As a parent or guardian, you want your teen to experience the joys and responsibilities of driving, but you want to ensure their safety on the road. That road can be unpredictable, so equipping young drivers with the knowledge and skills to navigate it safely is paramount. This post will provide essential safe driving tips for teenagers to help establish a strong foundation for responsible driving habits.
Tips to Prevent Teen Distracted Driving
Research published by the National Institutes of Health found that teen drivers are more likely than older adults to engage in technology-related distractions. Teens engaged in distracting activities in 58 percent of sampled road clips. Teen drivers lack experience, making distractions even more dangerous.
Follow these teen driving tips to prevent distracted driving:
- No phone zone – Cell phones are the most common and dangerous distraction for teen drivers. Make your teen’s vehicle a no-phone zone by leaving it in the backseat or trunk or using the phone’s “do not disturb” mode.
- Limit passengers – Passengers can easily distract a teen, so limit the number of people in their vehicle. As your teen driver gains experience, you can gradually introduce additional passengers.
- Avoid multi-tasking – Trying to do more than one thing leads to accidents. For example, eating, drinking, or grooming while driving takes a driver’s eyes off the road long enough for an accident to occur.
Defensive Driving Tips Every Teenager Should Know
Defensive driving is a crucial skill for every teen driver to learn. Here are some excellent defensive driving tips for teen drivers to know:
- Pay attention – Pay close attention to the road. Scan the surroundings continuously, checking mirrors and blind spots.
- Maintain a safe following distance – Keep a reasonable distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you, allowing ample reaction time for sudden stops or hazards.
- Adjust speed to the posted limit and conditions – Drive the speed limit or slower if inclement conditions require it.
- Stay alert – Only drive when alert enough to respond quickly to potential problems. Fatigued driving dramatically increases the risk of an accident.
Remember the Fundamental Rules of the Road
As your teen continues learning valuable driving skills, remind them often of these fundamental rules of the road:
- Obey traffic lights and signs – All traffic lights and signs exist for your safety. They allow you to share the road with other drivers and avoid collisions.
- Use turn signals – Signal your intentions using proper signals in advance of making a turn or changing lanes. Give other drivers ample time to react to your actions.
- Yield the right-of-way – Understand and respect right-of-way rules. Yield to vehicles or pedestrians who have the right-of-way, such as those already in an intersection or pedestrians in crosswalks.
- Buckle up – Accidents can still happen. Always wear a seat belt and ensure that all passengers are properly restrained.
- Be respectful – Show respect to other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists on the road. Use polite gestures, follow traffic etiquette, and avoid aggressive behaviors such as tailgating or honking excessively.
Contact Our Teen Driver Car Accident Lawyer If You Need Legal Help
We hope you found these safe driving tips for teenagers helpful. If you or your teenager get injured in a teen driver car accident that was someone else’s fault, contact Cardoso Law, PLLC for legal help and representation. Our car accident lawyer stands up for car accident victims’ rights and interests.
