Teen Road Rage

Fury is a commonality for many drivers. Heavy traffic, a bad driver, or even a bad day can provoke a sense of anger behind the wheel. For experienced drivers, it isn‘t safe, but for less experienced teen drivers, it can be even more dangerous.

Andrew, a 16 year-old, is familiar with road rage, “I’m like driving down the highway and somebody just cuts you off, and that’s like, people just drive like crazy.”

While they can be the victim of others frustrations, they also can feel the fury. Kids don’t often control their anger as well as adults.

“We start seeing driving as a right, and that everybody else on the highway is supposed to take care of my right and take care of my way of doing things,” said Dr. Margaret Nichols, Psychologist.

Teaching kids through example is the most effective way of preventing teen road rage. Dr. Nichols said that the example set by parents will likely be exaggerated by their children.

If conveying the message of safe, calm driving doesn’t do the trick, experts said parents should take the keys. By doing so kids will learn that driving is a privilege that can be taken away, not a right.

What Parents Should Know

When a child gets a license to drive many parent’s get a license to freedom. Not only can parents quit the teen taxi driver job, they can send their new driver to the grocery store, to the cleaners, and even to pick up grandma from bingo. Before sending your child all over town, parents need to make sure kids are ready to battle the road.

A good driving school is imperative, experts agreed, but driving schools alone won’t arm your child with enough experience to drive unsupervised. Most driving schools only offer six hours of actual driving time per child. Since lack of experience is a key contributor to teen traffic accidents, parents should spend time in the passengers seat, letting their child take the wheel.

Starting in an empty parking lot and progressing to the road will help the child develop driving skills and confidence. It is imperative that a parent remain calm while riding with the child. Even if you are a bit nervous about the bumper that was too close for comfort, remaining calm will give the child a sence of security. Experts suggested counting to ten backwards before reacting. The confidence the child learns while you’re in the car together will still be there when he or she is on the road alone with friends.