The Impact of Aggressive Parental Instruction

The first time I drove with a professional instructor, I realized my father was a hugely aggressive driver. While my instructor told me to drive below the speed limit, my father ordered me to always drive five miles above. My instructor pointed out the “backwards” effect to make a complete stop; my father instructed me to tap the brakes at a stop sign before hightailing it to the next green light. Unsafe driving is mostly the result of distractions and inexperience; however, unsafe driving is also the product of improper parent instruction.

According to the CDC, the risk of teenagers crashing is higher than any other group. While distractions and inexperience are prevalent factors, parents may play an unrecognized role. During rush hour, 53% of drivers accept speeding over ten miles per hour, according to Drivers Ed; in fact, the source says, aggressive drivers are common. This means that some teenagers will learn from aggressive drivers; as they are exposed to aggressive driving, their own driving will become unnecessarily aggressive in an attempt to mimic their model. And professional driving instruction does not solve this completely. A teenager only needs six hours versus forty-four with their parents in my state of Colorado—this gives teenagers plenty of time to fall back into bad habits reinforced by their parents, just as I did.

Driver’s education is essential because it teaches students how to safely manage themselves on the road; and, it could be used to remind parents how to be responsible models. If parents play such an important role, driver’s education needs to be continued beyond obtaining a license in order to reduce the number of driving-related deaths. I suggest that parents participate in their child’s in-car instruction; parents should note the instructor’s feedback and perhaps even drive themselves under the instructor’s supervision. And, although it would take extra resources, countries could require drivers to take a class or drive with an instructor to renew their license. As defensive driving is reinforced to adult drivers, their habits will begin to change. Not only will this make the roads a safer place, but it will also make the next generation drive less aggressively.

As for myself, I still struggle. Aggressive driving almost got me in accidents on several different occasions; to deter myself, I leave early and avoid driving with people who encourage bad behavior. As for my father, I try to erase his bad habits with gentle reminders about speed limits and rules of the road. I can’t help but wonder; would driving with an instructor every time he renewed his license make him less aggressive? Of course, distractions play a prominent role in accidents and motor deaths, along with inexperience. There is no denying that. Yet, perhaps even periodic reminders—to the twenty-something lady who speeds through busy intersections, to the fifty-five year old gentleman who doesn’t bother to take a second glance in his rush—can save lives.