Learning to drive is a huge milestone, but it can also feel intimidating for teens and their parents. With time, practice and continued support, teens can build the skills and confidence they need to stay safe on the road. Your guidance along the way plays an important role in helping them succeed.

Be a Role Model

Parents and guardians are the primary influence on their teenagers’ driving habits. From the moment a child’s car seat is turned around, they begin watching and learning from those they ride with. In fact, they observe your behavior behind the wheel for years — far longer than they spend in driver’s education. Modeling safe driving every day is one of the most effective ways to protect your teen on the road. 

Demonstrate safe behaviors by: 

• Buckling up every time
  
  
• Following speed limits
  
  
• Avoiding distraction
  
  
• Staying calm in traffic

Explain Your Driving Choices

Driving is parenting on the move. When your child rides with you, help them learn by explaining your driving choices and pointing out safe habits. This helps them understand what to do and how to make safe choices when they are driving on their own. Use simple phrases to explain your choices: 

• “I am putting my phone in the back seat, so I am not distracted.” 
  
  
• “I am slowing down because the light just turned yellow.” 
  
  
• “I am checking my mirrors to stay aware of the cars around me.”

Read the Driving is Parenting on the Move fact sheet (PDF) | (En Español) (PDF)

Be Involved

It is important to stay actively involved in your teen’s driving practice to help them build safe habits. Everyday moments become teachable opportunities, and practice hours are critical to your teen’s success. 

Teens are required to complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including 10 hours at night, before getting their license. However, this is the minimum. Practice with your teen as much as possible in different environments and road conditions to build confidence and experience. 

Use the Parent’s Supervised Driving Program to help guide these practice sessions. 

Enforce the Wisconsin Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Laws

Several factors can increase a teen’s risk of being involved in a crash, including driving at night and carrying multiple passengers. Wisconsin’s GDL laws limit these higher-risk situations while teens build experience. Understanding and enforcing these laws can help your teen stay safe on the road. 

Read the GDL fact sheet (PDF) | (En Español) (PDF)

Set Clear Expectations for Safe Driving

Make sure your teen driver understands and follows the rules of the road, including: 

• Staying distraction-free
  
  
• Following the speed limits
  
  
• Always wearing a seatbelt
  
  
• Never driving drowsy or impaired by drugs or alcohol
  
  
• Yielding to pedestrians

Encourage your teen to be a responsible passenger when riding with others. They can help their driver stay focused by assisting with music or navigation and minimizing distractions. Remind your teen that it is important to speak up if they ever feel unsafe in a vehicle—and never ride with a driver who is impaired by drugs or alcohol. 

Use a parent-teen driving agreement to help guide these conversations and set clear expectations about safe driving. 

Educate Yourself

There are resources available to support you and your teen on the road:

• Review Children’s Wisconsin teen driving fact sheets on the teen driving webpage.
  
  
• Explore Impact Teen Drivers’ parent resources.
  
  
• Complete the National Safety Council Virtual Parent Training.

Stay Involved

Your role does not end once your teen gets their license. Continuing to monitor and guide their driving is important for long-term safety. 

One way your teen can continue practicing their driving skills is through the Safe Roads Challenge App. When teens use the app, it provides real-time feedback on their driving behaviors such as phone use, speeding, hard braking and rapid acceleration. Users can work to improve their scores over time and earn gift cards for safe driving. The app also includes features like driving streaks, daily trivia and friendly competitions for your entire family!

Supporting Teens Every Step of the Way

Helping your teen become a safe driver does not happen all at once. It takes time, practice and ongoing support. The role you play along the way can help shape the decisions they make behind the wheel for years to come. 

The Children’s Wisconsin Safety Center has a Teen Driving Program that provides tools and resources to support you and your teen throughout the process. To learn more, visit the Teen Driving webpage or email teendriving@childrenswi.org.