Do you remember the first day you got your driver’s license? The excitement you felt to get on the road and drive with your friends? Did you know that a whole generation has passed and things are not the same anymore? For teens nowadays, driving causes anxieties. But why are they anxious? Let’s understand why teens are anxious to learn to drive.
According to a survey, about 25% of non-driving teenager respondents are not licensed because they are afraid to drive a car. 40.2% of them believe driving is frightening, and 58% are concerned about their teen’s ability to drive.
Reasons Why Teens Are Scared to Drive
Many teenagers think driving is the ultimate representation of freedom. Learning how to drive is like a rite of passage into adulthood and gives them a sense of excitement. However, there is a rising number of teenagers who are too afraid to get behind the wheel. According to a poll, 1 in 4 youngsters says they are overly anxious to learn driving, thus hindering them from getting their driver’s license.
Search engine for insurance companies, The Zebra, performed the nationwide research, which yielded some unsettling findings. One of the reasons teens don’t like driving is the cost of purchasing and maintaining a vehicle.
But the number one reason why teens do not like driving is that they are just afraid of getting into an accident. Which makes sense. (Source: Moms)
Based on the survey, one out of four unlicensed teenagers is too scared to drive. Furthermore, teen females were more likely than boys to say that driving was frightening, and they were more inclined to postpone driving due to those fears.
In terms of geography, 51 percent of urban youths are terrified of driving, compared to 35 percent in suburban and rural locations. This is because urban streets are more congested, and the chances of getting into accidents would be higher.
Another point of view we can look into is the doubts parents have as well. Parents’ worries about their teenagers’ driving add to the kids’ fears and self-doubt without realizing it. According to studies, moms were more anxious about their teen drivers than fathers. (Source: The Zebra)
Tips on how to Overcome Fear of Driving
While it is scary for a teen to learn to drive, there are a few actions for the parents to help ease the teenager into driving. Here are a few tips to help your teen get into the driver’s seat.
Understand Their Fear
Discuss the source of your teen’s fear with them. This will assist you in determining how best to help. Driving anxieties can develop as a result of a variety of circumstances. It could be the result of past trauma, such as being involved in or watching an accident. Try to reassure your teen without downplaying the genuine dangers of driving an automobile.
Increase Their Familiarity with Driving
Begin with the idea that specific anxieties are reasonable and others are exaggerated. Confronting those fears is a wise approach in both circumstances. Try exposing your teen to their feared situation gradually; small steps will eventually build confidence. It’s also a good idea to have your kid imagine the actions they’ll take while driving.
Practice and Reinforcement
Simulations can assist a new driver in improving level by level, increasing familiarity, and reducing nervousness. Create a course in an empty parking lot with cones and cardboard boxes so your teen may practice navigating the size and weight of a car at low speeds before putting it in real traffic. Expect to spend a significant amount of time starting, stopping, turning, and backing up. Allow your young driver to give these exploratory moves their full attention.
Manage Stress Before, During, and After the Driving Lesson
Whether accurate or not, all fears are emotional, and you can help your kid overcome the fear by being patient and supportive. Give explicit instructions ahead of time, accept mistakes without becoming upset, and debrief afterward. Discuss what went well, what could be better, and what your teen should keep doing. (Source: Parent Samurai)