If you have kids, you probably eagerly anticipate certain moments you might have together. Perhaps you’ll see them take their first steps. You might rejoice with them the first time they bring home an A+ test from school.
You’ll also probably teach them to drive at some point. Some parents enjoy this time. They can pass on what they know about driving, and they can watch their teenager take another step toward their inevitable adulthood.
However, you may also worry that your teen will make a serious driving mistake and cause a wreck. Perhaps even if they follow all traffic laws, they’ll encounter an irresponsible driver who will plow into their vehicle.
You should talk to your new teen driver about the essential steps to take after a car crash when they get their license. Not discussing this with them might cause them to panic if they ever have a fender bender when they’re out on America’s roadways.
First, Talk About Safe Driving
When your teen gets their license and wants to drive your car home to celebrate, you should let them cherish the moment. If you have an older vehicle, maybe you’ll pass that down to your teen and buy a new car for yourself. If you can’t afford that, then perhaps you’ll let them borrow your car if they have a date or some other important event.
Before you hand them your car keys, though, take some time to sit down with them and have a serious discussion. Make sure your teen knows that if you let them drive your car or give them one of their own, you expect responsible behavior.
That means sticking to the speed limit. It means not letting their friends distract them when they’re all together in the car.
You should also make sure they know to not let the radio distract them, or their smartphone, or anything else when they’re driving. If they concentrate and take driving seriously, they should do fine. It’s when they try to show off or do something similarly risky that they put their life and other lives in danger.
If you have a responsible teen, maybe they’ll already understand why you’re taking this matter so seriously. If you have a teenager who likes to push boundaries, though, perhaps you’ll worry about them a little more when they do finally get their license and get out on the road on their own.
Tell Them About Any Accidents You’ve Had
Once you tell them to take driving seriously, you can move on to discussing your personal experiences. Maybe you’ve never caused a car accident, and no irresponsible driver ever hit your vehicle either. If so, that’s great. You’re one of the lucky ones. However, most individuals have at least one or two car wrecks under their belt.
Often, teens listen better if they can speak about something they experienced personally. Tell them about the car wrecks you’ve caused or ones where you followed the rules, but you still had an accident.
Your new teen driver should understand that even if they do everything right, they’ll never know when there’s an irresponsible motorist nearby. Give them all the details of what happened in the car wreck you experienced. Explain how you felt and what you did. If you followed all the best practices following a car accident, let them know that. If you made some mistakes during the aftermath instead, tell them about those as well.
You might also mention anyone you know who sustained a serious or even life-threatening injury from a car wreck. Most people know someone like this. You’re not doing it because you want to scare your teen. You’re trying to get them to understand that when they’re driving, they’re operating a multiple-ton vehicle that’s potentially as much of a weapon as it is a form of transportation.
Tell Them What to Do if They’re Ever in an Accident
At this point, tell them what they should do if they’re ever in an accident. Tell them that they should get their vehicle off the road after the impact if they can. If the car crash hurt them, or the car sustained enough damage that your teen can’t move it, then they must leave it in the road.
Next, teach them that they should check their body for injuries. If they’ve sustained any, they can use their smartphone to call 911 and request an ambulance.
If they’re too injured but they’re conscious, they can ask the driver or a passerby to do it. They should also check to see whether their passengers or the other driver need medical assistance. They can pass that information along to the 911 dispatcher when they call.
Next, they can wait for the police. When they get there, your teen can tell them what happened. They can get the other driver’s name, license plate number, insurance information, etc.
After that, they can figure out whether they should drive their car home or whether they need a tow truck. You should also tell them that they can call you for help if they need it. You’re trying to encourage autonomy, but they’re still living under your roof, and you can still pass on parental guidance. They’re young adults, but teens still need support when they’re in trouble.
Tell Them You Love Them
Finally, you might conclude the conversation by telling your teen that you love them and you’re proud of them. You can tell them that getting their driver’s license represents a huge step forward in their maturation. You can also make it clear that you only had this talk and got so serious because you don’t want them to injure themselves or someone else.
Having this discussion can bring you and your teen closer together. Just like the other major talks you might have when they reach this age, you’re trying to impart the wisdom you have learned.
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