New Manual From Oregon DMV Helps Parents Coach Teen Drivers

The “Oregon Parent Guide to Teen Driving” is for parents of teenagers who are getting their first instruction permit.

(SALEM) - Many parents wish their teenage children came with instruction manuals, but they don’t. Perhaps the next best thing is a new manual that helps parents coach their teens in their quest to learn to drive and get an Oregon driver license.

Produced by DMV and the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Safety Division, it is the first parent-teen driving manual published by the department since the “Tuning Up” manual printed six years ago.

“The guide is helpful for parents because they are usually the copilots for teenagers with instruction permits who are gaining the required behind-the-wheel practice before applying for a driver license,” said John Harvey, Driver Education program coordinator at Transportation Safety.

ODOT developed the booklet with the assistance of Driver Education instructors, traffic safety experts and a human behaviorist. In addition to fundamental driving techniques, the guide includes newer techniques that parents may not know. It also explains parents’ and legal guardians’ responsibilities and the importance of being a good role model behind the wheel.

“Whether the parent is doing all the teaching and practice driving or the teen takes a Driver Education course, the teen needs a copilot for practice driving,” Harvey said. “So the guide, in conjunction with an up-to-date Oregon Driver Manual, will help parents coach their teens on the current traffic laws and safest techniques for driving.”

The guide includes a log for parents to track the teen’s driving-practice time. Keeping a log is important because 50 hours of practice driving is required if the teen takes a Driver Education course, and 100 hours if they do not take a course. The booklet also explains the Oregon restrictions on new drivers younger than 18 and the consequences of violating teen driver restrictions and state traffic laws.

“Since Oregon launched graduated driver licensing in 2000, fatalities from crashes by drivers under 18 have declined in Oregon,” Harvey said. “And research has shown that teens who take Driver Education have fewer traffic tickets and crashes than those who don’t. Clearly, knowledge is a key to the safety of our teen drivers. That’s why we produced this new guide.”