Being the parent of a teenager isn’t easy. It’s a daily challenge. From relationships and firsts to pressure from friends and school, mood swings and planning for their futures, it’s difficult to keep up teens at the best of times. And while it’s far too easy to reminisce about a simpler time when all they wanted was to watch cartoons with you and play all day, they’re growing up and wanting more independence.

One of the best ways a teen can gain a little more freedom is by passing their driving test. And even though your teen might be desperate to learn to drive, just like their friends it’s important to exercise caution. Allowing them to learn to drive too soon could mean they’re more likely to end up in a car accident. Which is every parents’ worst nightmare. If you’re looking for a local car accident lawyer based in Fort Lauderdale, click the link to speak to an attorney, now.

So, how can you possibly know when your teen is ready for the responsibility of driving? Here we’ll explore the tell-tale signs every parent should look for.

They’re already showing signs of responsibility

Becoming a responsible adult starts in the teenage years. And if your teen is going to be in charge of a potentially lethal vehicle, they need to demonstrate that they’re responsible and ready for more freedom.

Simple signs that you’re raising a responsible teen include getting up and getting to school on time each day, holding down a job, completing homework assignments on time, consistent grades and completing household chores without being nagged. The more responsible they are, the more inclined they are to relish in the responsibility of driving a car and be a good driver.

They don’t give in to peer pressure

Remember when you were younger and your friends would dare you to do something, and you’d feel pressured into doing it? Sometimes peer pressure isn’t all bad and it can help us to build confidence, however, in many cases it can prove to be incredibly dangerous. Peer pressure involving drugs, alcohol and even sex are a constant worry for parents with teens, so if they want to learn to drive, then need to be able to withstand pressures from their friends.

Daring them to overtake, or go faster, to race another vehicle or to do something incredibly stupid. Combing peer pressure with driving is lethal. If your teen stays loyal to their personal beliefs, is strong-willed and doesn’t appear to give in to peer pressure, then they could be ready to drive.

Finally, they respect rules and understand boundaries

Of course, bending the rules is all part of being a teen and everyone goes through an “acting out” stage. However, if your teen wants to drive then they need to show respect for the rules and demonstrate that they understand boundaries. By displaying these characteristics it means that they’re more likely to follow the rules of the road and not take risks. So, if your teen is often breaking curfew, backchatting teachers and flouting the rules then they’re not ready to learn to drive just yet.

Do you have teens who are ready to learn how to drive?

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