The Hardest Conversation SETTING RULES FOR YOUR TEEN DRIVER
If you’ve ever handed your teen the car keys for the first time, you know the mix of pride and anxiety that follows. You want to trust them, but you also know how quickly a simple mistake can turn into a tragedy. I’ve seen it too many times in my career. That’s why setting clear, non-negotiable driving rules isn’t about control. It’s about love.
In Massachusetts, nearly 60% of crashes involving teen drivers are caused by distraction, most often due to the use of a phone. About 70% of teens admit to glancing at their phones while driving. Those numbers alone should be enough to start a serious family conversation. Here’s my advice: Treat driving privileges like any other major responsibility. Create a written agreement with your teen that spells out expectations: seatbelts ALWAYS, phone off, no passengers for the first six months, and no driving late at night. Ensure they understand that these rules are in place to protect them, not to punish them.
When my own kids started driving, I told them the truth: “I don’t care if your friends think I’m strict. I care that you come home alive.”
Rules save lives. Enforce them. Revisit them. And remind your teen every chance you get that these are more than “parent rules.” They’re survival skills.
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