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Turning sixteen is a big deal — it’s when a lot of teens get their driver’s licenses. Not only do they need to learn the rules of the road through driver’s ed, but they also have other things to consider. Let’s explore what we need to teach our teen driver.
There are so many things to learn in terms of fundamentals, but there are lots of other aspects to consider when your teenager driver finally passes and they’re no longer a learner. They’re not exactly going to head straight into driving on the autobahn, but it may feel like being dropped into the deep end. Here are a few things they’ll want to know about before getting regularly behind the wheel:
Always Expect the Unexpected
Your teen can focus on everything they do on their end, but one can never really prepare for the way others are going to behave. People are very strange and they all have things that they have to get to — so it’s understandable that some decisions on the road might seem a bit questionable. Before getting out on the road, your teen needs to understand that anything can happen and they must be alert at all times.
The Ins and Outs of Their Car
This would be in regards to cars in general, too. The more your teen driver knows about vehicles, the better off they’ll be. Before buying your teen a car, show ’em the ropes. You don’t want them to be like me, driving a €150,000 Mercedes convertible on the Autobahn, who didn’t even know how to put the top down.
Both of you should know every facet of the vehicle and be fully confident in it before pulling out of the dealership. For instance, if you decide on a new Hyundai from the fresh collection, you’ll want to take a look at Hyundai SmartSense – What to Know so that you are fully aware of the ins and outs. It’s very awkward when you’re driving a car and aren’t sure about what certain aspects do for you (like how the heck do you put the top down?!).
Who Your Teen Driver Calls When In Trouble
You never know when your teen’s car might completely conk out. They could be happily driving down a busy road, and then it could completely break down. Or, what happens if they forget to fill up and run out of gas? Make sure they have AAA programmed into their phone with their member ID number. It has saved us so much time and money having AAA — we’ll never go without it.
For those occasions where an accident happens with another car, it’s important they know the laws regarding car accidents and what information needs to be collected. It’s important, that despite the shock and experience of crashing, they are level-headed to get everything they need if they are able to make a claim against another driver.
How to Get Around
Whether planning the perfect road trip around the country or they just need to go somewhere they’ve never been before, it’s good to be able to feel the comfort of knowing where you’re going. Driving the car is one thing, but knowing the areas is also important. Nobody wants to get lost or end up impeding other drivers. Make sure the car’s GPS is working properly, or they have a smartphone with that capability built-in.
The Rules of the Road
At the end of the day, your teen will have learned the fundamentals of driving and the rules you have to abide by. That’s not absolutely everything, however. There are rules for so many different areas of driving and new laws might come into play. For example, in Oregon, it’s illegal to pump your own gas. But here in Iowa, you have to pump your own. Some states require people at crosswalks to have completely crossed before a vehicle can turn.
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