Teaching your teen to drive can feel terrifying.
If your teen is nervous behind the wheel—or keeps delaying getting their license—you’re not alone.

Many teens today feel anxious about driving, and the way parents approach practice can either build confidence… or make that anxiety worse.

In this episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, Dr. Cam talks with Nigel Tunnacliffe, CEO and co-founder of Coastline Academy, the largest driving school in the country, about how parents can help anxious teen drivers feel more confident and capable behind the wheel.

Nigel shares what professional driving instructors know about teaching teens to drive safely—and why well-meaning parents sometimes make the process harder without realizing it.

If teaching your teen to drive has felt stressful, frustrating, or overwhelming, this episode will help you turn practice drives into confidence-building learning experiences instead of power struggles.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Why many teens today delay getting their driver’s license
How parent anxiety can accidentally increase teen driving anxiety
The biggest mistake parents make when teaching teens to drive
How professional driving instructors build confidence in anxious teen drivers
When teens are truly ready to start driving independently
How to make practice drives calmer and more productive for both of you

Why Teaching Teens to Drive Feels So Stressful

Learning to drive is one of the biggest steps toward independence for teens—and one of the most anxiety-provoking moments for parents.

When parents shift their role from critic to coach, teens learn faster, build confidence, and develop safer habits on the road.

This conversation will help you approach this milestone with more calm, clarity, and confidence for both you and your teen.

About Our Guest

Nigel Tunnacliffe is the co-founder and CEO of Coastline Academy, the largest driving school in the United States. Coastline has helped more than 250,000 teens learn to drive safely across hundreds of cities.

Nigel founded Coastline with the mission of reducing car crashes through better driver education and safer driving habits.

Learn more:
https://coastlineacademy.com

Follow Coastline Academy:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coastlineacademy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coastlineacademy

Episode Chapters

00:00 Why Teaching Teens to Drive Feels So Stressful
00:53 Why Many Teens Are Delaying Their Driver’s License
03:41 Helping Anxious Teen Drivers Build Confidence
05:23 Encouraging Teens Without Creating Resistance
07:09 Managing Parent Anxiety During Practice Drives
09:56 Creating a Supportive Learning Environment
12:34 Celebrating Small Driving Wins
15:25 Teaching Through Observation and Empathy
19:02 Recognizing Responsibility in Teen Drivers
21:29 Building Safe Driving Habits
24:11 Helping Teens Gain Confidence Behind the Wheel
27:32 Setting Boundaries for New Drivers
29:19 Practical Tips for Safe Driving Practice

Connect with Dr. Cam

Website: https://www.askdrcam.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcamcaswell
YouTube: Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam

🎧 Enjoying the podcast?

Share your favorite episode and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps more parents find practical strategies to strengthen their relationship with their teens.

🔔 Subscribe so you never miss another episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam.

parenting teens, teaching teens to drive, anxious teen driver, teen driving anxiety, parenting teenagers, helping teens gain confidence, teen independence, safe teen drivers