If you're the parent of a newly minted teen driver, you may find yourself even more nervous about parenthood now than you were when staring down at a tiny swaddled baby in a bassinet. Even if you trust your teen implicitly, you may worry about his or her ability to drive defensively and avoid being injured by impaired or distracted drivers on the road. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take that should improve your teen's safety while giving you the information you need in order to worry less. Read on for some tips and tricks that can go a long way toward putting your worries about your teen driver to bed.

Technological aids

Advances in technology have made it easier for parents to keep a close eye on their teen's whereabouts—and installing certain hardware in your vehicle or software on your child's phone can provide you with even more detailed information. For example, some vehicle trackers can allow you to download a map of where the vehicle traveled, how fast it was going, and whether there was any sudden braking or other potentially dangerous activity while your child was behind the wheel.

Others can let you dictate a maximum speed for your driver or even sound an alarm if the GPS indicates that your driver is somewhere he or she shouldn't be. Most of these technologies offer real-time access, and in many cases you'll be able to use a cell phone app to see where your child (or at least his or her vehicle) is at any given time. This can give you the information you need in order to loosen the reins a bit for a trustworthy teen or restrict driving privileges for one who isn't yet able to fully handle this new freedom. 

Roadside assistance

Although knowing how to change a tire or add coolant to an overheating engine can be useful skills as an adult, you probably don't want your teen's first experience changing a tire to be on the side of a busy highway or in a darkened parking lot. Adding a roadside assistance policy to your existing auto insurance policy for a few dollars extra per month or purchasing a membership in an automotive club that offers free or low-cost roadside assistance can go a long way toward easing your mind when it comes to car trouble on the road. 

As a bonus, this roadside assistance coverage can extend to other family members in the same household or on the same insurance policy, allowing your entire family to enjoy this benefit for a single low cost. To learn more, check out websites like http://www.bigdtowing.com/.