The time has finally come. Your son or daughter just turned 16 and passed the driving test to get his or her license. This can be an exciting time in your teen’s life, but it can also be a bittersweet one in yours. While you want to give your teen certain freedoms, you also want to ensure he or she is practicing safe driving habits. Fortunately, this is a technological era where numerous resources are available to give you peace of mind that your kid is driving safely.
Apps
There is an abundance of apps available to install on your child’s phone to make sure he or she remains safe while driving. For example, there are plenty available that disable your phone when a vehicle is in motion. This prevents your teen from texting while driving, which is extremely dangerous, and you should warn your child about it before he or she gets behind the wheel. You could also have a GPS installed to monitor where your teen is. This is a good way to make sure the car is going to the right place.
Cameras and Other Monitoring Services
You could also install a camera onto the dashboard or set up a service that informs you when the car has engaged in reckless driving. This resource can be a little costly, but it is a great way to make sure everyone stays safe.
Talk to Your Teen
Although there are various technological advancements to help you know your child is driving appropriately, sometimes the most important thing you can do is establish some ground rules about driving. You can create a driving contract that explicitly states what can and cannot be done while driving. It can contain information related to how late kids can stay out, who they can drive with, and what grades need to be maintained in order for them to keep their driving privileges.
Another great way to add responsibility is to make your teens accountable for certain driving-related costs. They may not have the money to pay for certain things such as car insurance, but if you make them pay for their own gas every now and then, it can make them more conscious of how often they drive.
One aspect to keep in mind is if you are going to hold your child to these standards, you should practice them yourself. If your child sees that you are a safe driver, then he or she will likely have similar habits.
