| When our children grow up and they finally learn | | | | understand that driving is a tricky experience by |
| to drive and take the car out for the first time | | | | itself and even a momentary loss of |
| on their own, it is understandable that your heart | | | | concentration can prove to be fatal and that |
| swells with pride that your child has grown up but, | | | | there is someone waiting for you when you reach |
| there is also a nagging worry till he or she returns | | | | back home. |
| home safely. After all, the youngsters have "hot | | | | As a parent, you must keep your mind open. You |
| blood" and may not realize the need to temper | | | | must accept that like other teenagers, your child |
| their desire when driving especially if they have | | | | also would like to drive on his or her own, he or |
| friends in the car and they feel the need to show | | | | she would also like the freedom to drive on his |
| off. | | | | own without being chaperoned all the time. The |
| It is not possible to stop your teenagers taking | | | | minimum age for driving ranges from 14 years to |
| out the car on their own (since sooner or later | | | | about 17 years but the average age in most |
| they will be staying on their own) but what you | | | | states happens to be 16. |
| can do as a responsible parent and a responsible | | | | Years back, many teenagers would not have had |
| citizen is to look for safe driving solutions. In the | | | | a car of their own but today, times have changed |
| beginning, it is imperative that you go with them, | | | | and teenagers seem to need things and fast. If |
| teach them how important it is to remain focused | | | | they see their friends having a car of their own, |
| while driving, how important it to drive safely and | | | | they too, would like to be given their own car |
| carefully (as against fast) so that you can reach | | | | quickly. What you need to do as a responsible |
| your destination in one piece. As a parent, you | | | | parent, is to sit down with your child and make |
| need to tell them to restrain themselves from | | | | him realize that just as children want things; as |
| texting while driving or if they really need to, then | | | | parents, they too expect certain things from their |
| they should use one with the hands free option or | | | | children and it is only fair that a balance is struck, |
| the android phone with an application downloaded | | | | therefore they must try to look for safe driving |
| where you can listen to text messages. This will | | | | solutions - after all, it is a question of money, life, |
| ensure that both their hands remain on the wheel | | | | health, pain etc both for yourself, your loved ones |
| whilst driving. You need to tell them to manage | | | | and for people on the road who may be |
| their time well and prioritize well. Let them | | | | complete strangers to you. |