What We Expect Before You Begin Driving

Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrate car maintenance skills


• Demonstrate ability to take care of car, gear and equipment


• Read, study for and pass the driver’s license tests


• If you’re under 18, pass Driver’s Ed (and pay for at least ½)


• Demonstrate knowledge of rules of the road


• Ability to multi-task (need to be able to: listen to music and friends, know where you’re going, know what everyone in the cars around you are doing, aware of how the car is running, remembering the driving rules…)


• Hand/eye coordination


• Demonstrate map skills - Know where you are (are you near home? can you find where you’re going if you’ve been there before?)


• Confident and comfortable with handling car

Taking Care of Business/ Responsible

• Take care of school work and be attending school and making good grades


• Be where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there – not missing the bus


• Demonstrate you are able to keep people aware of your comings and goings


• Cars need gas – demonstrate ability to pay for it and will remember to fill the car with it


• Follow rules and do chores without reminders


• Trusted to be left alone - without adult supervision


• Trusted to interact with other kids appropriately – even without supervision


• Show responsibility with electronics (cell phone, MP3 player, computer) – taking care of your things, borrow and return things in good repair


• Ability to save and handle money


• Emotional Readiness


• Able to handle stressful situations appropriately (no Road Rage!)


• Not running away/dissociating


• Behave appropriately with people and during activities


• Self-reporting – being able to admit when you did something wrong and restitution


• Ability to tell if your judgment or ability to drive is impaired (alcohol, meds, anger, stress…)


• If judgment or ability to drive is impaired – ability to ask for help, willing to call parent.


• Good judgment – parents should have no worries about sex, drugs and alcohol


• Ability to share – need to share car time with others in family, when in traffic you need to take turns


• Able to handle delayed gratification


• Empathy – can see other’s viewpoint


• Cause and effect – understand that if you do something you will have to deal with the consequences of your choices


• Don’t steal or borrow without asking – can be trusted with money and other things


• Truthful – tell the truth to others and self – even about difficult things


• Deal well with authority figures (including parents)

Other posts about driving:

Driving Rules and Contract

Explaining Why Kitty Shouldn't / Can't Drive