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Summertime marks the season when we spend quality
time with our kids. If gas prices don’t become more
outrageous than they already are, perhaps a road trip or
two will be in your plans. Road trips are great opportunities
for families to connect because of the long periods of time
spent together in the car. Fortunately, technology in vehicles
provides entertainment—be it music or movies—putting less
pressure on parents to “entertain” the kids while driving. The
unfortunate part, however, is instead of using the time to really
communicate with one another, kids are watching movies,
parents are listening to music and no one is talking to
each other.
Road trips are also a great time to begin the process of
teaching our kids safety behind the wheel. No matter how old
your children are, it’s never too early to help them understand
the rules of the road and vehicle safety. It’s an opportunity to
help them develop their ability to scan the environment by
having them point out potential hazards as you’re driving. You
can teach them what different signs and road markings mean
and how important it is to stay focused on driving.
Now is also the time to be very conscious about your own
behavior behind the wheel. Ask yourself: What do you do
when someone upsets you? Do you call them nasty names and
find ways to “let them know about your displeasure?” What
message do you send your kids when you do this? The best
response would be to point out to your kids what happened
and help them understand that not everyone is going to follow
the rules. Remind them how important it is to watch out for
others and make the necessary corrections to keep from
getting into a crash.
What do you do if you get lost? Do you get agitated and start
yelling at your navigator or the GPS? Wouldn’t it be better to
pull off the road, regroup and figure out where you are and
what you need to do to get back on track? Are you on a cell
phone and talking or texting with your children in the vehicle?
If so, consider very carefully the message you’re
sending your children and think about the consequences
of that behavior once they are behind the wheel (also think
about the consequences of you doing this, if something
unexpected occurs).
There is no better time or place to start teaching your
children about safety behind the wheel than when you’re in
the vehicle together. It’s not a high-pressure situation, you
can make it fun (especially for the younger ones), and it’s a
wonderful opportunity for you to use the time to help them
develop skills that can keep them safe once they are ready
to drive.
You may be thinking, “I don’t even want to think about
when my kid is going to drive.” Unfortunately, the reality is
they grow up fast and they learn from you every step of the
way. The best way to prepare them for when they do drive is
to develop a sense of smart, safe behaviors early. Once they
turn 15 or 16, you’d be surprised by how much of what they
do behind the wheel is shaped by what they’ve watched you
do for years. It never ceases to amaze me how
a young person who has never been behind the wheel of
a car already has specific habits because of what they’ve
observed over the years.
DrivingMBA is a driver-tutoring facility located in
Scottsdale and Chandler, Ariz. Our comprehensive approach
to driver training is a unique combination of classroom,
state-of-the-art simulation and on-road instruction to
develop safe and responsible drivers. We incorporate
simulated demonstrations of driving under the influence in
our simulator courses that help students understand the
need to have all of their faculties in tact while operating
a motor vehicle. The simulators allow students to “learn
by doing” in a safe environment and to learn from their
mistakes, actions that could have severe consequences in
the “real world.”
To learn more, visit
www.drivingmba.com
or call 480-948-1648.
Did you know that 5,000 teenagers die in automobile accidents every year? Don’t let
your teen become a statistic. With the Parent/Teen Driver Contract, parents and their
teens can openly discuss and agree upon the responsibilities of driving a car. It may
be the most important thing you and your teen will ever do together.
Sign the contract today at
www.maskmatters.org
.
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T A K E T H E P L E D G E T O D R I V E S A F E L Y
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A CLASSROOM ON WHEELS!
By Maria Wojtczak, Owner, DrivingMBA
A D V E R T I S E M E N T