Helping you teach your teen to drive safely.
Download on the App Store
Get It On Google Play
Common Teen Driving Pitfalls: How Parents Can Prevent Them
October 8, 2025

Even the most careful new drivers tend to repeat certain mistakes. The earlier these habits are spotted and corrected, the safer your teen will be when they’re driving solo.

Speeding is one of the most common issues. For many teens, it’s not about thrill-seeking—it’s a misjudgment of how fast they’re actually going, especially when moving from quiet streets to highways. Have them practice driving slightly under the limit and adjusting speeds for curves, weather, or traffic flow.

Overconfidence often shows up a few weeks into the permit period. After a handful of smooth drives, teens may believe they’ve “got it.” This can lead to taking risks they’re not ready for. Keep exposing them to new challenges—night driving, busy intersections, or adverse weather—so they understand there’s always more to learn.

Gap misjudgment happens frequently when merging or making left turns. Teens can underestimate the speed of oncoming traffic, cutting it too close. Practice these maneuvers in controlled settings, narrating the decision process for when it’s safe to go.

Blind spot neglect is another recurring issue. Teach them to physically glance over their shoulder before every lane change, even if mirrors look clear.

This is where DRVN stands out from other teen driving apps. It doesn’t just log time—it actively helps you track and address these problem areas. Using the Prepare / Drive / Report framework:

  • Prepare – Select focused sessions on merging, hazard scanning, and speed control.
  • Drive – Get lesson-based coaching prompts if following distances shrink or speed creeps up.
  • Report – Review detailed summaries highlighting any unsafe patterns so you can address them before they become habits.

As a safe driving app for teens and teen driver education app, DRVN turns parent teen driving instruction into a data-driven, targeted coaching program. Instead of guessing what to work on, you’ll have concrete evidence of where your teen excels and where they need reinforcement.

Parent Tip: Create a “pitfalls checklist” and review it before each drive for two weeks. Over time, you’ll see fewer and fewer boxes that need checking.