Advice for Keeping Your Teen Driver Safe on the Road

Although it seems like the day may never come, your baby is now a teenager and soon to be a licensed driver. Road safety is an essential part of driver education, and the lessons shouldn’t stop once your teen is officially licensed to drive. It is important to teach as much knowledge about driving and road safety as possible to protect your loved ones from devastating road accidents. Read on to learn some important tips to teach your youngster about safe driving.

Car accidents aren’t just physically devastating; They can also be financially and emotionally draining and cause lifelong damage. Hospital bills, medical expenses, lost wages, permanent disfigurement, prolonged physical therapy, and even wrongful death are just a few consequences that can result from a devastating car accident.

There are 3 don’ts that all drivers should follow, regardless of age or driving experience. By following these behaviors, you can help keep yourself and others safe while riding on the road. These three don’ts include no speeding, no tailgating, and no distractions.

No speeding – Although vehicles are designed to reach high speeds, this does not mean that you should ever reach these speeds while driving. Teach your teenager to obey the speed limit at all times so they can keep their vehicle under control. Speeding can cause a driver to lose control and collide with trees, buildings, or other vehicles. This can endanger the safety of your teenager as well as other drivers. In fact, you may want to encourage your teenage driver to avoid the “fast lane” on freeways to avoid speeders and aggressive drivers.

No tailgating – Tailgating is a form of aggressive driving, whether you’re angry at the driver in front of you or just late for school. It is behavior that can lead to serious accidents at high speeds. At lower speeds, tailgating can cause destructive fender flares that can cause serious neck and head injuries such as whiplash. Teach your minor to keep a safe distance between vehicles at all times.

No distractions – Teens (and adults) carry phones, music, mirrors and all sorts of other distractions in their vehicles. Be sure to teach them that writing and driving is not acceptable, or take your focus off the road for even a few seconds. Teach them that driving should be their number one goal and their only priority; not checking email, social media, putting on lip gloss, or changing radio stations. Accidents happen in seconds.

In contrast to the “Don’ts”, there are also 3 “Do’s” that are just as important. This includes signalling, keeping aggressive drivers away and keeping your vehicle interior clean.

Always signal – Turn signals and hazard warning lights are not optional. They are vital to safe driving as they let other drivers and pedestrians know what you are up to on the road. Accidents happen again and again because drivers do not turn on the turn signal when changing lanes or turning into a parking space. Be sure to teach your teenage driver to always use the turn signals.

Always avoid aggressive drivers – Examples of aggressive drivers include those who speed, tailgate, cut off drivers, change lanes frequently, try to provoke other drivers by revving the engine, drive angry, or attempt to stir up a conflict. These types of drivers are incredibly dangerous and teenagers need to know to stay away from them at all costs. If they see an aggressive driver, teach them not to react and safely change lanes or stop to avoid them.

Always keep your inside clean – This piece of advice might sound silly considering the inside of a car doesn’t seem to affect driving safety, but it does. Garbage can accumulate in a vehicle and potentially become a driving hazard. For example, a loose water bottle can roll under the brake pedal and cause a serious accident. Even dust and sunburn can create safety issues when drivers experience allergic reactions like watery, itchy eyes or violent sneezing. A few sneezes can certainly endanger a driver’s attention on the road.

Was your teen injured in a car accident through negligence?

If your teenager was recently involved in a car accident that was not their fault and suffered injuries as a result, it is strongly recommended that you contact an experienced car accident injury attorney for professional advice on your rights to compensation for the damage and loss suffered by your family.

Thanks to Sarahbeth Kluzinski | #Advice #Keeping #Teen #Driver #Safe #Road