Resources for parents of young drivers
To help your child stay safe on the road.
It’s never too early to start instilling good driving habits and safe practices behind the wheel. That’s why the CAA-Quebec Foundation has gathered useful information and tips for parents to help your young driver through this important stage in their life.
Road safety: A little awareness
Whether they’re the driver or a passenger, your teen has responsibilities on the road. They need to learn to make the right decisions, and for that they’ll need the right information.
Choosing a driving school
A good driving school will be one that follows the Road Safety Education Program (RSEP) and has qualified instructors, vehicles that are in good condition (and why not even hybrid or electric ones?), and a good contract with respect to price, payment terms, schedule, etc.
Ask about other services offered, like the possibility of taking a refresher course, renting a vehicle for the driving test, or being accompanied by an instructor. Choosing the right driving school requires some research and careful consideration.
Auto insurance
No matter what type of licence you have (learner’s, probationary, or full licence), every driver must be insured. Will your child be driving your car or your spouse’s? Have them added to your insurance policy as an occasional driver. Is your teen thinking about buying a car? They will need their own car insurance, including liability insurance. Take the time to shop around and get a few quotes to compare, as it’s a known fact that insuring drivers under the age of 25 is expensive.
Protection in case of trouble on the road
Running into trouble on the road is all the more stressful for new drivers. Since many young people drive used vehicles, it’s a good idea to have assistance services they can use if their engine fails, if they run out of gas or get stuck, or if they get locked out of their vehicle or need a safe ride home. Find out more.
Passing on your driving knowledge
Talk to your teen about driving and vehicles. When you’ve never driven or owned a vehicle yourself, there’s a lot you simply don’t know, like how to:
Fill the gas tank or pay for gas at the pump
Check the air pressure in the tires and the oil level
Fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir
Take a quick tour of the gas station with your teen and make sure they know what to do. Make sure they know about the emergency kit and what’s in it.