts to Drive

It’s not a secret that I’ve been worried about the fact that my teen daughter, Rose, is about to become a driver. The statistics regarding teen drivers, especially in their first year, are alarming. I had checked outauto insurance quotesand saw these statistics reflected in the rates. And although my daughter is mature, she is still a teenager who lacks life and driving experience.

But there’s good news for parents who are concerned and anxiety ridden over the fact that their child is about to become a licensed driver. I’ve discovered that there are various plans of action and agreements that can be used to create a structured environment where my daughter can start to become independent while establishing a pattern of responsible behaviour.

When Rose and I visited theGEICOwebsite, we were both struck by the statistics and facts relating to teen driving. Although my daughter certainly acknowledged the serious nature of the facts, I think that I, with my years of experience, understood their severity and immediacy in a much different way. Some frightening facts included:

• Attitude is one of the most important factors in safe driving
• Two-thirds of teen passenger deaths are in vehicles driven by other teens
• Over one-third of fatal teen crashes are related to speed

These facts and others led to my decision to develop with my daughter’s involvement a Letter of Understanding which she, her father and I signed. I did this because I felt that simply talking about something such as driver safety leaves it up in the air like a lecture, but writing out expectations in a letter and signing it formalizes our commitment and her to safety.

The letter outlined various expectations regarding her decision to be a responsible driver who gradually, with experience, could become increasingly independent.

• Was clearly and simply written
• Acknowledged that she would follow all rules of the road
• Limited friends in the car
• Noted that there would be no use of her cell phone when driving
• Limited the amount of driving she would do
• Limited her driving to daytime
• Noted that with experience and responsible behaviour, limits on driving would be relaxed
• Additionally, we’ll be watching her grades, making sure she does her homework and ensuring she remains committed to school, friends and family.

With this letter, we were all on the same page with expectations and rewards clearly defined.

The great thing is we live in a region that has a Graduated Licensing Program. That means that many of the rules are already in place. It’s a strict program that limits teen driving in the first year. And although it’s fairly severe, it does seem to work. The initial year, the teen holds a Learner’s License. If they do well, keeping their record clean, they graduate to a Novice License.

This program has done a lot to reduce teen accidents, injuries and fatalities, and it has given me peace of mind.

Rose will be driving the red Mazda Miata that her grandmother bought for her last summer. She’s lucky to have her own car. So much of driving is related to responsibility and with that we agreed that she should be able to pay for some of her car expenses. To that end, she is looking for a part-time job that she will use to pay for gas and some other car expenses.

With these recent developments, I’ve gone from a mom who was dreading the fact that my daughter was about to start driving to one who feels as if I possess some modicum of control. I love my daughter, Rose, and I want her to grow up gradually and responsibly. Doing so by offering controls that eventually lead to more freedom seems to be the way to go, as both parent and child act responsibly.

What do you think? Have you had to handle the same challenge? How did it go for you? I want to hear from you and get your feedback.

Signing off as a mom with a plan for responsible driving!

Laura Penekamp is a successful freelance writer who lives in lovely and thriving Austin, Texas with her husband and two kids. Laura writes on a range of subjects, from insurance to teens and from cooking to social media. She loves the Internet, is always on the hunt for a great deal and is dedicated to ensuring her children are safe in every way. Recently she researchedcar insurance quotes, as she was determined to find value in a quality insurance program. When Laura is not writing, running the household or finding new ways to make sure that her family is safe and secure, she enjoys getting out with the family to visit historic sites or to take in some of America’s great natural beauty.