Rule-Setting Tool

You’re in the Driver’s Seat: Set Some Rules

Once you get your license, it’s amazing how quickly you can end up feeling like a taxi driver. Even good friends can forget to respect your car and your driving. Set some ground rules now, before your passengers start driving you nuts. Let them know how they can ride like a friend so you can keep your sanity &ndash and your mind on the road.


Use the tool below to select rules for your car.

Got a group of friends that rides together a lot? You might want to get together and decide as a group what rules to set and keep. Invite them over or get online together to choose your rules as a group – make it Our Space, Our Rules. Don’t forget your parents – they do know a thing or two about driving. You and your parents can use the tool to come up with ideas together.


  1. We’re giving you three rules that are just no-brainers.
    1. Wear your seat belt
    2. Don’t pressure me to speed
    3. No drinking or drugs
  2. Now add some rules that help keep your mind on the road. Choose as many as you want:
    1. Keep the music down
    2. No yelling
    3. Keep your phone conversations short
    4. Help if I ask you to:
      • Turn down the music
      • Answer my cell
      • Give me directions
      • Just chill
      • Add your own:
  3. Now, choose some rules that help keep you sane:
    1. Pick up your trash
    2. Everything’s set where I like it. Don’t mess with the dials
    3. No throwing up in the car – warn me to pull over first!
    4. No trash–talking while I’m driving
    5. Never play while I’m driving
    6. No eating
  4. Add any rules your parents have set:
    1. passenger in the car
    2. No drinking or drugs
    3. No speeding
    4. Gotta be home by p.m.
    5. Add your own:


POST THEM

When you’re done, print your rules and post them in your car, or put them in your locker, on your Facebook or MySpace page, or wherever else you want.


PUT THEM INTO PLAY

Maybe to you, it feels a little tough to enforce rules for friends riding with you when you drive. Here are a few strategies:

  1. Be upfront that you have rules that need to be followed. You can tell your passengers, “My Car, My Rules”.
  2. If you came up with these rules with your friends, remind them that they created these rules with you and that the car is supposed to be “Our Space”.
  3. Use your parents as your cover story. Tell your friends the only way you get to drive is by having these rules, and if the rules are not followed, your parents won’t let you drive anymore. It’s as easy as that.