Driving in winter weather can be a challenge for anyone. But if you have a young teen who’s just recently started driving, their lack of experience and questionable decision-making abilities might have you very worried about them being behind the wheel when the weather gets chilly.

Luckily, with the right teaching, practice, and preparation, you can help your teen know how to stay safe while driving in the snow and avoid many of the situations that could result in a car accident. To help you see how this can be done, here are three things to teach your teen about driving in winter weather. 

Get Some Practice In A Safe Area

One of the best ways for your teen to learn how to handle themselves and their vehicle in winter driving conditions is to get some experience being behind the wheel when the weather isn’t ideal. 

While you likely don’t want to just send your teen out on the streets to get this experience, Jana Rhodes, a contributor to MotoSafety.com, shares that you can find a safe place for your teen to spend some time driving in the snow, ice, or sleet. Ideally, you should look for a parking lot or other open and empty space where you and your teen can practice things like stopping, braking, and accelerating when the roads aren’t clear and dry. 

Plan For Your Trips To Take More Time

Many teens develop a habit of driving too fast for conditions and not giving themselves enough time to safely make it to their destination on time without having to speed. While this is always a dangerous practice, it’s even more dangerous when dealing with winter driving conditions.

To combat this, Jessie Van Amberg, a contributor to FamilyCircle.com, recommends that you teach your teen to plan for their trips to take more time. Not only should this include driving slower and safer on the road, but they may also need to scrape snow or ice off of their car or wait for the vehicle to warm up a bit before safely starting their drive. So if this means waking up 15 minutes earlier or getting ready faster, so be it.

Be Alert When Approaching Intersections

One of the most dangerous areas to be driving during winter weather is through an intersection. At these junctures, your teen needs to be aware of both their driving and the driving of every other car in the vicinity.

To help you teen to learn this, Kurt E. Gray, a contributor to KidsHealth.org, recommends teaching your teen to always keep their eyes moving when going through an intersection and checking for any cars that might be sliding through even though they may not have the right-of-way. 

If you have a teen who will be driving in winter weather conditions for the first time, consider using the tips mentioned above to help keep them safe behind the wheel.