Driving to school for the first time

Driving to school for the first time can be nerve wrecking for new drivers. Typically, they are alone in the car on their ride to school and have to be entirely reliant on their own driving skills and decisions making. In time, this will help to build their driving confidence but in the beginning, it’s hard. If you have a new driver in the house, here are some tips to help them stay relaxed on their new school drive:

• Model calmness
  Show them what a relaxed driver looks like before they get on the road alone and provide examples of how, even if something unexpected comes up, you stay calm and make smart decisions. Teach them to take deep breaths before they turn on the ignition to help focus them on the drive ahead.
• Do a test drive before school starts
  With you in the passenger seat, have your child drive the route to school at whatever is the busiest time of the day. The roads tend to be more congested during the school year, so they need an understanding of how the traffic will feel. You will also want them to park in a parking spot, preferably between two cars like they will need to do when the school lot is fuller.
• Simulate peer pressure
  One of the things that teenagers say make them the most nervous is the feeling that their peers are watching them. This pressure can cause them to make mistakes or take increased risks. Before school starts, have a few people watching your child drive down the road, parking the car, etc. Get them used to the fact that they can have friends nearby but still focused on the road.

Nerves do not mix well with driving. Teaching your kids the calmness they need to drive will be a skill that will help them for many years to come. #LoveYourDrive