My teen forgets to turn off car-- what to do

[crj1968]

So my son is driving on his permit. Every time we go somewhere and he is driving, he parks, puts the car in park and then just gets out.
He forgets to turn off the car !

My wife has screamed at him I've talked to him about how he is going to ruin the car....or worse leave it running in the garage and kill us.

Not sure what to really do besides not let him get his license until he can pull his head out.

Is there a device...like if the car is in park for 5 seconds the horn starts blasting?

[Ghoste]

Some cars in Europe shut off after idling for a certain amount of time. 

[Troy]

Remove the muffler.

Or teach him to lock the doors every time he gets out. Can't do that without the key (most of the time any way).

Troy

[crj1968]

Remove the muffler.

Or teach him to lock the doors every time he gets out. Can't do that without the key (most of the time any way).

Troy

He'd forget his head if it wasnt stapled to his neck....

[Mytur Binsdirti]

He'd forget his head if it wasnt stapled to his neck....

Is he actually prepared to drive? Tell him he's got a choice; be responsible and smarten up or he'll have to spend his life depending on a bicycle and/or public transportation to get where he wants to go.

[Alaskan_TA]

He'd forget his head if it wasnt stapled to his neck....

There is part of your answer!

Get a truckers wallet chain & hook one end to the key ring & the other to the staple in his neck. 

[polywideblock]

 

            but one end of the keychain should be clipped to his jeans so when he gets out  it reminds him he's left something behind

 I've raised 3  daughters 2 with kids of their own now, makes me feel old       and "forgetting " to do things is just part of being a teen  

[ITSA426]

Buy a Prius, Tesla, or nice new shoes.

[stripedelete]

He'd forget his head if it wasnt stapled to his neck....

Is he actually prepared to drive? Tell him he's got a choice; be responsible and smarten up or he'll have to spend his life depending on a bicycle and/or public transportation to get where he wants to go.

Correct!   Nothing replaces the firm hand of Management.

[Charger4404spd]

Take that privilege away until he starts remembering

[el dub]

Are you trolling?

[crj1968]

He'd forget his head if it wasnt stapled to his neck....

Is he actually prepared to drive? Tell him he's got a choice; be responsible and smarten up or he'll have to spend his life depending on a bicycle and/or public transportation to get where he wants to go.

Well, yeah, that is the discussion at hand....right now we just aren't going to allow it. Otherwise a great kid, but even if he forgets one time it could be a problem... my car beeps at me if I open the door with the car running. So if I'm honest it's possible I could forget also...but in 30 years of driving I haven't.  His car doesn't do that...

He drives pretty good, and it would be REALLY nice for him to drive his own butt around...but it's concerning.

[crj1968]

Am I trolling?   For?


I've thought about a lanyard type thing....

Or maybe a device where you hook one to the keys the other glued to his head and if the two are more than 5ft away from each other it beeps.   

[polywideblock]

 

  suppose it depends on what sort of kid he is , but if he's into chains etc just get on of these and modify  to suit 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Dog-Puppy-Metal-Chain-Walking-Lead-Leash-Clip-110cm-Red-Nylon-Handle-C156-/121845569170?hash=item1c5e8fd692:g:l~oAAOSwKIpWARYk

 

mine was a 20" choker chain with 2 dog clips attached     wow that was a long time ago 

[ws23rt]

Sit this kid down and have a calm clear talk about his issue with forgetting to turn off the car.

Tell him that another instance is not acceptable. The warnings and concerns have already been made and the next step is to lose access to the car for 30 days or something of the like.  After that he will only be allowed to drive on his own when he is on his own. -- The key here is the chat. It needs to be clear.---Also if you back out of the ultimatum-- making another one later will have greatly diminished value.

I'm a bit surprised though to hear of this problem.   Does he have this kind of forgetfulness in other areas? It could be a tell of something that needs professional attention.

[tan top]

Take that privilege away until he starts remembering

yeah  ,  &  where ever he , has driven too ,  & forgets to turn off the motor ,  leave him stranded  ! make him walk back  , every time        only way to learn

[JB400]

What kind of car is he driving?   If it's a fairly new econobox that was made in the last 10 years, it could be that it is too quiet.  One idea instead of chain hooked on the key, would be an idiot light that is connected to the ignition switch.  Switch on, light on.  I would try this; if it don't work, no license.

[ws23rt]

What kind of car is he driving?  If it's a fairly new econobox that was made in the last 10 years, it could be that it is too quiet.  One idea instead of chain hooked on the key, would be an idiot light that is connected to the ignition switch.  Switch on, light on.  I would try this; if it don't work, no license.

Good point about the car being quiet.  Electric cars are quiet too.

Learning responsible habits is the relevant part of this topic and the kid needs to learn the basics without regard to what he is driving now. A signal from the car to call him on the phone would work too but is not practical and frankly just makes the phone that much more of a mom.

One thing is true here.--He has learned about how to turn the car on and will not forget that.  If he leaves his car running to go into a store and finds it gone when he comes out he will learn that way about turning it off.  The access to the car being removed is like an owned car being stolen.

[Mopar Nut]

Tie a string to the key and the other end to his phone, he will not forget his phone.

[ws23rt]

Tie a string to the key and the other end to his phone, he will not forget his phone.

---Or tie the key to a nipple ring.

[crj1968]

I dont think he needs professional help- like any kid he forgets crap....like homework and the like. Hes' 15 so you know, I am a realist. He is 500% better kid than I ever was, so I try to cut him some slack.

I think it comes from drivers ed where the kids just swap seats without ever shutting the car off.

its an older BMW 3 series and it runs pretty dang quiet.  I told him no license until he figures it out....if that takes him wearing a nipple ring key chain than so be it.  

I did a see a deal with two tags when they are separated by more than 15feet they go off.

[crj1968]

Tie a string to the key and the other end to his phone, he will not forget his phone.

That's for sure.

[Mike DC]

         
How does he come home & get into a locked house without his keys?

[myk]

He might have two sets of keys; one for the car, the other for everything else...

[birdsandbees]

Make him pay for the next tank of gas, he won't leave it running for long.