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Teens usually count the days until they are eligible to start driving. It is a “rite of passage” for young people, and a time parents often enter with trepidation. Parents wonder: “Just because my teen is old enough to drive, is he/she ready to drive? What are my responsibilities and liabilities for my teen driver?”

Experts say some of the important considerations to take when allowing teens to start driving are these teen attributes:

• Follows household rules - Does my teen do his/her homework on time without parental supervision? When your teen always follows the household rules without complaint, it can be an indication they are ready to follow the rules of the road, such as no texting and driving.

• Exhibits good judgment – If teens are not going to other teen’s homes when parents are away and are staying out of trouble at school, they may be ready to drive.

• Doesn’t give in to peer pressure – If a teen follows the crowd, he or she is not ready to take up driving.

Verywell Family says there are a lot of things teens need to know to be able to drive safely. When taking driver’s education in school or from a company, or learning from parents, teens can have both computer and on-the-road training. During these courses teens are taught about the vehicle itself, including mirrors, seat belts and airbags, dashboard warning lights, etc. They also learn basic operations including controlling the vehicle, making safe turns, shifting gears, backing up, braking, signaling to other drivers, and avoiding distractions.

Other areas covered are:

• Interactions with other motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists - lane changes, dealing with intersections, etc.
• Parking – angle parking, 90-degree parking, parallel parking
• Advanced skills – freeway driving, night driving, and other situational driving
• Emergency responses 

After a teen gets his or her driver’s license, a parent’s job is not finished. Florida law says a parent or guardian must sign the driver’s license of a person under the age of 18. This holds the parent or guardian signing the document liable for any negligent or willful misconduct of the young driver. A parent’s liability may continue after the child reaches 18. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stresses that parents need to establish clear rules and consequences for their teen drivers. NHTSA suggests rules on topics like seat belts, the number of passengers, curfew, cell phone use, and alcohol/drug use. 

Florida law recognizes the “dangerous instrumentality doctrine.” This states that the owner of a vehicle is liable for its negligent operation. 

“Should you or a loved one be injured in a vehicle accident, please contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. We have the experienced team ready to assist you 24/7, and there are no costs or attorney fees until we receive a monetary recovery for you,” said Fort Myers Car Accident Attorney Randall Spivey.

Fort Myers Car Accident Attorney Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one percent (1%) of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A, in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com. Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County at 239.793.7748.