When a teenager finally gets their license, a whole new world opens up to them. These young adults now have access to more places and without the supervision of an adult. While you cannot be there to make sure your young driver is staying safe, you can impart valuable advice.
Accidents result in half of all teenage deaths. The more prepared your child is, the less likely they will become part of that statistic. Here are four tips you can give your teen drivers:
Put the phone away
Cell phones are one of the leading causes of distractions for all drivers, including teens. Nothing is happening with a mobile phone that should take precedence over driving. If possible, put the phone in the glove compartment to ensure that it cannot distract you from the road.
Limit the number of passengers
More passengers mean a higher chance of getting distracted while driving. While the urge to get all of your friends behind the wheel may be strong, piling your car full of people can become a serious risk. Limit your vehicle to only one or two passengers for the first few months of driving so that you can get used to the roads and your car.
No multitasking
Eating and drinking, fixing your appearance, adjusting the radio or GPS, or reaching for a distant object can all take your focus off the road for a few seconds. Driving more than 60 miles per hour means that a few seconds of not looking at the road is the same as driving blindfolded for hundreds of yards. Extra tasks can wait until after the ride, or pull over if you need to address a matter.
Never drink and drive
Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol could be a death sentence for you and your passengers. Rideshares, sober friends, and even staying put are all better alternatives than driving drunk.
Take the extra time to plan ahead and make sure that you are doing everything you can to stay safe as a new driver. A few bits of planning can spare you a lifetime of consequences.
