DS is a pretty good driver and has gotten pretty confident in his driving lately. He is good on the highway (we have done the Bishop Ford, I-57, 80/94 and Dan Ryan) and no other major problems, but I just realized today he has only been driving since October so he has never drove in the snow.
Wondering if I should go back to a parking lot with him for snow (which is above his level at this point) or how to handle it? I am thinking doing the side streets in our neighborhood next time it snows before the plow comes out. The main streets are usually always clear during a day time snow, but I mainly want him to get a "feel" for how the car moves differently under the snow and even how it feels to hit a patch of ice and have to steer you way through it. I am a tad bit fearful he is so confident that he will think he can handle it if he doesn't get an experience without being on a busy street
How did you handle the snow with your teens driving?
My parents took me to a parking lot later in the evening--when the store was closed or very few cars were there--though I did not get speed, they had me go fast and then slam on brakes--to feel the car slide--
then later they took me out at night--when no cars were on the streets--since we can't park on the street during winter---and did the same thing---
After we did that, then they let us do day time driving on side streets---
Snow wasn't as bad as the ICE_--at least with snow you get traction--with ice--you really have to know how to control the vehicle
I didn't teach them to drive expressways--dh did that----but when we were coming back from Dekalb one year--with ds in college--the expressway was worse than the side streets----because the smaller towns had them plowed--the expressway has so much to cover--we would see a plow go by--stop---then another come by--because they could not keep going--it was written as someone elses mess---
IT WAS AWFUL--
Is he in drivers ed, or did he finish drivers ed?
That was one advantage to not taking summer drivers ed---they taught them to drive in snow--they have that extra brake!!
I agree with Kathy...gut wrenching, nerve wracking, jaw clenching, foot stomping (my ds always knows when I'm stomping my foot down on that imaginary pedal, lol)....
DH and I had them practice in our church parking lot when there was snow on the ground.
Don't be a wuzzie when you teach your kids to drive let them learn slowly but then don't over baby them because they will FREAK out when there is a horrible weather, etc.
I had my DDs go up and down North Ave. then I took them on 83 so they could pretend to be on the expressway.
It's all about the practice and how many hours they have in before they get their licenses. So much better now then when I learned and didn't have much road experience.
DD 2 was at her BF last night and had to drive home in the snow. She really never drove thru rain so I was nervous. I guess she did fine cuz she came home in one piece and so did the car. First thing she sai was "you never taught me how to drive in snow". But I think u have to just do it to learn. When I sit beside them I shout out so many directives that I'm surprised they don't just crash to get me to shut up. Oh btw dd is 17.
You know, it's just very hard to teach them how to drive in the snow because we really don't seem to get much snow any more! My DD18 has been driving for about 16 months (combined) and has hardly ever driven in the snow. Now she is in MI in the snowbelt & can barely function- almost slid into a pole the other day. :faint: Since then she has been taking the college shuttle to/from class.
*I* don't do well in the snow. There's just not enough of it regularly to get the hang of it.
I'm liking everyone's suggestions, though! Maybe drivers 4-6 in this house will be better in the snow.
Thanks everyone...I will maybe let him drive to school maybe in the morning, but that is mostly a divided highway too. I guess I just kinda hope we get a bit more snow days for him to practice on.
Hmm, I was never taught how to drive in snow/ice. Course there wasn't any snow/ice where I grew up.
You shouldn't need to teach anything other than slow your speed to the road conditions and only one thing at a time when in a skid - either brake, steer or gas.
If you really must - take him to a big empty parking lot and let him go nuts making donuts. He's going to do it anyways.
I was out there this morning and the road hadn't been plowed yet. It wasn't too slippery but I did drive super slow down the side street to get to my mom's house to shovel her sidewalk.
Today would be the perfect we are going to learn about driving in the snow weather in a parking lot!
We taught our son in an empty parking lot. If you can find a business that is closed down it wont get plowed.
First we let him go for it....go fast...slam on the brakes, turn the wheel, etc., so he could see what the car would do.
There is a big difference in driving a car with front wheel drive vs. rear wheel drive....and how these types of cars will respond.
We let him get a feel for the ABS when you lock up the tires....how the car would respond when you freeze up and stomp on the brake....
I must say he was having a little too much fun....so was I...LOL...
Then we showed him how to safely stop a car if you were in trouble.
To use your brakes and steering to control a skid...by applying the brakes and release them while you steer through a skid.
Explained that if a street looks "wet"....it could be black ice...
How it is important to drive at safe speeds for conditions.
To give plenty of room for the car in front of you if they have to slam on the brakes.
It just takes practice and a empty lot really gives them the feel for and emergency situation....
Anybody remember doing donuts in a parking lot?...LOL
Just wanted to mention that it snowed here today, is still snowing. It is that light puffy stuff that makes it challenging to drive.
Middle16 wanted to take "his" car today to school (we allow it 1x a week if he's not in trouble LOL, otherwise he rides with Big17 in the am and takes the bus home). Had to tell him this am that no, "his" car would stay home today due to the snow. Said him + a couple hundred other inexperienced teenage drivers trying to get to school was just too risky.
Told him I will take him out later to do some driving in the 'hood, plenty of side streets to learn on...
Driving to school today was horrible. I am glad I drove dd. The intersections were bad. It was like people forgot how to drive. I usually put out signs at crossing guard reminding there is an intersection and no left turn allowed--I didn't put them out because people were sliding and I knew the signs would cause more trouble. I let my other daughter drive (she doesn't have much experience) and told her she needs to learn--biting my nails the entire time--since I know the intersections are so bad. She needed to run a quick errand to the store--and I figured I have to let her learn--and since this was light snow--better now than later-
BUt I agree with Kathy--I didn't let the high schooler drive--because a lot of the teens were having trouble!
We've taken DS #1 to a school later in the day or the DuPage County Fairgrounds lot to practice snow driving. He will probably avoid it as long as possible anyway. He got his license right around the time his permit was due to expire! He told me it was too much responsibility for him to deal with. His girlfriend drives, she has her own car and so do most of his friends, but not him, he has to share! Aren't I a mean mom?
