4 Signs of Teen Driving Readiness

Teens want to drive vehicles as soon as humanly possible. They’re usually eager to go and experience driving on their own. But as parents, we need to be concerned and consider whether they are ready to drive.

Naturally all teens are different. Some may be more careful and others not so careful. They may also abuse their new-found freedom if they are allowed to drive without any guidance or supervision. So it is necessary to determine your teen’s maturity level and look for those crucial signs that show whether they are ready to drive or not. We list some of them here:

Are your household rules regarded as mere 'suggestions'?  This is pretty important. If your teens are found violating your rules it means that they are treating your authority lightly. They may do so when it comes to traffic laws, as well, such as wearing seat belts at all times or adhering to speed limits.

Is your teen particularly susceptible to peer pressure?  Observe your teens to see if they may be easily influenced by their friends.  If so, there are chances that they may make poor decisions to impress them or “fit in” which could lead to speeding or driving under the influence.

Does your teen consistently make poor judgment calls?  As adults, we face all sorts of decisions on a daily basis – so do teens. But sometimes they can make wrong choices. Notice if they often get into trouble in school, engage in prohibited activities against your wishes or constantly make the same mistakes.  Being able to think clearly and make rational decisions are vital to a teen’s driving safety. 

Look for a good level of responsibility in your teens.  Does your teen maintain good grades in school, works well at their part-time job, or does their chores without being told to?  Then you can deduce that they will be similarly responsible while driving, too.  The more you talk to your teen about the dangers of the road and demonstrate proper driving etiquette, they will adopt great driving practices and be better equipped to handle the responsibilities of the road.

Encourage your teen to take a driver's education course before getting behind the wheel.  This is usually a good way for them to learn the intricacies of driving within a safe and controlled environment.

By nature, not all teens are the same, but with proper guidance, instruction, and demonstrated abilities, you’ll feel a lot more confident when determining your teen’s readiness for the road. 

Once you've determined your teen is ready to drive, get even more peace of mind and consider the new 2012 Honda Civic Sedan, which earned a “Best Family Cars of 2012” recognition by Kelley Blue Book or the 2012 Honda Accord Coupe, named to Car & Driver’s 10Best list for the 26^th time, both available now at Holman Honda. Let the friendly sales professionals at Holman Honda, serving the Ft. Lauderdale and Hialeah, Florida areas, help you find the right Honda car for your teen today!