Top Safety Tips for Teen Drivers
Teen drivers are at a higher risk of being involved in a crash due to inexperience. By adopting safe driving habits from the start, you can significantly reduce this risk. Here is a list of essential safety tips for teen drivers:
1. Eliminate Distractions
- Put the phone away. This is a major cause of crashes among new drivers. Silence your phone and put it in the glove compartment or a place where you won’t be tempted to use it. If it is challenging for you, use an app to disable cell phone notifications while driving.
- Limit passengers. Having other teens in the car can be a significant distraction. Many states have Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws that restrict the number of passengers a new driver can have. If you do have passenger, make sure they follow your passenger rules while in the vehicle.
- Avoid multitasking. Eating, drinking, and adjusting the radio or navigation system should be done before you start driving. Your full attention must be on the road.
2. Have the Right Mindset
- Accurate Assessment. Be aware of your mental state: are you upset, anxious, worried, sad, in pain, or otherwise impaired? It is difficult to have excellent focus while driving if your mind is elsewhere. Assess your mindset and take action to moderate your mood before endangering yourself, your passengers, and the health and safety of other drivers on the road.
- Know That You Are Not Alone. You can be the best technical driver on the planet and you can still be injured or killed in an instant. Know that many drivers are not as skilled as you may be, and others on the road may be distracted by their own mindset or by physical distractions that you do not see. It only takes a moment for another driver to swerve into your lane or pull out in front of you because they did not see you coming. Be aware that you are susceptible to other’s actions on the road.
3. Follow the Rules of the Road
- Always wear your seatbelt. This is the single most effective way to prevent serious injury or death in a crash. Make sure all passengers are buckled up before you start the car.
- Obey the speed limit. Speeding reduces your time to react to hazards and makes a crash more severe. Drive at a speed appropriate for the conditions, even if it’s below the posted limit.
- Follow traffic signs and signals. Understand and obey all signs, lights, and pavement markings.
- Use your turn signals. Communicate your intentions to other drivers so they know what you’re doing.
4. Practice Defensive Driving
- Maintain a safe following distance. Use the “three-second rule” (or more in bad weather) to ensure you have enough space to stop safely if the car in front of you brakes suddenly.
- Scan your surroundings. Don’t just look straight ahead. Constantly check your rearview and side mirrors and scan the road 20-30 seconds ahead for potential hazards.
- Be aware of your blind spots. Check over your shoulder before changing lanes to make sure there isn’t a car you can’t see in your mirrors.
5. Be Prepared for the Conditions
- Limit nighttime driving. Fatal crash rates are higher for teens at night. If possible, avoid driving after dark until you have more experience.
- Avoid drowsy driving. Get enough sleep before you get behind the wheel. If you feel tired, pull over in a safe place and rest.
- Check the weather. Adjust your speed and following distance for rain, fog, snow, or other poor weather conditions.
- Carry an emergency kit. It’s a good idea to have a basic kit in your car with essentials like jumper cables, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, and a blanket.
6. Avoid Impaired Driving
- Never drink and drive. Drinking under the age of 21 is illegal, and driving under the influence of any substance—including alcohol, illicit drugs, or certain prescription medications—is extremely dangerous and has severe consequences.
- Don’t get in a car with an impaired driver. If a friend has been drinking or using drugs, don’t get in the car with them. Call a parent or a trusted adult for a ride, or use a ride-sharing service.
7. Maintain Your Vehicle Safety
- Overall Vehicle Condition. Your car is a machine designed to get you from point A to point B safely, but it needs your help to do so. Because vehicles are mechanical, the components endure a great deal of wear and tear on a regular basis. Maintenance schedules must be adhered to minimize the dangers of mechanical failure. The vehicle’s owner’s manual will outline what needs to be checked, changed, and maintained.
- Daily Observation. The most important part of vehicle maintenance is the driver. You know when things sound different, or when the steering wheel feels odd, or when there is a strange sensation when applying the brake. Pay attention to all these small things while driving. Changes mean something may be wrong with the safety of the vehicle and it needs to be checked out.