Teen Driver Safety Tips

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Car Accidents

Preparing the teenager in your life to be a good driver starts long before they get their driver’s license. There is great benefit to discussing topics such as distracted driving and driving under the influence early on. Instilling responsible behavior behind the wheel is something you can begin focusing on weeks, even months, before your teen heads off to take their test at the DMV.

1. Talk about dangers on the roadway.

One of the very best ways to start off on the right foot with readying your teen for the road is to communicate. Open up discussion about common dangers on the roadway and allow your teen to express their own thoughts on actions they believe can place them at risk behind the wheel, and why they feel that way.

Talk about everything from distracted driving behaviors, such as using interactive devices, grooming, texting and talking on the phone while driving, eating, or adjusting the radio, to operating a car while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. It is also helpful to discuss distractions that occur outside of the vehicle, such as construction, people and places of interest alongside the roadway, and crash scenes.

2. Practice.

Help your teen get acquainted with your family vehicle, even if it is not the specific vehicle they plan to drive once they obtain their license. Sit in the car with them and instruct them on where to find the signals they need and show them how the car operates in general. It also does not hurt to role play; create a scenario where they are driving and you pretend to be a distracting passenger. Your teen might laugh, but practicing hands-on scenarios where they are able to get a real feel for what it’s like to be behind the wheel can go a long way when it comes time for them to experience the real deal.

3. Arm them with information.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers a comprehensive collection of studies and reports for parents to educate their teen drivers before and after they hit the road. Relay as many facts to your teen as possible; presenting them with statistics and true stories that paint real-life scenarios for them often makes a significant impression on how they view their impact behind the wheel. Introduce them to the Zero Tolerance law and highlight the fact that forty percent of all annual fatal traffic crashes are caused by the impairment of alcohol and other drugs.

You will not always be able to protect your teen driver; some crash incidents will be inevitable. You can, however, take a proactive approach to accident prevention and help prepare them to be the best driver they can be by initiating discussion, practicing with them behind the wheel, and providing them with the right facts. If your teen driver is involved in a collision of any kind, speak with a qualified Lake County car accident attorney today. Call Salvi & Maher, LLP at 847-662-3303 for a personal consultation.

Sources:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/Driving+Safety/Teen+Drivers

http://www.nhtsa.gov/DriverEducationProgram

http://www.distraction.gov/