Helping Your Teen Driver Stay Safe

You’ve just gotten your license. You’re so excited and can’t wait to get behind the wheel and drive all by yourself. We get it! But it is important to remember that teenagers are at a higher risk of getting into an accident. 

Tips to Stay Safe on the Road

Get into the Right Frame of Mind to Drive

Many auto accidents that involve teenagers are because of the laid-back attitude they have. It’s not because they don’t have the knowledge or skills to drive. Make a deal with yourself to get into the right frame of mind and have a responsible attitude about driving. You owe it to yourself and other drivers to be as responsible as you can.

Practice Makes Perfect

You’re required to have a certain number of hours and practice before you get your license. But the practice shouldn’t stop there. Try to take your parents with you to continue practicing.

Don’t Forget to Wear Your Seatbelt

Always, always, always wear your seatbelt! It doesn’t matter if you’re the driver or the passenger, always wear a safety belt. 

Don’t Drive Impaired

Underage drinking and drug use is illegal. Even just one drink or one joint will cause a chemical effect on your brain that impairs reaction time. On top of that, you could lose your license or worse, your life. Impaired driving is very serious.

Limit the Number of Passengers in Your Car

The risk of a fatal crash increases with every additional person in your car. Limiting the number of passengers in your car reduces the distractions you have.

Try to Avoid Night Driving

The risk of driving at night is three times higher at night than it is during the day. Until you are 100% comfortable with night driving, it’s best to stick to daytime.

Keep it Slow

Until you have enough experience, it would be best to avoid areas like the highway. Fast-moving and high-volume traffic is stressful. Until you can navigate through stressful driving situations, avoiding highways would be the best bet.

Avoid Poor Weather Driving Conditions

We know it’s not realistic to completely avoid driving in bad weather but avoiding it as much as possible is a good practice for teen drivers.

Don’t Use Your Cell Phone

Your cell phone should only be used in emergencies while driving. Even then, you should be pulled over in a safe spot before using it.