10 Driving Tips for Teenage Drivers
Posted in Car accidents on April 5, 2022
If you are a teenager, then getting behind the wheel of a vehicle is likely an exciting prospect. If you are a parent, then knowing that your teenager will be behind the wheel is probably terrifying. However, when the cat is out of the bag, there is no way to put it back in. The reality, though, is that more than 2,000 individuals lost their lives in crashes involving a teenage driver during a recent reporting year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Here, we want to discuss 10 driving tips for teenage drivers in Tennessee.
1. Get to Know the Car
It is important for teenagers to know the car they are driving. This includes understanding nuances such as how the brakes react as well as understanding what every light on the dashboard means. Teenage drivers need to be comfortable inside the car they are operating.
2. Adjust Driver Settings
It is important for every driver to adjust the settings inside the vehicle so that they meet their needs. This includes establishing a pre-start car routine. Teenage drivers should position their seats so they can easily operate the gas pedal and the brake pedal without having to lift their heels from the floor. All mirrors should be adjusted appropriately so that the driver can have the largest field of view and remove as many blind spots as they can.
3. Take Away Distractions
One of the leading causes of vehicle accidents, particularly for teenage drivers, is distracted driving. One of the most important lessons that parenting guardians need to relate to their teenage drivers is that distractions such as cell phones and other people inside the vehicle could lead to serious injuries or a fatality.
4. Defensive Driving
Defensive driving is the key. This means that teenage drivers (and any driver) should remain aware of their surroundings at all times and maintain proper distances from other vehicles. If you can pay attention to other drivers and react to their actions before an accident occurs, this is incredibly beneficial.
5. Maintain Distance
Maintaining distance is part of defensive driving. You need to make sure that you do not follow other drivers too closely so that you can slow down or stop in the event vehicles in front of you do the same.
6. Speed Limit
The speed limit is there for a reason, and there is even no problem going below the speed limit depending on traffic conditions. There is such thing as driving too fast for conditions. Teenage drivers need to know the speed limit and stick to it at all times, and they need to know when to keep their speed below the posted limit.
7. Keep Practicing
Practice makes perfect, although there really is no such thing as perfect driving in an unpredictable driving world. However, the more a driver is able to get behind the wheel, the better they will become at driving.
8. Stay Calm
Teenage drivers need to learn to remain calm. This includes making sure that any adult drivers also remain calm. When you are teaching a teenager to drive, you need to be patient and speak calmly while they are in the driver’s seat.
9. No Alcohol or Drugs
Under no circumstances should any driver get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or using any type of narcotic. The teenage years may be a time for exploration, but the keys need to be kept away in these circumstances. Adults – we recommend that you make it very clear that you will be available to pick your teenager up in the event they cannot make it home because they have used alcohol or drugs.
10. Limit Friends
Teenagers want to have their friends in the car, but the reality is that other people in the vehicle are a leading cause of distractions. We strongly recommend that teenagers drive with no one else in the vehicle other than an adult who is teaching them how to drive.