How to Prove to Your Parents You’re Ready to Drive Yourself to School
You've got your license, but let us guess… your parents aren't exactly keen on giving you the independence that comes with it.
Driving is a big deal, and if your parents aren't yet ready to let you jet off to the mall on your own or drive yourself to school, it's likely because they aren't yet convinced that you're ready to take such a big, daunting step.
Scroll down for a few tips on how to convince them otherwise.
Take Control of Other Parts of Your Morning Routine
Let's face it, if you still need mom or dad's help waking up in the morning, making breakfast, or getting yourself out of the house on time, that doesn't exactly inspire a ton of confidence in your abilities, especially when it comes to something big, like driving.
If you want your parents to trust you with that task, show them they can trust you with some of the smaller stuff first. Start by taking more control of your morning routine as a whole—set an alarm each morning to wake yourself up, prepare your own breakfast and make sure you're ready to go to school each morning without any nagging from mom and dad. As they see you taking more responsibility for your own life, they'll slowly become more confident in your abilities, including driving.
Practice Driving to School With a Parent in the Car
One of the reasons your parents might be reticent to let you drive yourself to school is because they're skeptical about your driving skills. Remember, while getting your license is a big accomplishment, it doesn't all of the sudden mean you're an incredibly skilled driver who can't (or won't) make mistakes on the road.
If you sense that your parents' reluctance in letting you drive to school by yourself stems from their worries about your driving skills, offer to practice the drive to school with a parent in the front seat. This way, they can see how you drive on that route and offer any advice or tips they may have. If they see that several practice runs have gone by without any issues, chances are they'll start to come around.
(via Unsplash)
Sign Up for a Defensive Driving Class
Even if you are a good driver, there are still surely other people on the road who, well, aren't. Since your parent's chief concern is your safety, try and ease their fears by signing up for a defensive driving class, which goes beyond basic driving tips and tricks. In this class, the aim is to reduce the risk of collision by anticipating dangerous situations, despite adverse conditions or the mistakes of others. You'll learn general guidelines, such as following the assured clear distance ahead and two-second rules, which will help keep you (and other drivers) safe on the road. Participating in a class like this will show your parents that you're serious about safety, and it should help alleviate some of their driving-related concerns.
Propose a Compromise
Like it or not, you might not be able to convince your parents to let you drive to and from school each day. However, there are compromises you can make. Start off slowly and ask to drive to school once a week or on days when you have sports practice or other after school activities. As your parents get more accustomed to some of those baby steps, chances are they'll loosen their grip a bit and let you do more and more on your own. Just be patient.
(To All the Boys I've Loved Before via Netflix)
Highlight How This Will Make Your Parents' Lives Easier
Once you've demonstrated that you're a capable and safe driver, highlight how letting you drive to school on your own will make your parents' lives easier. For starters, it's one less thing they need to worry about each morning, giving them more time to focus on themselves or your siblings. Speaking of siblings, offer to drive them to school, too. Even if your parents ultimately say no, they'll appreciate the thought and the desire to take on more responsibility.
For more tips on how to deal with tricky parents, click HERE for advice on how to deal when your parents favor a sibling over you.