Conversation Starters for Parents

While riding in a vehicle, take a look at the vehicles around you to see if the drivers are doing anything BESIDES driving. Count the number of times you see this during a drive.

Go over a vehicle precheck and explain the gauges on dash in your family vehicle. Talk about your process before getting behind the wheel. What should you check and what are things to be aware of on the dashboard?

Discuss the importance of being in a calm and alert state before getting behind the wheel. Ask student to think about what it means to be emotionally, physically and mentally ready to drive.

When you see an emergency or service vehicle on the road with their lights/sirens on discuss with your child how they should handle the situation.  Point out examples or non-examples that you may observe of other drivers abiding by the Move Over Law. Remember, the law says if you can't move over at least one car lane, you must slow down at least 20 mph below the speed limit.

Walk though the process of changing lanes. What should the driver be on the lookout for in your specific vehicle?

Take your child on a quick road trip to visit a hospital or trauma center. Point out how drivers should pull off the road & stop so that emergency vehicles can navigate the roadway. Plan another road trip on the interstate and use the opportunity to point out different scenarios where you would change lanes or slow down 20 mph below the speed limit.

Discuss driving in the "right-hand" lane in multi-lane traffic. Take your child out on a multi-lane road and observe the number of cars driving in the right-hand lane as well as the left-hand lane. Remember that cars in the left lane should be passing other cars or preparing for a left-hand turn. Slower traffic must drive in the right-hand lane according to the Uniform Traffic Law. Discuss what you observe!