19 tips for teen drivers.

Do you know half of all youngsters shall be involved in a car accident earlier than they graduate from highschool? That quantity is alarming, proper? Typically these automobile accidents are as a consequence of teen distracted driving – like a textual content message or a favourite tune. Different instances, they occur as a result of the driving force didn’t know a security rule, like when to go or change lanes.

As you’re making ready your teen driver to tackle the roads, share these 19 suggestions for teen distracted driving to maintain them protected.

Tricks to cease teen distracted driving

Of all age teams, teenagers are the most probably to be distracted at the time of a crash. Assist them cease distractions and keep centered with the following tips:

1. Have them flip off their mobile phone or put it out of sight. The National Safety Council reviews drivers are 4 instances extra more likely to get into an accident in the event that they’re utilizing their telephone. Have your teen flip their telephone on silent whereas driving, retailer it within the glove field, or put it within the again seat. If they should make a name or textual content, advise them to drag over or park in loads to take action.
2. Don’t textual content and drive. At 55 miles per hour, the average text message takes your teen driver’s eyes off the highway whereas they journey the size of a whole soccer area.
3. Begin the GPS earlier than beginning the automobile. In case your teen is touring someplace new and so they want instructions from a map app, have them put the handle within the app earlier than they depart. Moreover, have them flip the sound on for voice instructions to allow them to maintain their eyes on the highway.
4. Scale back the variety of passengers. The extra passengers your teen takes, the extra distracted they’ll be. It’s finest to cut back distractions with fewer (or no) passengers once they begin driving.
5. Don’t eat or drink whereas driving. In line with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, individuals who eat and drive improve their odds of getting right into a automobile accident by 80 p.c.
6. Maintain the radio at an inexpensive quantity. It ought to at all times be at a degree that permits drivers to listen to oncoming emergency automobiles or close by horns.

Comply with the foundations of the highway

Teenage drivers account for extra automobile accidents than every other age group, and automobile accidents occur to be the leading cause of death amongst 15- to 20-year-olds. It’s vital on your teen to comply with these guidelines of the highway to remain protected.

7. Go away sufficient area between automobiles. Whether or not your teen is in movement or at a cease, they need to at all times have the ability to see the bottom behind the automobile forward of them. That distance ought to improve immensely in moist or wintry situations.
8. Don’t change lanes at an intersection. Altering lanes in the course of an intersection might or will not be thought-about unlawful in your state, but it surely’s at all times thought-about harmful.
9. Know when it’s okay to go and when it’s not. New drivers shouldn’t be doing a lot passing. They need to, nonetheless, know the symbols on the highway that mark when it’s okay to go one other automobile.
10. Don’t use cruise management in moist or slippery situations. If there’s rain, snow, or ice, it’s dangerous to make use of cruise management. Moist roads could be slippery and going at a relentless pace in that situation may result in hydroplaning.

How teenagers can keep protected whereas driving

Small precautions could make all of the distinction for teen driving security. Educate your teen these keys to protected driving:

11. Be sure that the automobile at all times has at the least a half tank of fuel. You at all times need your teen to journey with out bother. That’s why it’s rule of thumb to ensure the automobile has the fuel to get the place it’s going.
12. Fill up on emergency provides. There are some things your teen ought to at all times maintain within the automobile … like these emergency gadgets.
13. All the time know the highway they’re on. In case your teen must name the police, they’ll must know their location.
14. Modify the headrest to the suitable peak. Most drivers consider the headrest ought to be behind the neck, but it surely ought to be at a peak behind the top to attenuate whiplash.
15. Don’t get out of the automobile if it’s on the highway. In case your teen is in a automobile accident, be certain that they know to stay within the automobile the place it’s the most secure.
16. Maintain the doorways locked and the home windows rolled up. This may maintain intruders out and your teen protected. They need to additionally lock their doorways promptly after getting within the automobile.
17. Go away a telephone charger within the automobile always. If one thing occurs to your teen from level A to level B, having a telephone charger within the automobile will guarantee they’ve sufficient battery life to name for assist.
18. Don’t depart valuables in plain sight. When your younger driver is parked, advise them to not depart valuables like wallets, purses, smartphones, laptops, and sports activities gear the place they are often simply noticed.
19. Park underneath a streetlight. Parking in a lit space is at all times the most secure choice. And on the best way to the automobile, your teen ought to stroll with keys in hand.

Unsure what sort of automobile to purchase your teen driver? Searching for extra tricks to cease teen distracted driving? Our consultants are at all times right here. Speak to a neighborhood, impartial agent at the moment.