Question:

What are some important key words we should always keep in mind when we drive?

Answer:

There are so many words I could talk about when I am asked this question but will share a few of the main words that will help you be a safer driver in the next few Ask Kim blogs.

The first and most important word that we will tackle this month is:

RESPONSIBLE

Parents often ask me “is my child responsible enough to drive at 16 years old?”.  While most of the young people I have taught at that age have been ready for the responsibility of driving, you as the parent know your child better than anyone and are ultimately the best one to make that decision. 

Over my years of teaching kids to drive, I have had a handful of students who were not ready for the responsibility of driving at 16 years of age so if this is your child, it is better for them to wait before they start driving.  Time will bring on the maturity required to be ready for the responsibility of driving so if your child is not ready when they turn 16, give them 6 – 12 months to mature and then try again.  You may need to wait until they are 17 or 18 to begin driving but it is better to wait until they are ready than to allow them to begin before they are truly ready to take on the responsibility that comes with driving.

It is important to ensure your child fully understands that when they start driving, they are responsible for ALL of the following:

1. They are responsible for getting themselves from point A to point B SAFELY!!

2. They are responsible for getting their passengers from point A to point B SAFELY!!

3. They are responsible for the safety of pedestrians regardless of what pedestrians do.  It is a drivers’ responsibility to avoid pedestrians whether they are following the rules or jaywalking, not paying attention, or crossing where they should not be crossing.  A pedestrian has the right of way and drivers are responsible for keeping them safe at all times.

4. They are responsible for avoiding crashes with other traffic on the road.  We all know there are some dangerous drivers out there, but it is your responsibility as a driver to avoid them at all costs. You need to know how to respond to not just the physical movements of other traffic on the road, but also to other dangers such as road rage.

For young people learning to drive, training with mom and dad is awesome!  Training in class is awesome!  Training with an instructor is awesome!  The key is to have the consistent message of RESPONSIBILITY reinforced from everyone who is helping your child learn how to drive.

Do everything you can to keep your child safe on the road –

set them up for a lifetime of safe driving!