I address the issue of teen driving extensively in the presentations I make in schools across North America. It is a sensitive topic for me after having been a paramedic for so many years. Even now, I cannot always erase the images from my mind of the terrible accidents I have seen, and I have made it my life s work to save as many lives as possible by addressing issues related to teen driving.
Drinking and teen driving is the number one cause of death for teens in Canada. It is something that we do not start talking to our kids about young enough and something we do not talk about often enough, but the more we talk to our teens about making the right choices when there is alcohol and teen driving involved, the more likely they will be there to celebrate their next birthday with you.
Overcoming Peer Pressure
I cannot tell you how many times I have heard a teen say that they really did not want to go in a vehicle but their friends talked them into it. It is important that you empower your teens by giving them the ability to make choices – and experience the consequences – in all of the areas of their life. Things like letting your teens make decisions about what courses to take in school, or what kind of part time job to get after school, or what team to join can help them feel confident enough to make the choice to say no when being pressured by friends to do something they know is wrong.
Allowing your teen to have a voice and an opinion can also help him or her have confidence to say no when the tough pressure hits. If your teens know that you have confidence in them to think and make decisions, they will be more likely to live up to your expectations. It is important to talk to your teen about teen driving issues, and if you have a teen with a license, be sure to set limits like how many passengers your teen is allowed to have in the car.
Giving Your Teen an Out
Teens are extremely image conscious, and it is important that you remain aware of this. Make sure your teens know that they can blame you for having to say no. Oh man my mom would kill me if I did that carries a lot of weight and keeps the teen from being the target of teasing for saying something like, I don t want to or I m scared when dealing with teen driving issues.
Always communicate to your teens that you are there when they need you. Let them know if they get into a situation that they are unable handle on their own that they can always call you for help, and then follow through and be there. Do not be angry or upset when you talk about what happened, and be sure to commend your teen for making the right choices when teen driving is involved.
Author Resource:
Norbert Georget is an accomplished professional speaker, and author of the book, No-Nonsense Parenting For Today’s Teenager – How To Feel Like A Good Parent Even When Your Teenager Hates You. To learn more go to http://www.parentingtodaysteenager.com/
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