Drivers

I just came home from the DMV; my 16½ year-old son just got his drivers license. You’ve been warned.

“Why do you look so nervous?” the driving instructor says with a jolly smile as he approaches our car.

“Because I’m a lousy driver.” My son seldom graces his discussions with similar humor at home.

“I like lousy drivers; I hit them in the head with my clipboard.” I know this is going to work out just fine, but as a parent you worry, right?

My wife was astute enough to prepare a Driving Contract and the night before the test gives a parent some leverage. Download a copy; it’s got a lot of good guidelines spelled out. I signed it first, then prior to going out for the evening I went upstairs to change. While I’m still thinking about how great it is to have him at least acknowledge many of these fine details; I think of one more — that he consider all trips to RiteAid, Ace Hardware and Albertsons as walkable and not an excuse to drive a half mile. When I return to the kitchen and share this new insight he’s delighted to tell me he’s already signed the contract. It’s hard to stay a step ahead of teens.

My dad was a great driver. Of course, we all think we’re good drivers. That’s the joke at Traffic School, “Raise your hand if you think you’re an above average driver?” Not many think of themselves otherwise. My interview with Carjacked! author Anne Lutz Fernandez confirms this self image bias. But dad was good at teaching me to drive, so one goal I’ve had is to be as good while instructing my kids. Life doesn’t always work out the way you hope though. My constructive criticisms became instant arguments and little instruction occurred. But as a dear friend once said, your children will listen, even if you don’t think they are. My particular emphasis of proper driving behavior has focused on consideration of pedestrians.