Making Sure Your Teen is Ready to Get Behind the Wheel by Avoiding Distractions
If your teen will soon be getting his or her driver’s license, it is important to prepare your teenager for driving safely. As a recent report on teen driving from KTVO News explains, obtaining a driver’s license typically is one of the most exciting experiences in a teen’s life, yet parents often fear for their children’s safety. Learning to make the transition to your teenager driving to school, to an after-school job, and to extracurricular events can be difficult for parents, but there are ways to ensure that your teenager is prepared for safe driving with teen driving tips.
First, parents should understand the dangers of teen driving, and that car accidents are a leading cause of injury and death among teenage drivers, and they should take steps to prevent collisions. “Car crashes are the leading cause of death among teens in the U.S.,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also cites that drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 are three times more likely to be involved in fatal car crashes than 20-year-olds. Technology is one of the most significant reasons for teens and distracted driving. According to one law enforcement officer interviewed for the article, “technology is the ultimate distraction and unfortunately it often gets a front-seat ride.”
To prepare your teenager for safe driving, you should take numerous steps to help your teen avoid distractions and provide safe driving tips for new drivers. Learning more about teenagers and distracted driving can involve many different tactics. First, safety advocates recommend that teenagers put their phones away and/or turn them off whenever they get in the car. This way, a teenage driver will not be tempted to respond to a text or to contact a friend who called during the drive.
Distracted driving apps are another important tool for parents in avoiding teen driving crashes. There are apps that can allow a parent to monitor the child’s location at all times, and there are also apps that allow parents to monitor whether a child is driving safely. Some apps even prevent a teen driver from opening his or her phone if the vehicle is moving. According to the article on teen driving, DriveScribe, Cellcontrol, and Autobrain are among the most popular apps for teen drivers.
Teen Driving Safety Tips
What other steps can parents take to ensure their teen driver’s safety, and what teen driving tips can they provide? An article in Consumer Reports recommends the following as safe driving tips for new drivers:
- Always wear a seat belt;
- Never talk on the phone while driving;
- Drive within the posted speed limits;
- Never drink and drive;
- Be prepared for inclement weather or a breakdown with a flashlight, jumper cables, and a first-aid kit;
- Avoid nighttime driving if possible, and always limit nighttime driving for newly licensed drivers;
- Keep an eye on the weather, and avoid driving if the weather could produce dangerous driving conditions;
- Limit the number of passengers in the vehicle, especially other teens;
- Drive a vehicle with the most up-to-date safety features, including accident-avoidance technology, side-curtain airbags, and electronic stability control; and
- Follow teen driving tips and rules outlined in a parent-teen driving agreement.
If you or your child sustained injuries in a crash, a car accident lawyer may be able to help with your case.
