New Driver in Your House? Here’s the scoop to having your teen be street-ready!
The moment has arrived! The question, “Hey —can I drive?” It’s a BIG question. Can he? Can she? ohhhhh momma!! here we go….
Am I able to hand over this powerful carriage- to my 15 year old? Yeah, the vehicle transporting all our lives!!! Just like that I am passenger and triple checking if we are safely buckled up. Is it socially acceptable to wear helmets in the car? I take a deep breath. I am not ready. But he is. He excitedly adjust every button and properly fits all his comfort fits; including the music playing. I sit next to him. My foot is placed over my invisible non-existent passenger break. I pray, “Jesus, take our wheel!” And Jesus, help with the gas and break pedal too?!
Here are a few tips for helping your teen master their ability to drive!
RoadReady is an app that tracks, logs, and monitors progress of someone driving with their permit. It allows use of multiple devices and even multiple drivers. And automatically records everything— even what kind of weather and lighting condition is happening. Your learner will soon be ready to go on their own! This app is really helpful in helping them get there. It makes the responsibility of recording hours effortless.
Then there is a Speedometer. This can be a friendly tool on a parent phone. It helps call off the question. As a parent passenger, it allows more accurate insight over what speed the vehicle is actually moving through space and time. Sometimes a new driver is afraid of getting up to speed, or reversely can be pedal heavy and love it! Sometimes a nervous parents can feel something different than what reality is describing.. Take out the argument and guesswork, and let the fact be the fact. Daughter, you are actually going 25 up this hill. but we are supposed to be doing 40 instead.
WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR NEW DRIVERS IN MICHIGAN?
Your teen will have to advance through 3 levels before they are free to run errands for you without you next to them! See Parent?!!!— You are ready for this!!! (Wait until they drive themselves to their practices and jobs!)
Level 01
Your teen will first have to sign up for a driving school. (Be sure to talk with your school system, as many area schools offer driving programs folded into their class curriculum/schedule.) Segment 1 will require 3 weeks of multiple road rides and classes. It makes for a busy schedule. So, if you’re school offers this, it can be extremely time saving and wonderful! Be sure to check it out!
Located in Holland, MI. Here are some local driving schools to explore:
Once finished with their classes in Segment 1, your teen will have fulfilled their required hours of instruction as well as passed a written exam. Now your teen (14 years and 9 months+ of age) may operate a vehicle when they are accompanied by a licensed adult. (21+ years of age) designated by the parent or legal guardian. Next up is 30 hours of practiced drive time, and 2 hours of night driving. These are the requirements to level up!
Level 02
Time for segment two! Your teen will need to complete more coursework with their driving school, another written exam, and a driving skills test.
Once this has been accomplished, your teen, accompanied by a licensed adult, will need to accumulate their total of 50 hours of daylight and 10 hours of nighttime driving in order to get their license to drive independently.
Level 03
One more test! This one is an on-road driving skills test. If your teen (now age 16+) has completed all the above without any citations or accidents, then you’re ready and so are they! Congrats! You both did it!! But the prayer for Jesus to take the wheel never goes away!
Every so often, be sure to ride along with your new driver. They are still learning and developing skill. Parents are responsible to gauge what trips are safest for their teen-driver to take, and what ones need to wait for later! Predetermine all rules as your new driver masters their ability to drive! The state of MI requires 16 year olds to be off the streets after 10pm. But your house rules need to enforce what is best for your teen! Be sure to agree to terms and predetermine boundaries.. This way, if enforcement becomes necessary, there is less conflict.
Your house rules may possibly hold things like:
no friends in car for first 3 months
fair weather driving only.
no freeway or high speed roads unless with a parent or adult riding passenger to help guide
must be responsible to house rules / parents have full control for use of keys.
*predetermine and communicate consequences when rules aren’t followed. Be strong parent! What are examples of good consequence? Here are some ideas: (no cell for a period of time?/ More financial ownership for teen?/ Driving privilege lost for a short-period?).
Best to your new life adventures! Stay safe! “never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly”
