4 Safety Tips for New Teenage Drivers

Oct 4, 2018

When your teen reaches driving age, it’s nerve-racking. You feel a bit uneasy about letting them behind the wheel on their own, and when you add in that this age group is the most susceptible to accidents, it’s a definite cause for concern. However, you’re going to have to cut them loose at some point, and the best way is to offer safety tips to boost their driving intelligence and reduce the chances of a collision or accident.

Eliminate Distractions

One of the soundest pieces of advice to give your teen is to limit or eliminate their distractions. According to the latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,450 people died as a result of distracted driving in 2016 alone, and 391,000 people were injured. To exacerbate the problem, 10 percent of all fatal crashes involving teens were caused by distracted driving, proving that a call or a text just isn’t worth it.

While cell phones have become the greatest cause of distracted driving, the radio and infotainment systems on modern cars shouldn’t be overlooked. Teach your teen to select a radio station before they put the car into drive, and instruct them to lock their phone in the glove box or center console until they reach their destination.

Drive at Safe Speeds

Another leading cause of teen accidents is driving too fast. Often, an inexperienced teen driver may want to look cool in front of friends or just see what it’s like to put the pedal to the metal. Aside from distracted driving, nothing is more dangerous.

The key is to teach teens to stay at the speed limit, even when other drivers are speeding. Speeding to keep up with the flow of traffic is still illegal, and with the increase in traffic, it can lead to a catastrophic accident.

Always Buckle Up

Wearing a seat belt might not seem like the cool thing to do for some teens, but it’s essential in saving lives. According to stats from NHTSA, 60 percent of teens involved in fatal accidents were not wearing their seat belts. This staggering statistic shows the importance of wearing a seat belt and the risks associated with forgetting to wear a seat belt, purposely not wearing the restraint for social reasons, or believing that seat belts do more harm than good.

Don’t Drink and Drive

Cases of drinking and driving have gone down drastically over the past several decade’s thanks to commercials, public awareness, and other programs bringing the dangers to light. However, some teens and adults still choose to make this decision. That’s why it’s important to explain the dangers of drunken driving. By building trust with your teen and asking them to call you or stay put if they consume alcohol, you can avoid the situation altogether.

Although drivers ages 16 to 19 are three times more likely to have a crash than drivers over 20, that doesn’t mean your teen has to become a statistic. With proper instruction and these tips, your teenager can avoid accidents, tickets, and other problems that plague their age group.

Image via State Farm | Licensed by CC BY 2.0