As a mom of teenagers, I soon face the dilemma of sharing the car keys. It’s a scary thing to think about. In just a few months, I’ll be able to watch my oldest child get into a vehicle and drive down the street. Yikes! I can already imagine the thoughts I’ll be grappling with… ”Will he remember to drive responsibly? Is he going to be distracted? Will he come back home, safe and sound?”
As parents, we have very good reason to be concerned. The scary reality is that vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among youth ages 15 to 20. And according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, teenagers with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a significantly higher rate of traffic violations and accidents than their peers. So what can we do as parents to help our children with ADHD be better drivers? 
Here are seven tips you can use to keep your son or daughter safe:
- Make driving a privilege, not a right. The privilege of driving the car should be based on whether your son or daughter is demonstrating responsibility in other areas of his or her life. Use grades, completed assignments, good behavior, jobs around the house, and other signs as an indicator. If your child is being irresponsible at home or in school, it’s more than likely the same tendencies will exist with driving. Don’t be afraid to take away the keys for any reason. You are in charge.
- Make a strict, no-cell-phone-while-driving rule. Have your child turn off his cell-phone before he starts the car. He can check for messages when he arrives at his destination. If the problem is serious, don’t allow your child to take a cell phone into the car at all.
- Minimize distractions. Teach your son or daughter to set radio channels, arrange CDs, adjust mirrors, etc. PRIOR to heading down the road. The teen with ADHD needs to keep distractions to an absolute minimum.
- Check meds. If your child takes her medication inconsistently, set-up a rule where she cannot drive that day unless you’ve observed her taking her medication. Studies have shown that stimulant therapy for ADHD significantly improves a teen’s ability to concentrate while driving.
- Limit passengers. Find out who else will be in your child’s car for any outings. Limit the number of passengers in the car. Be extremely reluctant to allow your son or daughter to drive more than one or two other teenagers anywhere. Set restrictions and guidelines. If you have a good relationship with your child’s friends, remind them to keep distractions to a minimum.
- Set an example. Occasionally allow your child to drive with you as a passenger. Quietly observe your child as he drives. Is he following rules? Paying attention? Make gentle suggestions, and give praise when it’s deserved. “I like that you’re driving at a safe speed and paying attention.” Also, set an example while you’re driving, pointing out rules of the road.
- Make a driving contract. Make a contract to be signed by you and your ADHD teen, outlining the rules and responsibilities that go with the privilege of driving. You could indicate things like the number of passengers allowed in the car, that seatbelts should be worn, no one is allowed in the car who has consumed alcohol, etc.
Kristyn Crow is the author of this blog. Visit her website by clicking here. Some links on this blog may have been generated by outside sources are not necessarily endorsed by Kristyn Crow.
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