Published: May 13, 2008 10:50 am            

Speed kills no. 52

Dear parents,

Even if your teen is legally old enough to get a license, it is ultimately your decision about whether he/she is ready to drive alone.

Think about the following: Has he/she had enough practice, in varying conditions, so that we are both confident with his /her ability to handle most situations? Has he/she shown the ability to detect hazards and react to them quickly? Have I noticed that scanning for hazards has become a habit for him/her? Does he/she always wear a seat belt and remind others to do so? Does he/she not use a cell phone to talk or text message while driving? Does he/she wait to pull over to handle distractions or situations that take his/her eyes away from the road? Does he/she speed or drive aggressively? Will he/she know to pull over if upset, frustrated, or angry and has he/she shown responsibility in other areas of his/her life and do I trust him/her to drive my car responsibly?

These seem like common sense questions, but if you think your teen needs more time and practice on them before driving alone, make yourself available to help. It could save their life.

        

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