What do I do with my 16 year old?

[Kevin Greene]

Couple of tequila shooters before he goes out every night should relax him to drive normally.

Your welcome.

[DC Amp]

As someone said earlier, experience. Practice practice and more practice plus some repetition builds familiarity and confidence. Kind of like your first day on a new job, nervous and afraid of making a mistake, after the first few weeks you settle in and feel more at ease.

[CarolinaAllDay]

Tell him stop pleasuring himself with the shiftknob and look at the road.

[Darth Biscuit]

As someone said earlier, experience. Practice practice and more practice plus some repetition builds familiarity and confidence. Kind of like your first day on a new job, nervous and afraid of making a mistake, after the first few weeks you settle in and feel more at ease.

Yeah... but he's been driving for 12 months...

The track is a good idea... if we had the money. He just can't get the hang of things like speed on turns, when to pull out in traffic, he's hesitant when changing lanes, etc.

I was a natural at driving and have always been a good driver. I've driven every kind of vehicle you can imagine...

My wife is a terrible driver and has crashed every car we've had... maybe he just got her driving genes???

[Kettle]

Where is he driving? I know you live where he needs to be good in traffic, but it might help to let him get some miles in the country. Just some time behind the wheel with less to think about.

[Kettle]

My other suggestion is to get him a hooker. He could have a lot of bottled up tension. Maybe you could just show him some good sites, but he may never leave his room if you go that route. :D

[Seal (SmittyIsOurSavior)]

The first time I ever drove, before I had my permit or anything, was down South College during 5:00 traffic. That's one way to do it, immerse them in the worse right away.

I don't get why some people are so afraid of driving. I mean, what's the worse thing that can happen?

[Kramerica]

My parents just told me to think about all the idiots I see on the road every day. "If they can figure out basic driving skills, surely I can." But also to re-enforce the practice practice practice thing...yeah. Just force it even. If he's nervous about the open road, maybe go to an empty parking lot late at night and practice getting comfortable with acceleration, three point turns, parallel parking, etc.

Eventually he's got to get out there and make mistakes like we all did. Like turning left at an intersection with a solid green light while not yielding to on-coming traffic...not that I know anything about that..

[Mayor Qumiby]

Yeah... but he's been driving for 12 months...

The track is a good idea... if we had the money. He just can't get the hang of things like speed on turns, when to pull out in traffic, he's hesitant when changing lanes, etc.

/QUOTE]

Check out the link I posted in my prior post, its a free driving school. They are close(if your in charlotte) and free really there isn't a reason not to go.

[weyco2000]

I feel your pain my friend... my son scared the living crap out of me when he got his permit. I think its dad more than son though, as others have posted, parents make kids nervous sometimes... my suggestions:

1) Talk to him about your concerns, if you are honest then he will as well. My dad made me so damn nervous I couldnt focus at all.

2) Try letting him drive with someone else... My older brother made me feel so much more comfortable, by just telling me things I was doing wrong and most importantly what I was doing right.

3) When you're driving, explain to him what and why you are doing certain things... don't worry he'll get it, just be patient and relax. Turn some music on and enjoy it, because before ya know it... he's grown.

Good Luck Dad!

[Mayor Qumiby]

Yeah... but he's been driving for 12 months...

The track is a good idea... if we had the money.

Check out the link I posted in my prior post, its a free driving school. They are close(if your in charlotte) and free really there isn't a reason not to go.

[jasonluckydog]

I wouldn't let him get a license till he overcomes this and it might take 12 more months then so be it.... better safe then sorry.

[Gazi]

Driving school. Your son's safety trumps money spent so you can have a piece of mind that everything will be ok.

I was very nervous when I started driving especially with my dad judging every move. But I improved and still got into an accident a month after my license.

I know in Europe everyone must dish out a ton of dough and be forced to go thru the driving school before getting a license.

[jb_online]

If you remember my post, I was a lot like him, for the sounds of it. I didn't get my license until I was 18. For me there just wasn't any reason to, I was nervous about driving, had no car, we didn't have the money for insurance... etc. I think you are right at being patient and simply giving him time to learn and ease into it. When he starts seeing opportunities that he would need the car and doesn't have it, he'll come around on his own, since he is smart and mature.