Daily Deals from a Nerd Mom

Most parents drive their families around as a natural part of their daily routine. It might be the school run, the grocery trips on weekends, or perhaps the long-haul road trips that might lead to our vacations or holidays. 

As such, we have an opportunity to show them, day after day, how to behave on the road. This way, when they get older and start driving (or if they’re taking lessons now), you can educate them as to the best road conduct. Does that mean you’re not going to curse under your breath or feel frustration when someone cuts you off or another road user puts you in danger? Of course not, the goal isn’t to be a perfect parent. That much would be impossible.

Yet it’s also wise to show how you handle and manage your car so that, if they’re close to driving themselves, you set a great example. Let’s consider how you might do that.

Show How You Mediate Conflict

Unfortunately, people do ridiculous things on the road. If someone cuts you off, doesn’t use their signal lights, or sits in the fast lane doing twenty under, it’s frustrating? Of course. But every time you slam the steering wheel or start muttering about how that guy in the truck is an absolute menace, your kids do listen and respond to that.

That doesn’t mean you have to stay perfectly calm at all times or that you have to be a robot behind the wheel, but t it helps to show how you handle frustration in a way that doesn’t turn every drive into a battle. Try to avoid honking and tailgating, as maybe you just let it go. It’s tough to do this, but it feels so much wise to take a deep breath and move on. It shows your kids road rage is never worth it, as any car accident attorney will be able to tell you.

Teach Them Basic Car Maintenance

Most drivers figure out the basics of car maintenance the hard way, usually when something goes wrong. A flat tire on the side of the road is something we’ve all dealt with, or even a dead battery in the grocery store parking lot, or perhaps an awful moment when you realize you probably should have changed the oil a few thousand miles ago.

If your kid is gearing up to drive, now’s a good time to walk them through some of this that you had to learn without instruction. You don’t have to go full mechanic, but they should at least know how to check tire pressure, jump-start a car, and understand the dashboard lights mean on their own car model. You can show them.

Set Passenger Ground Rules

You don’t have to treat your car interior like it’s a monastery, but you can absolutely set some passenger ground rules that will then give them the confidence to tell those they pick up how to behave if they want a lift. That might include avoiding people yelling over the music, phones blasting TikToks, or someone trying to show you a meme while you’re doing 60 on the motorway, as that sets the tone for what they’ll think is normal when they drive.

So, if you want them to focus when they’re behind the wheel, it helps to model that now. Maybe that means setting a rule that no smoke is allowed in the car, nor should anyone too drunk be in the first seat or with you anyway. You might also teach them not to give someone a lift if they’re not known for paying for fuel. It helps them avoid being exploited if they’re the first one to qualify for the roads.

With this advice, you’ll be sure to set a shining example for your child as they learn to drive.

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