5 Ways to Help Anxious Teens Learn to Drive

New driver anxiety isn’t a one-way street. We can all imagine a typical nervous teen gripping the steering wheel as they come to a hard stop at a red light. Many parents of new teen drivers may also see themselves in this scenario, strapped into the passenger seat while pumping an imaginary brake and clinging to the door handle, the mantra of stop stop stop stop stop muttered (or oftentimes exclaimed) at the sight of every traffic signal or oncoming vehicle.

Needless to say, this is not an optimal learning environment.

How, then, can parents help alleviate teen anxiety behind the wheel and create a positive space for their teen to gain the skills and confidence they need to be a safe driver? Co-founder and CEO of Coastline Academy, Nigel Tunnacliffe, recently sat down with Monica Crnogorac of the podcast “Parenting Anxious Teens” for a conversation on teen driving anxiety and what parents can do to help their teen when it comes time to learn to drive. Read on to learn about Nigel’s top five suggestions for managing behind-the-wheel anxiety for the parents of teen drivers.

1. Model Correct Behavior
   Believe it or not, your teen has been learning to drive far before they got their permit. Every action you take behind the wheel informs your teen as to how they should approach driving. If you speed because you’re late, your teen probably will, too. Parents must be certain they model safe driving practices at all times, but especially when their child is in the passenger seat. 
2. Communicate
   Communication is key to maintaining a calm in-car learning environment. Stay away from negative language and body movements when mistakes are made (and your teen will make mistakes when learning) and instead focus on identifying the problem, how to fix it, and then practicing that skill to reinforce better behavior. Don’t forget to reward improvement, however small, with praise! You’ll also want to keep an open dialogue with your teen’s driving instructor whenever possible - they are a great resource to help you plan your teen’s driving practice!
3. Knowledge is Power
   It’s probably been a few years since you took your own Driver’s Ed course. Even experienced drivers can benefit from a brush-up on the rules of the road, especially since each year, many states update or modify their driving laws. You’ll also want to know not just what skills to teach behind the wheel, but how to teach them. If you’re feeling anxious or uncertain yourself how to best approach teaching driving skills, we recommend enrolling in a short review course such as the Confident Parent Driver Coach program offered through Coastline!
4. Approach Teen Practice With Intention
   Most states require around 50 hours of outside practice with an adult before a teen is eligible to take their driving test. In order to best build your teen’s confidence, avoid random driving to fill time and instead focus on building and practicing skills from the bottom up. A truly anxious driver may need to begin in a parking lot doing small maneuvers before moving on to residential streets. Remember that the required practice hours are a minimum standard. The more focused time a teen has behind the wheel with a parent, the more likely they will be a safe driver once they do get their license.
5. Some Anxiety is Okay!
   While we want to work to lower our teen’s anxiety when they begin the drive, know that a little anxiety is not a bad thing! (We prefer to call it informed anticipation). Part of being a safe driver is being able to predict other driver’s behaviors and maintain awareness of the driving environment - and that requires attention, both on the part of the teen and the parent in the passenger seat. Overconfidence or an overly laid-back attitude can be just as detrimental as overwhelming nerves. It’s important to make sure you and your teen strike a balance between fear and complacency when setting off on the road.

Is your teen ready to get behind the wheel? Coastline is here to help your teen become a safe and confident driver for life. Sign up for driving lessons with our professional, state-certified driving instructors by visiting our website or by contacting our friendly Support team via phone or text at 1-800-489-1896.