Vermont and New Hampshire both ban the use of handheld devices while driving, but educators in both states say technology is still having a huge impact on teenagers’ driving skills.
“We have noticed that the quality of students who come to us is remarkably worse than it used to be,” said Sharon Cameron, owner of Twin State Driving Academy in Lebanon and president of the New Hampshire Driver Education Teachers Association.
Observing more experienced drivers is a huge part of learning safe driving habits, but teens today are too distracted to pay attention to the driver when they’re in a car because they’re using tablets and other devices from a younger age.
“In this age of electronics, students aren’t learning to drive in their youth because their head is in the electronic device,” said Rich Kearney, the owner of Upper Valley Driving Academy and a driving teacher at Woodstock Union High School.
Instead of teen drivers coming in with basic knowledge — how to scan an intersection or check mirrors — driving teachers are encountering students who have not built up any knowledge from observing. “Kids aren’t picking their heads up, so we have to teach rudimentary things,” Kearney said.
Cameron and Kearney both suggested that parents engage their younger children when they are in the car, rather than waiting until a child is behind the wheel to teach safe habits. Ask preteens in the front seat if any cars are coming at an intersection, or to help you check the mirrors, Cameron suggested. Kearney said engaging young passengers can be as simple as a game of license plate bingo or asking teens questions about what’s happening on the road.
Teach by Example
Most important, parents need to lead by example when it comes to driving safely.
“From the time you turn the car seat around they’re watching you drive,” Cameron said. “All those years of watching you drive is how they’re going to learn. Don’t teach skills that kill.”
Teens often will point out their parent’s own distracted driving, especially when it comes to using technology behind the wheel. Parents should model safe driving habits for their children, including wearing a seatbelt, putting away their phones and not letting other distractions take their eyes off the road.
“Distractions come in the form of makeup, french fries, cellphones, coffee cups,” Kearney said.
It’s never too early to push those distractions aside and model the behavior that will eventually make children safer behind the wheel.
“Parents, you can start so much earlier to teach your child how to drive,” Cameron said.