PERFECT
• Panic or shout
• Forget to teach courtesy
• Allow other passengers
to be a distraction
• Give conflicting instructions
(i.e. “Go ahead and stop.”)
• Grab the steering wheel
(unless it is an emergency)
BUYING
A FEW DO’S AND DON’TS FOR
YOUR DRIVING PRACTICE SESSIONS:
• Be patient
• Review defensive driving
• Advise with a calm voice
• Turn the radio off
while teaching
• Obey all traffic laws
at all times
GIVE THEM TIME
Your teen can fail the road test by making
only one or two mistakes. All the practice
you did together should pay off, but if not,
be patient and encourage them to stay patient too. When they do pass, congrats to
you both!
DO THIS TOO: Set ground rules and
enforce them—no cell phones, no more
than one passenger at a time, no driving
after 9 p.m., no driving on the highway, all
seatbelts must be buckled, etc. Reiterate
the importance of safety and remaining
focused while driving.
Continue to be the right model
for your teen. Just because they are
driving does not mean they will no longer
see you drive.
TRY THIS: After teens get their license,
they have permission to drive without
parental supervision. However, state law
in Alabama does not allow 16-year-old
drivers to have more than one passenger — unless the passengers are parents,
guardians or licensed drivers over the age
of 21. When you’re not in the car, you can
check your teen’s driving progress (or lack
thereof) in several ways: using tracking
devices or slapping a simple “How’s My
Driving?” bumper stickers on their car.
32
D
TEEN AT TEN
HAVE YOUR
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NEED
USE TEENS
LASS BEC A
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- Potenti
A RIDE
Brad Armagost, president of
Trustmark National Bank,
offered this advice on paying for
your teen’s first car.
Avoid loans if you can —
A car is a depreciating asset.
If you do need to borrow money,
consider a home equity line instead
of a car loan.
Find a car that has an affordable
monthly payment for you within the
36-48 month term. The longer the
term, the more likely you are to get
“upside down” and owe more than
the car is worth.
The model year will determine the
maximum term of a loan.
At Trustmark, we use the
following guidelines:
2009-2011,
36-month maximum term
2011-2012,
48-month maximum term
2013-2014,
66-72 month maximum term
•
•
•
SET THEM FREE
Once teens establish and maintain a clean
driving record, they’ve earned the trust
and freedom to drive wherever they want.
But tickets for speeding, running stop
signs, etc. will put points to their driving
record — in a bad way. Just 12 to 24 points
within two years can result in a suspended
license, so remind them to continue those
good habits you taught them.
DO THIS TOO: Before your teen leaves
for college, talk with them about what to
do in case of an accident (as a witness or
person involved).
www.potentialmagazine.com
Brad Armagost, president of Trustmark Bank
with his sons Cole (11) and Chandler (13).