Teens are eight times more likely to be involved in a car accident within three months of passing their driving test, according to new research. This is alarming news for parents, especially when you want to start teaching your teenager to drive. A recent article by Very Well Family, provided a checklist of what parents should teach their teenagers about driving, and the necessary skills that need to be remembered for safe or accident-free driving. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay. Parents should make sure that they teach them very well and observe mastery on their part. Pressuring them to do it right away would be bad as it is a process. Phase 1: Know your vehicle Phase 1 is about general orientation on how the vehicle works and what the driver needs to know about the car. Give them the car manual while you do hands-on demonstrations. When finished, they should be able to know the following: How to start and stop the engine How to turn the headlights and parking (or running) lights on and off How to turn the windshield wipers on, off, and adjust • What are the various lights on the dashboard meansHow to fasten your seat beltHow to refuel, check the oil and inflate your tiresHow to change a flat tireWhat to do in case of an accidentStep 2: The basic skillsIn this step, the teen driver will be taught what he or she needs to know to maneuver the vehicle. Most of these skills can be learned in empty parking lots. At the end of this lesson, they should be able to do the following: Make safe turns, both left and right, including signaling Stop the car smoothly Shift gears if using a manual transmission Drive the car safely and straight Showing awareness of your surroundings Phase 3: Interacting With Other Drivers and Distractions This phase is what we also call defensive driving and communicating with other drivers. They should be able to learn how to operate a vehicle safely along with other drivers, parked cars, pedestrians and the environment. These skills require them to start on the easiest street, i.e. a residential street, and gradually move to different street situations until they feel comfortable and confident. At the end of this stage, your child should be able to:• Move safely through an intersection, including those with signals, four-way stops, two-way stops and uncontrolled intersections Make a smooth and safe lane change Maintain a "safety cushion" around the vehicle in traffic Drive courteously Operate within posted speed limits and obey traffic signs Cross railroad tracks safely • Use mirrors and check blind spots Step 4: Parking and other turns This step is more about parking. Parking is different and most teenagers get into minor car accidents because of it. Again, teaching them in an empty lot can gradually increase the difficulty. During this phase they should be able to learn the following: How to park safely on a hill, uphill or downhill How to park safely in parallel How to safely enter and exit a 90 degree parking spot How to safely enter and exit a 90 degree parking spot diagonal Making a safe U-turn • Making a safe three-point turnStep 5: Advanced SkillsThe last step requires everything they learned in the first four steps. Don't start.