Why You Shouldn't Skip Driving School for Your Teen

Having a teen driver is usually an exciting experience, as well as a terrifying one. While it's great to know your teen is gaining their independence and starting a new chapter in their life, you also worry for their safety on the road alone.

Opting for driving school can be the perfect way to ensure your teen gets the proper education to fine-tune their driving skills before they hit the road. They will learn critical lessons on safety and take the wheel with a lot of knowledge at their fingertips.

And that's not the only bonus. You as a parent may even see some savings after sending your teen to driving school. Since most children have car insurance under their parents, you'll likely want to look for ways to lower the cost of their coverage.

Taking driving lessons can help lower the price of your teen's insurance coverage. It's one of the many benefits you will see if you don't skip driving school for your teen. So why shouldn't you skip driving school for your teen? Let's find out.

Lowered Insurance Rates After Driving School

Teens are already considered high-risk drivers by most insurance companies. Because of their lack of knowledge and skill, they are seen as much more of a liability than experienced drivers.

When your teen attends driving school, insurance providers will offer lower rates, which could save thousands. The risk of accidents and citations is lower in teens who have taken driver's education courses, creating less worry on your provider's end.

Driving School Increases Confidence

After driving for an extended period, many people may forget how scary it can be to get behind the wheel for the first time. Teens may often feel overwhelmed, nervous, or anxious to drive alone.

Driving school helps build confidence for teens, so they feel better about driving solo with no one to assist them. Without this confidence, they may be more likely to get into or cause an accident. Anxious drivers can act erratically when faced with scary situations compared to more confident drivers.

The proper instruction and training can help teens reduce their anxiety and remain calm while driving, drastically reducing their chances of an accident.

Your Teen May Unlearn Your Bad Habits at Driving School

The longer and more frequently you drive, the less likely you might be to follow driving laws strictly. While you don't mean any harm, you don't want your teen to learn the same bad habits when they begin driving.

It's normal to develop more comfortable driving habits over time, from rolling through a stop sign to switching over multiple lanes. However, teens should not pick up and begin using these techniques.

Sometimes, they can have terrible consequences. Your teen may see you tailgate other vehicles often, leading them to feel comfortable doing the same. However, tailgating can lead to collisions, especially for teens.

Qualified driving instructors can help them learn the proper techniques, habits, and behaviors to ensure they are driving safely and correctly. In turn, this can lead to a lessened possibility of accidents or citations.

Driver's Education Teaches Defensive Driving Skills

No matter how great of a driver you are, you can't control others on the road. It's a saying many people have likely heard before. The phrase is so well known because it's highly accurate. Even excellent drivers can't control the habits of others on the road.

Attending driving school will help your teen learn defensive driving skills to protect them from a potential accident. They will learn to be attentive, aware of their surroundings, and keep their distance from other cars.

Learning these skills can be the difference between being in the middle of an accident and avoiding one.

Driving School Reduces Chances of Accidents and Tickets

All the skills your teen learns in driving school will add up to a lowered risk of accidents and citations. They are now unlearning any potential bad habits, gaining confidence, and understanding how to be a defensive driver. They have a much lower chance of being involved in a traffic violation.

They will also have a better understanding of traffic laws and be able to avoid citations. Too many instances on a teen's driving record can lead to limited or lost driving privileges if you buy them a car of their own.

An added bonus is that driver's education courses provide hands-on experience. Although your teen will likely have hours in the car with you, their time driving with a qualified instructor is priceless to their overall driving skills.

Instructors will help them in real-life situations where they can see firsthand how to react and handle instances on the road. This practice can significantly improve their driving abilities and reduce their potential for accidents or tickets.

Teens Will Be Prepared for Inclement Weather

If you live in an area with heavy snowfall, you likely remember your first winter as a driver. It can be a scary experience for teens to navigate their first season through snow and ice. Heavy rain, winds, and even night driving can also be difficult as your teen learns their way around the road.

Driving school can give teens tips and tricks on how to drive safely in inclement weather. They will learn valuable information on how to handle situations like icy roads or heavy rain.

Since driving school builds their confidence, teens will have a better grip on keeping themselves safe in these sometimes scary situations.

Driver's Education Prepares Teens for Their Driving Test

Receiving your driver's license as a teen may feel like getting a golden ticket. However, the only thing standing between a teen and their license is their driving test. The test consists of a written and physical portion, both of which must be passed.

Driving school helps your teen prepare for both, as they will gain knowledge through classroom instruction and hands-on practice with their instructor. Teens who attend driver's education have a much higher chance of passing their test the first time.

Skipping Driving School: A Loss for You and Your Teen

While driving school isn't a requirement for people to obtain a license, it is a fundamentally important part of being a good driver. Without the proper knowledge and education, teens are at risk for more accidents and citations on their driving records.

You may also find yourself paying for your teen's auto insurance without driver's education, as your insurance company will find them more of a risk to cover. New drivers' auto insurance is often very expensive. This means you'll be spending a significant amount more for their addition to your policy.

Some people may think attending driving school isn't worth it, but with all the potential risks we face every day on the road, preparing your teen as best you can is worth every penny.

About The Author : Alexandra Arcand writes and researches for the car insurance comparison site, CarInsurance.org. She attended driving school as a teen and knows the importance of educating new drivers on road safety.