Why You Should Never Teach Your Kids to Drive
More teenagers than ever are putting off learning to drive until they are older. In part, this is because they don’t need to drive as much as we did in previous generations. Public transport is readily available, and apps like Uber make getting about easier than ever. Many teenagers are also choosing to stay at home when they go to university, and they’d rather go out drinking than be the designated driver. But, the main reason that teens are reluctant to learn to drive is the cost. Driving lessons themselves are expensive. Then, passing your test is harder than ever, so you’re forced to pay for more lessons and another test. Then, there’s the rising cost of fuels and the extortionate costs of learner driver insurance for young drivers.
To bring down these costs, many teenagers ask their parents for help. While you might want to give them some extra advice, or some practice in your car, being their sole instructor can be a terrible idea. You’d be much better using professional Driving Instructors, for the good of both your relationship with your child and their future road safety. Here’s why you should never teach your kids to drive.
You’ll Argue
Teaching isn’t as easy as you might think. Some people are great at it. Others struggle to find the patience to put up with mistakes and explain things in a basic and easy to understand way. Even excellent teachers sometimes find it hard to stay professional when teaching people that they are close to.
As a parent, you’ll spot mistakes, you’ll get annoyed, your child will get defensive, and you’ll both find your patience starts to wear thin. Trying to teach your child to drive can lead to arguments, angry outbursts and upset.
Your Car Will Suffer
Driving instructors know that their cars might need more repairs than others. They’re prepared for extra wear on the brakes and clutch from new drivers. And, they’ve got duel control to protect the car and everyone in it. But, you haven’t. Your family car might not be ready for a learner driver, and you won’t just be able to put the brakes on if something goes wrong.
You Might Not be a Great Driver
Over time, all drivers pick up bad habits. We learn to drive. Then we pass our test. Then, we learn to really drive on the roads on our own. We might not be doing everything exactly right all of the time. You don’t want your kids to learn your bad habits, or they’ll never pass their test.
You might also find that there are many things that you don’t really know how to do well. How often do you perform a parallel park or a reverse around a corner? Most of us don’t in day to day driving, and you might not have a clue how to teach correctly.
You Don’t Know the Test
The driving test has changed a lot over the last few years, with significant changes coming into effect just last year. You are unlikely to know enough about it to help your kids pass the test.
