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    • Mirror, Signal, Mistake

    Your kids inherit a lot from you.
    Don’t make bad driving one of them.

    Watch the video

    Every journey is a lesson

    Did you know your kids start learning to drive long before their hands ever touch a steering wheel? From a young age, they start picking up your habits - including what they see you doing while they’re in the passenger seat. A quick text. A bit of speeding. Tailgating. These behaviours get passed on causing issues later down the line.

    In fact, nearly a quarter of serious road collisions involve young drivers. And if you know a driver aged 17 to 21-years old, they’re 66% more likely to be the driver in a crash that involves the most catastrophic bodily injuries, than drivers aged over 21.*

    That’s why we’re on a mission to improve road safety for young people.

    You have a bigger impact than you’d think

    We spoke to Associate Professor of Driver Behaviour at Cranfield University, Dr Lisa Dorn, to get her thoughts on how bad driving habits are formed. Here’s what she had to say:

    Dr Lisa Dorn, Professor of Driver Behaviour at Cranfield University

    Children begin picking up driving attitudes through observation from as young as three or four years old. Long before they understand the technical side of driving, they notice how their parents react emotionally and whether they follow the rules, and these early observations go on to shape how the child drives later in life. 

    Hear More from DR Dorn
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    What Dr Lisa Dorn has to say on bad driving habits

    “Because children learn more from what parents do than what they say, a parent who promotes safety but drives distracted sends a mixed message, making the child more likely to copy the behaviour than follow the advice.

    As driving becomes more practised, much of it becomes automatic. This gives drivers a false sense that they have extra mental capacity for other tasks, such as checking a message. This is made worse by optimism bias, where drivers accept that a behaviour is risky in general but believe they can personally manage it. When risky behaviour is repeated without immediate consequences, drivers can begin to see it as normal rather than dangerous.

    Unlearning these habits later has been compared to learning a second language: the original patterns from childhood do not disappear completely and can resurface when someone is stressed or tired.”

    What habits are kids picking up?

    Few parents will admit to being a bad driver. We all like to think that we’re setting a good example, but the stats tell a very different story.

    We surveyed 1,000 young drivers and parents to get their thoughts. Every parent we spoke to believed they’re a good driver all or some of the time. All while 81% of them admitted to at least one bad driving habit.

    It's no surprise then that more than half of young drivers felt their parents were either inconsistent or didn't follow their own advice. There’s an obvious disconnect between how parents feel they drive and what they do.

    So, what habits exactly are children picking up? Here’s what the parents admitted to:

    24% checked their phone while driving

    24% shouted at another road user

    20% drove above the speed limit

    With 74% of young drivers saying they pick up driving habits from their parents, there’s cause for concern. And unfortunately, driving instructors are seeing these behaviours creeping into their lessons all the time.

    How these habits show up in the car

    We spoke to RED Driver Training, and they highlighted four key issues they see all too often from learner drivers:

    Speed

    One of the first things we help students understand is that the safest speed is one that’s within the speed limit and appropriate for the road and conditions.

    Observation

    Looking in a mirror isn’t the same as acting on what you’ve observed. Students need to understand what they’re looking for, what they can see and how that should influence the decision they make next.

    Distractions

    Mobile phones are such a normal part of everyday life that it’s important students understand there is no place for using a hand-held phone while driving, including when stopped in traffic.

    Attitudes towards other road users

    Safe driving isn’t just about controlling the car. It’s about showing patience, courtesy and respect.

    Read More from red

    Don’t let your bad habits become theirs

    Do bad driving habits run in the family? Some certainly slip through the net. As Dr Lisa Dorn puts it, “change is more likely to last when parents view safe driving as part of their role as a caregiver and role model.”

    So, let’s set the best example with these tips to avoid the most common bad driving habits:

    Tip 1: Put your phone on do not disturb

    With your notifications off, you won’t be tempted to quickly reply to that text though you’re just sat in traffic. You could even take things further by popping your phone in your glovebox and using a satnav to navigate instead.

    Tip 2: Don’t retaliate — de-escalate

    Shouting takes your attention off the road, putting you and your passengers in danger.

    If you find your temper rising, take a deep breath and try to relax. You can also try putting yourself in the other driver’s shoes. Maybe they’re nervous, lost or inexperienced. 

    Tip 3: Consider the consequences of speeding

    Don’t embrace your inner Lewis Hamilton. Speeding’s illegal and comes with consequences. Points on your licence. A fine. A nasty accident.

    Give yourself plenty of time to complete your journey so you never feel the need to speed. Some cars also come with cruise control and speed limiters which can help you avoid speeding. So, use them if you have them. 

    Tip 4: Mirror driving instructor practices

     If you have a child who is learning to drive, RED Driver Training suggest that if an instructor has introduced a particular routine or technique, try to practice it the same way.

    Students make the best progress when parents and instructors work as a team because they’re hearing the same messages every time they get behind the wheel. 

    Tip 5: Talk about your driving out loud

     RED Driver Training tell us that saying things like, “I’m slowing down because I can’t see clearly around that bend,” or “I’m waiting because I haven’t got a safe gap yet,” helps future drivers understand that good driving is about making sensible decisions, not just controlling the car.

    We get it

    Even when trying our best, mistakes can still happen. And in these moments, what matters most is how we respond.

    Dr Lisa Dorn, Professor of Driver Behaviour at Cranfield University

    Acknowledging mistakes openly rather than excusing them demonstrates accountability. Setting family-wide rules on issues such as phone use and seatbelts reinforces safety as a shared standard.

    How to talk to your kids about safe driving

    A simple conversation can save a life. Just having an open dialogue about safe driving with your children can help them understand the dangers on the road. And how to avoid becoming one themselves.

    Dr Lisa Dorn tells us that we should be regularly talking about driving safely and encouraging open conversations rather than relying on lectures

    And if your child points out an unsafe habit, acknowledge it and thank them for speaking up. This shows accountability and builds trust.

    It’s also crucial to consistently demonstrate the safe driving behaviours you want them to adopt. Children learn more from what they see than what they are told. So drive the way you’d want them to.

    Drive the way you’d want them to

    One day, your kids might grow up to drive just like you. Make sure that’s a good thing. Always remember that every journey is a driving lesson. Teach them well.

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