One of the most nerve-wracking experiences for any parent is letting your child get behind the wheel for the first time. Even with multiple driving classes and lots of practice, it can be hard to accept the fact that your child is capable of driving on their own. Nonetheless, driving is a rite of passage for teens and an essential life skill. Below is a look at the benefits of letting your teen drive to school, as well as some guidelines for helping them keep safe.

Pros of Letting Your Teen Drive to School

Practice

Driving the short distance between school and home helps them to practice what they learned in driving classes, building their confidence on the road. By the time they need to venture off on longer distances, they’ll be seasoned drivers.

Independence

Teenagers tend to participate in more after-school activities as they become older, such as school sports, clubs, and community volunteer work. Being able to drive to and from school as well as the surrounding area allows them to come home even when the school bus isn’t an option or you, the parent, aren’t able to transport them yourself. Although it’s tempting to restrict your teen’s independence when they start driving, remember that they’ve already learned what they need to know from their driving classes. Moreover, the independence teens experience from learning to drive to school better prepares them for life as adults.

Rewarding

Most teens value the respect they gain from their peers when they drive themselves to school. As such, you can reward them with the privilege of driving when they consistently exhibit good behavior or meet certain goals, like getting good grades or cleaning their room.

How to Help Your Teen Stay Safe on the Road

Start by reinforcing what they learned in their driving classes. Before they hit the road on their own, your teen should have a healthy respect for road rules, which includes observing stop signs, staying within the speed limit, and signaling when switching lanes and turning.

Emphasize the danger of distracted driving. Talking on the phone, playing loud music, and engaging in unruly behavior with friends are a sure way for them you get into an accident while driving. Just remember that they will make mistakes and that, as a parent, it’s important for you to keep your temper in check. Harsh criticism may discourage your teen or cause them to ignore your advice in protest. Instead, give constructive comments or demonstrate what you want them to do.

Prepare your teens for the road with driving classes from Bob Shropshire Sons Driving School. Located in downtown Cincinnati, OH, their driving school instructors have taught student drivers—both beginners and advanced—on all the best practices for navigating the road. Call (513) 721-3915 to enroll in a driving training session or inquire online about courses on learning to drive.