5 Signs to Tell Your Teen is Ready to Drive Without Supervision

Generally speaking, our children feel ready to drive alone long before we feel comfortable with it. There are so many questions we have in our minds, yet it’s so hard to get a reliable answer to them. Is your child going to behave responsibly without you there to keep an eye out? Or are they going to begin driving recklessly, speeding around with a car full of friends and extra-loud music? After all, the last thing you want is a need for car accident lawyers at your service because your child wasn’t paying attention and banged into another vehicle. Let’s take a look at a few things which could mean your teen IS ready to drive alone.

How Often do You Correct Your Teen?

You’re there to supervise your teen while they drive. This means keeping an eye on them for safety reasons, rather than actively teaching them how to drive. If you’re still teaching, then they shouldn’t be driving alone. If you’re able to supervise without any need for corrections or pointers, it’s a good sign that your teen is able to drive independently. Play it safe with this criteria, don’t assume that rare corrections mean the teen can drive alone. You should be at a stage where you haven’t had to give any instructions or corrections to the driver for a number of consecutive hours before allowing them to go it alone.

Evaluate Their Observational Skills

Never overlook your own ability to evaluate a driver. Watch your teen and pick up on their driving habits. Over time you’ll notice whether they’re watching the space right in front of them or whether they’re observing the overall picture of the road around and ahead of them. Spotting hazards early is a key skill for successful driving and avoiding incidents.

You can also ask your teen to do what is called a commentary drive to help boost this skill. This involves the driver giving a running commentary on what they’re observing around them. It gives you great insight into what they’re paying attention to and is a proven method for reducing accidents.

What License Does Your Teen Have?

While there might be some variation by state, the driving process generally follows the same procedure. Firstly your teen will have a learner license, meaning you can NOT let them drive unsupervised. Once fully licensed, of course, your teen SHOULD be driving unsupervised. After all, they’ve passed the test! In between, there’s also the intermediate license. This is when your teen can legally drive unsupervised, though only in specific circumstances.

Is Your Teen Confident?

Note that there is a difference between confidence and bravado. You aren’t looking for the big-headed approach of a teen who insists they know it all. Instead what you want is quiet, calm confidence. The type which suggests any maneuver can be pulled off without a problem and that your child won’t become flustered if an unexpected situation pops up. Dealing with things calmly and confidently is a massive part of keeping safe behind the wheel.

General Maturity

Nobody knows your kids like you, so ultimately you’re best placed to know how they might behave. A track record of irresponsible and immature behavior can easily carry over into driving. Likewise, a level-headed and mature teen is more likely to follow the rules and play it safe behind the wheel.