One of the most harrowing experiences as a parent is handing the car keys over to your teenager. After spending a decade and a half or more protecting them from every danger possible, you have to trust them with their own safety. To ensure that your teen is as safe as possible, we would like to share a few important tips.
It is vital for teenagers to approach driving with care and a sense of responsibility to avoid being in one of the many accidents that claim teen lives annually.
Know Your Vehicle
Most of us have been there. We received our driver’s licenses and were ready to hop behind the wheel and enjoy our newfound freedom. But, it is important for teens to orient themselves with the car they will be driving. We suggest taking a close look at the owner’s manual, sitting in the driver’s seat, and making sure you understand all of the vehicle’s functions and what is meant by the symbols on the instrument panel.
If your teen’s car manual has a quick reference guide, that can be a big help when learning how to control your car. Take some time to learn necessary car maintenance as well, learn to open the hood and check the oil, and add oil if needed.
Learn where the jack and toolkit are stored and how to change a tire. Being able to check the pressure and measure the tire’s tread is another skill that can potentially help teens avoid wrecks.
Prepare a Vehicle Emergency Kit to Leave in the Car
Collecting a few simple things ahead of time can ensure that your teen driver has what they need to head off any serious roadside issues. Here are a few items that are important to include in your teen’s vehicle emergency kit.
- Flashlight and batteries
- Road flares
- Water bottles to drink and at least a gallon to use if your vehicle runs hot
- Sunscreen
- Umbrella
- Phone chargers, and preferably a charging block that does not require the car to charge
- Ensure the jack, wrench, and spare tire are in the vehicle, and your teen knows how to use them.
- Jumper cables or a battery charger in case the battery dies
- An extra two quarts of oil is good to have on board in case it is needed
- First aid kit
Ensure all the components of your kit are easy to reach and that your teen understands what they are for and where they are located.
Set the Car Up for the Driver
Help your teen figure out how the car will be best situated for them. Ensure the vehicle is the correct distance from the steering wheel and pedals for their build. They must efficiently operate the pedals with their heel resting on the car’s floor.
Ensure the car seat’s height is adjusted, so the teen has a clear view of the road. Adjust the mirrors so that they have the clearest possible view of the road and so that blindspots are eliminated when possible.
Distracted Drivers Cause Accidents
Most accidents could be avoided if the vehicle operators were not distracted. Removing potential distractions can benefit the teen driver. Some common distractions that result in accidents are as follows:
- Fatigue
- Noisy, rowdy passengers
- Eating
- Texting or otherwise operating a phone while driving
- Multitasking
- Applying make-up
Instruct your teenage driver to silence their notifications while driving and to limit distractions as much as possible. Many accidents can be avoided if the driver pays close attention and quickly makes necessary driving decisions.
Pay Attention to the Speed Limit
Drivers traveling at excessive speeds cause accidents. Especially drivers who are less experienced at navigating all the obstacles they may face. If the driver faces a collision at a faster speed, the chances of injuries and damage are greatly increased.
In addition to a speeding ticket that will make insurance premiums skyrocket, a teenager does not have enough driving experience to avoid accidents or to decrease the impact they might have.
No Tailgating Allowed
Many traffic accidents are rear-end collisions. These typically occur when a driver follows too closely behind the car in front of them. They do not leave enough room to react to the driver in front of them.
Seatbelts are a Must
Before pulling into traffic, make a habit of knowing that everyone in the car is buckled up. Seatbelts save lives and minimize injuries. Do not leave the parking space unless the driver and passengers are all buckled.
Never Drive While Drinking or Impaired
Keep communication open and honest with your teenage driver. The more they can confide in you, the less likely they are to take unnecessary chances with their lives, the lives of their passengers, or other people on the road.
For them to call you after drinking, so they can avoid driving takes a lot of trust on their part. Encouraging such trust can keep your teen safe.
Pull Over if They Need to Use Their Phone
Texting, finding a song, or taking a quick look at social media can all have deadly consequences. Demonstrate pulling over to use your phone for your teens, so it seems like a no-brainer when their notification signals go off on their phones while driving. It cannot be stressed enough how important pulling over is when they need to use their mobile phones.
Gain Daytime Driving Experience Before Driving at Night
Teenagers are in three times as many accidents at night than they are in the daytime. So, spend plenty of time getting familiar with driving in the daylight before moving on to nighttime driving. Practice really is key when driving safely.
Managing the Risks of the Road
Driving is a right of passage, a freedom that they have earned by being safe and understanding the rules of the road. It is imperative that they understand the risks and how to best navigate them before they assume total freedom. As a parent of a teen, with a small amount of effort, you can steer them towards the safest practices.
If you are not confident with your teen being behind the wheel of a car just yet then they may benefit from further driving lessons. This way they can learn some more of the risks that are involved with navigating not only the car but the road and other drivers as well. Remember, your teen could be the best driver on the road but if they are not looking out for dangers and hazards then they can get into trouble real quick.
Leave a Reply