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If you have a teenager nearing driving age, chances are they’re eager to get on the road. Obtaining a driver’s license and driving is one symbol of growing up, but you’ll want to ensure your teen is ready before enrolling them in driving classes. Mike’s Driving School, in Williamstown, New Jersey, offers a teen driving course, along with defensive driving and driving refresher courses, to help people of all ages drive safely. Here, we share more information about how to know if your teenager is ready for driving classes for teens.
A teenager first must meet all the legal requirements to even be eligible to attend driving classes. In NJ, teenagers are eligible to attend driving instruction once they’re 16 years old and have a learner’s permit. At Mike’s Driving School, 16-year-olds who don’t yet have a permit can enroll and take their permit test right in our office. Once the test is completed, our teen driver course can begin. If your teenager meets the legal requirements, that’s one sign that they’re ready to start driving classes for teens. However, there are more factors to consider.
Not all teenagers are ready to drive just because they’re 16 and have passed their permit test. Teen driving has more risk factors than adult driving because these drivers are inexperienced and may not always follow the rules of the road. Parents or guardians need to weigh a few factors and use their discretion when deciding to enroll their teenager in a driving course. These factors include:
One factor to consider is if your teenager is good at following rules, whether they’re house rules, school rules, or driving rules. No teenager follows the rules all the time, but if your teen is generally good at doing what they’re told and understanding the consequences when they don’t, it’s a good sign they’re ready to handle the rules of the road.
New Jersey has certain rules that teen drivers must follow, including always wearing seatbelts, not using any mobile devices, and not driving between 11:01 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Your teen will need to follow these rules to drive safely, so considering whether they can properly follow the rules is a good idea when deciding to enroll your teen in driving classes.
Another factor to consider is whether your teen shows good judgment regarding other decisions. Driving involves making quick decisions and doing it safely, so teens need to be able to make suitable reactions under pressure. They also need to be able to withstand any peer pressure that may come with driving, including drinking and driving, texting and driving, and driving with too many passengers. If you think your teen is mature enough to show good judgment in these types of situations, it’s probably a good time to enroll them in driving classes.
One other factor to take into account is whether your teen can remain focused on the road or if they get distracted quite easily. Drivers need to always focus on the road, not looking at phones, paying attention to other passengers, or doing other tasks while driving, and it’s crucial to make sure your teen understands this. It’s also important to set boundaries with your teenager involving passengers, cell phone use, and other possible distractions when they’re driving. If you believe your teen can stick to the boundaries and remain focused on the road, it’s a good time to start them in a teen driving course.
These are just some considerations that parents should look at when deciding if their teenager is ready for driving courses. At Mike’s Driving School, we offer door-to-door service for our teen driving course, where we’ll pick your teenager up, give them their lesson, and bring them back home.
If you’ve considered the legal requirements and parental recommendations for your teen and think it’s time for them to start driving classes, get started today at Mike’s Driving School. Our teen driving course, offered at our Williamstown, NJ, location, is a great way to help your child learn how to drive properly and safely. Contact us today to sign your teenager up for driving classes or to learn more.
