The school year is officially underway in Wichita, and for many teens, that means getting behind the wheel more often.
For new and experienced teen drivers alike, the beginning of the school year is a great time to review some important driving habits.
Wichita Roads Get Busy When School Starts
If you’ve driven around Wichita during the morning or afternoon school rush, you know how quickly traffic can build up.
Areas around schools can become especially busy with:
- Parents dropping students off
- School buses making frequent stops
- Students walking and biking
- Teen drivers arriving and leaving school
- Cars pulling in and out of parking lots
- Increased traffic on neighborhood streets
Teen drivers should slow down around schools and residential areas and stay alert for pedestrians and other vehicles. Even a route they’ve driven many times can look very different when school is in session.
Give Yourself Extra Time to Get Across Wichita
One of the best habits a new driver can develop is leaving early.
Wichita has plenty of roads that can become congested during school drop-off and pickup times. A drive that normally takes 15 minutes may take longer when everyone is trying to get to school, work, or an activity at the same time. Leaving a little earlier can help your teen avoid the temptation to speed or make rushed decisions.
Being late to class is better than making an unsafe driving decision.
Driving to School Isn’t the Only Driving Teens Do
Once school starts, teens often spend more time behind the wheel than they realize. A typical week might include driving to school in the morning, heading to soccer practice in the afternoon, going to a part-time job, meeting friends, and then driving home.
That means teens may be driving in a variety of situations throughout the week. Parents should take advantage of these everyday trips as opportunities for additional practice and conversation about safe driving.
Wichita’s Weather Can Change Quickly
Another reason the school year is a good time to keep practicing is that Kansas weather can change quickly.
Rain can make roads slick and reduce visibility, while strong winds can make driving more challenging. As the year continues, teens will also eventually need to become comfortable driving in colder weather and potentially winter conditions.
New drivers don’t need to experience every situation at once. Parents can gradually introduce different driving conditions as their teen gains experience.
Don’t Let Friends Become a Distraction
The school year also means more opportunities for teens to have friends in the car.
Passengers can be distracting, especially for inexperienced drivers.
Talking, joking around, changing the music, or looking at a phone can take attention away from the road.
Before your teen starts regularly driving friends around Wichita, make sure they understand that safe driving comes first.
Weekend Driving Is a Great Way to Practice
School doesn’t mean driving practice has to stop.
Weekend trips can be a great opportunity for parents to let their teens gain experience in different parts of Wichita and the surrounding area.
You can practice:
- Busy intersections
- Highway driving
- Parking
- Lane changes
- Night driving
- Unfamiliar roads
- Shopping-center parking lots
- Navigating without relying completely on a parent
The goal isn’t simply to put more miles on the car. It’s to help your teen become comfortable making safe decisions in different situations.
Parents: Keep Practicing With Your Teen
Even after your teen earns their license, they still need experience.
Driving is a skill that develops over time. Encourage your teen to continue practicing and talk about situations they encounter while driving.
Ask questions like:
“What was the busiest part of your drive today?”
“Did anything unexpected happen?”
“Was there anything you weren’t sure how to handle?”
These conversations can help parents understand where their teen may need additional practice.
Need More Driving Practice?
The beginning of the school year is a great time to make sure your teen feels comfortable behind the wheel.
Whether they’re just getting started or need additional practice before driving independently, professional instruction can give new drivers the opportunity to work on important skills in a structured environment.
At Yost Driving School in Wichita, we work with new drivers to help them develop the skills, awareness, and confidence they need to become responsible drivers.
Back to School Means Back to Driving
A new school year brings a lot of changes for teens—and driving is a big part of that newfound independence.
From navigating busy Wichita streets to driving to school, activities, jobs, and weekend plans, every trip is another opportunity to build experience.
Take your time, stay focused, put the phone away, and remember: getting there safely is always more important than getting there quickly.
Yost Driving School is proud to help Wichita-area teens become safer and more confident drivers.