Is your teenager ready to drive to school? Expert guidelines to assess readiness for driving

CLEVELAND - For many Ohio teens, the day they turn 15 and a half is circled on the calendar. That is the day they can apply for their learner's permit and begin the process to get a driver's license. But successfully completing driver's training and passing their test for a license doesn't mean they're really emotionally ready to drive.

Joseph Austerman, D.O. and section head for Psychiatry and Psychology at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Pediatric Behavioral Health offered these points for parents to weigh when deciding if their son or daughter is ready to get behind the wheel alone.

"The first thing you look for is responsibility. Is your teenager a responsible teenager, does he/she follow rules? Teenagers that take on higher accountability and tend to follow the rules make better drivers," Austerman said.

Second, Austerman said to think about how your teen manages strong emotions.

"When they get upset, do they explode or lose the ability to make decisions? You want a driver who will remain calm when faced with an unexpected situation. A teenager who is better able to do that is more prepared to drive."

Third - and perhaps the biggest challenge for teens - is the ability to resist peer pressure. "Teenagers rarely give other teens good advice," said Austerman. "You want to know your teen is able to make strong decisions and say no, I'm not going to take that risk."

Dr. Austerman also said it's important to weigh the need versus the desire to drive. Driving privileges should be gradually rolled out, and driving to and from school is a good place to start. Creating a written contract that spells out the rules and expectations works well for most teens. And keep the conversation about the driving experience one that is ongoing. Have your teen talk about the experience of driving in different situations to get an idea how they're doing.

Ohio AAA also offers some excellent tips for parents that you'll find here: http://on.wews.com/O5flqQ