By Dale Avery
As I share this with you, my fifteen-year-old daughter, who now has her driver’s permit, is taking behind the wheel driving courses at one of the local driving schools. I am also spending time in the car with her driving to ensure she is a good and safe driver.
I don’t know if you have taught someone to drive before, but when you do a few interesting things occur. The first thing that I have encountered is the heightened concern for having my young daughter maneuver a two-ton car around the streets along with other moving vehicles and still obstacles. Our personal car that we are using to teach my daughter to drive of course does not have the teacher steering wheel or brake peddle on the passenger side. So when we have to make a maneuver I have to depend on her to use the brakes and occasionally reach over to tug on the wheel to help with a course correction.
Second, I have learned to pay more attention to and talk about things like the speed we are going, street signs, streetlights, oncoming cars, and the distance she is following other cars. All these thoughts have become subconscious after driving for forty years. It is amazing to be in constant discussion about every aspect of driving while we ride around town.
Third, I am more aware of the distractions I have when I drive which takes away from concentrating on the afore mentioned items. I have to admit when I drive I play with the radio, talk on the phone (hands free), have a drink, eat food, and I sometimes check my texts.I know that is a not only illegal but not smart and I am focused on not doing that.
Last, I would have to say teaching my daughter to drive scares me a bit. At some point she will get her license and will be off driving on her own with my other daughter and friends. This experience reminds me of when she was a young baby – the care we took when we installed the car seat, and that first time we put her in the car seat and drove her home from the hospital. I felt like I was in control and it was my job to protect her. Once she gets out on her own, the only thing I can pray for is for her to be as safe a driver as possible and protected from other driver’s errors. So I take the time to teach her how to drive responsibility, get her a safe car and have others teach her additional driving skills. My wife and I are also finding she likes to point out our driving errors, meaning our driving example has a big impact on her. If you have a child at this age, I feel your stress and encourage you as parents to be good drivers. And for all of us to remember we were taught, maybe long ago, driving is a privilege and a responsibility – pay attention and take it seriously. We all want to do our best to keep our kids safe so they can always come home to us.
Dale Avery, CPCU, is the assistant vice president – Enterprise Services at State Farm® Corporate Headquarters in Bloomington, Ill.
Avery began his career with State Farm in 1982 as a personal lines underwriter in Lincoln, Nebraska and assumed his current position in 2006. Avery, a native of Missouri, received his bachelor’s degree from Central Missouri State University. He earned his CPCU in 1991.
Dale resides in Bloomington with his wife, Laura and their two daughters; Megan and Jenna.
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