The day your teen drives away without you in the passenger seat is a milestone—but also the start of the most dangerous phase of their driving life. The first 6–12 months of solo driving carry the highest crash risk, largely due to distractions, inexperience, and overconfidence. Setting clear boundaries before they ever drive alone is one of the most effective ways to reduce that risk.

Begin with a family driving agreement. This should outline rules on:

• Passenger limits – More passengers mean more distractions. Many states already restrict them, but you can go further.
• Curfews – Night driving is riskier, especially for new drivers.
• Approved routes – Limit their early drives to familiar areas before expanding their range.
• Phone use – No texting or handheld calls, ever. GPS should be mounted and set before departure.

Explain that these rules aren’t about trust—they’re about stacking the odds in their favor while their skills solidify. Use real statistics about crash risks for new drivers to reinforce the point.

With DRVN, you can make the transition smoother and safer. Its Prepare / Drive / Report system doesn’t end when your teen gets licensed—you can continue tracking their drives, monitoring conditions, and reviewing performance reports together. This ongoing visibility helps ensure they’re still practicing safe habits even without direct supervision.

Unlike many teen driving apps that stop being useful after licensing, DRVN remains a valuable safe driving app for teens well into their first year of solo driving. It supports parent teen driving instruction long after the permit period, essentially giving you a second set of eyes on the road.

Parent Tip: Review the driving agreement monthly. As your teen demonstrates consistent safe driving, you can relax restrictions—giving them more freedom while reinforcing that privileges are earned.