| When actor Jake Gyllenhaal was sixteen, his parents | | | | rewarding your teen if he or she is accident-free for |
| allowed actor and professional race car driver Paul | | | | a certain period of time and remove restrictions |
| Newman to take him out on the track for a driving | | | | when you find they are no longer necessary. |
| lesson he'd never forget. While the boy sat | | | | No. 3: Sign a Contract. |
| transfixed in his seat Newman roared the NASCAR | | | | The best way to lay out the rules you expect your |
| they were riding in straight at a wall only to steer | | | | new driver to follow is to put them in a contract you |
| clear of it at the last second with the admonition, | | | | both will sign. The contract should cover such things |
| "never do that." | | | | as the number of friends who can be in the car with |
| Most parents of teenagers who are old enough to | | | | the new driver (most likely one), what time the |
| get their driver's licenses don't have a professional | | | | driver must be home on school nights and weekends, |
| race car driver who can make an impression on their | | | | responsibilities for gas, insurance and car maintenance |
| kids. But the good news is that as parents there are | | | | and the mandatory use of seat belts for all |
| many things you can teach your child that will have | | | | passengers. |
| the same effect. | | | | No. 4: Don't give him an excuse to drive drunk. |
| No. 1: Don't push kids who are not ready. | | | | Even though you have made it absolutely clear that |
| Most teenagers can't wait to get behind the wheel | | | | there is to be no drinking and driving, you should let |
| for the first time because they know that driving will | | | | your teen know that you will pick him or her up with |
| give them new freedoms. But if your child resists | | | | no questions asked wherever they are if they are |
| getting a license at 16, let him know that he can wait | | | | drunk or the driver who took them somewhere is |
| until he feels he is ready. And if you feel your child | | | | incapable of driving. Teens who are afraid their |
| should wait until 17 to drive, when he will be more | | | | parents will "kill them" are more likely to take the risk |
| responsible, don't let your child pressure you into | | | | of driving drunk or get in the car of an impaired |
| letting him drive just because other kids drive at 16. | | | | person because they are afraid of getting in trouble. |
| No. 2: Set a positive tone. | | | | No. 5: Be a good role model. |
| When your teen is ready to drive, let him know that | | | | Make certain that your driving habits don't conflict |
| you think he will be a great driver. At the same time, | | | | with any of the rules you have set for your teenage |
| grant privileges slowly so you can add more as your | | | | driver. Don't drive if you have had a few drinks and |
| son or daughter demonstrates they are ready for | | | | keep your temper in check in situations that could |
| them instead of having to take privileges away when | | | | lead to road rage. Your teenager is paying as much |
| your trust is violated. Teenagers love to test their | | | | attention to what you do as what you tell him to do. |
| parents and in fact it is their job to do so. It is the | | | | Want help creating a driver's contract? Download one |
| parents' job to set clear rules and to hold teenagers | | | | free at Dr. Rosenthal's Web site where you'll also find |
| responsible when they are violated. Consider | | | | additional valuable advice on parenting a teenager. |