Introduction

• Getting a driver’s license is a right of passage for almost every teenager and many cannot wait to hit the road once they have passed the written and road tests. Parents have a lot to consider when it comes to letting their newly-licensed teens drive, and teaching them car maintenance basics should be near the top of the list.

Evaluate whether your teen with ADHD is truly ready to drive

• There are plenty of steps to take before handing over the keys and letting your teen hit the road unsupervised. For teenagers with ADHD, this list of steps may be a bit lengthier. The Learning Disabilities Association of America points out that the executive function challenges that come with ADHD can make driving safely particularly difficult, but that doesn’t mean that these teenagers can’t be successful behind the wheel.
• Parents should evaluate their teen’s ability to handle the basics of driving as well as their ability to maintain focus and make safe decisions on the road. Some teens with ADHD do better when they wait until they are a bit older to start driving, and CNN details that maintaining a regular medication schedule can help too. If a teen is too impulsive or inattentive to keep up with driving and maintenance basics, it would probably be wise to have them wait a while.

• Parents may want to create a written checklist or list in the notes on a smartphone to help their teen with ADHD keep track of car maintenance basics. A “pre-flight” checklist of items to review before hitting the road can be helpful and teens should walk through this list every time they get behind the wheel.
• She Knows suggests some basics regarding maintenance that teens should follow when they begin driving. For example, it is important to keep an eye on the gauges, including the gas level, temperature gauge, oil light, low coolant light, and check engine light. New drivers should get in the habit of getting an oil change regularly and they should also learn how to check the air in the tires and basic fluid levels under the hood. For other teen-friendly maintenance projects, see this list.

Walk through changing tires and managing blowouts

• Your Mechanic suggests that parents take the lessons regarding car maintence a step further. For example, teaching a teen to change a tire can come in quite handy. It is important to teach teens, especially those with ADHD, this process slowly and patiently, having them do the steps alongside you if possible.
• It may be wise to teach teens how to handle emergency situations like having a tire blowout while driving. Many people, including plenty of adults, panic at a time like this and cause additional damage or even injuries. When a blowout happens, it’s important to stay calm, hold on firmly to the steering wheel, and let the vehicle slow without using the brakes and get to the side of the road.

Prepare your teen for issues while on the road

• Jumping the battery is another car care basic that can come in handy for teenagers. InMotion includes this on their list of what teens should know about auto care and most adult drivers know that a dead battery is a common car-related issue. Jumping a battery isn’t difficult, but it’s a process that should be carefully explained to teens, especially those with ADHD who have challenges with focusing.
• There is a lot for teenagers to learn about car safety, driving rules, and maintenance before they hit the road, and this can be overwhelming for teens with ADHD. Parents should take things slowly and it can be helpful to create written checklists or a checklist to put on a teen’s phone to make it easy to remember what needs to be done. It may seem like a lot of work upfront, but preparing your teen with maintenance basics and an overall appreciation for a vehicle will serve them well as they hit the road and face challenges in the driving days ahead.

Mark Conor

• Mark created DriveSafely after his son, who has ADHD, started driving. He hopes the site will encourage teens and adults to make good decisions behind the wheel.

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