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Setting Limits on Your Teen's Driving

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In recent years, many states have made new laws to respond to the high incidence of accidents involving teenagers. They have raised the ages at which teens receive their learner's permits and driver's licenses, and have also imposed new curfews and passenger restrictions. For example, in Virginia, teens can now test for their licenses at age 16 and three months, instead of age 16. 16-year-old drivers can only drive with one passenger (unless the passengers are related to the driver), and 17-year-old drivers can only drive with three. Also, no one under 18 is allowed on the road between midnight and 4:00 AM.

Whether your state has such regulations or not, you will want and need to set limits on your teen's driving. This is true both while he has his permit, and after he gets his license. While you do respect your teen and his growing maturity, if you feel that he is not ready for the next driving level, you are probably right.

The worst thing about teenage drivers is that they tend to think they are invincible. They sometimes take risks or drive recklessly, in part because they don't really recognize that these risks could kill somebody. Your teen needs to understand that he is taking not only his own life, but also other people's lives into his hands when he gets behind the wheel.

If your teen shows reckless behavior in other areas, defies your authority, or expresses an arrogant attitude about learning to drive, these are all strong indications that he is not going to drive safely when you are not in the car. In such a case, don't feel any qualms about suspending his driving privileges or not allowing him to get his license until he shows more maturity. This is for his good, and may even result in your teen making some changes for the better.

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