As I watch my neighbors decorate their cars and yards with tributes to their 2020 high school graduates, I pause to also think of the pandemic’s impact on this year’s sophomores and juniors—the 16 and 17 year olds who are learning to drive.

Last week the Commonwealth of Massachusetts announced that it will resume taking appointments for Learner’s Permit exams to take place online. This traditional rite of passage has been delayed for thousands of teens, just as their older siblings had to adjust to a senior year without spring sports, school dances and graduation ceremonies.

For those parents who want to help their teens to learn safe driving habits, Safe Roads Alliance reminds you that The Parent's Supervised Driving Program is readily available here and on our website. This guide is designed for parents of teen drivers, as research has shown us that the more parents are involved with their teen's driving, the less likely it will be for their teen to be involved in a crash. Now that it’s again safe to go outside, have your teenager sign up to take their permit exam online, and study the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles Drivers Manual. Here are all the facts you'll need in order to apply for your permit. Lastly, check out our free app, RoadReady, which helps you easily log the hours spent with your teen behind the wheel.  

The rituals that come with watching our kids mature have been altered in this unusual year, but teaching teens to drive safely remains a practice that will endure.