Practice. Practice. Practice.
The more time your teen spends with you in the passenger seat, the better prepared they will be to take on the responsibilities of driving on their own. Be patient — driving is second nature to experienced drivers but can be overwhelming to new drivers.
Teach the dangers of distracted driving.
Driving requires the full attention of every driver – especially teens. No text or phone call is worth dying for. You can even consider using an app that blocks texting while driving.
Be a good example.
Your child will model their driving habits on yours. Keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel at all times. Observe all traffic laws. And always buckle up.
Enroll in Graduated Driver Licensing Program.
Drivers whose permits were issued under the age of 18 are required to complete a driver education program before moving to the full, unrestricted licensing phase. Before you are eligible to obtain a full, unrestricted license, you must complete a driver training program.
Teen Driving Facts
Teenage drivers account for only six percent of the state’s driving population, yet they are involved in about 18 percent of fatal crashes in Kentucky and more than 20 percent of all highway crashes in the state.
Traffic crashes are a leading cause of death for teens 15 to 18 years old.
16-and 17-year-old death rates increase with each additional passenger.
1 in 5 16-year-old drivers has a crash within the first year of driving.
Dialing a phone number while driving increases a teen’s risk of crashing by six times, and texting while driving increases the risk by 23 times.
Resources
Kentucky Checkpoints Program: Free Parent-Teen Driver Resources
Driver’s Testing
NHTSA Teen Driving Information