This is a sponsored guest post.
If you have a teenager that’s about to start driving, no doubt you’ve started to wonder what to impress upon them when it comes to safety and smart driving rules. You don’t want to quash their enthusiasm, but you also know that driving is a risky action if done by inexperienced drivers who aren’t paying attention.
These rules are some of the most important for beginner drivers. While they still need to gain experience from actually driving, following this handful of tips will allow them to enjoy their time behind the wheel while protecting them from the possibility of an accident.
Always Wear a Seatbelt
Firstly, make sure that your teenager knows that a seatbelt is not an optional article. It should always be worn no matter what. In fact, it should be the first thing that they do as soon as they sit in the car, even before they turn on the engine. Seatbelts are known to save lives and no car or driving experience is worth anyone’s life.
A good way to promote this rule is to practice it yourself. If your teen sees you constantly engaging with the right, safe behavior, it might seem more natural for them to do the same. If they find that seatbelts are uncomfortable in the driver’s seat, make sure that they know how to adjust their seat settings so that there’s no reason for them to fail to engage their seatbelt.
No Cellphone Usage!
Cell phones are one of the highest causing of traffic accidents and automotive-related fatalities all across the world. Teenagers (and adults) love to use their phones, especially when they’re bored or in traffic. However, just because cars aren’t moving at one moment is no reason to take the phone out for a quick peek!
Paying attention to your environment and other drivers is critical to driving safely. Even if you are following the rules of the road, other drivers may not be. Every second you spend on your phone is another second when someone could be making a mistake you could avoid if you were paying attention. Teens absolutely must be educated on the dangers of using their phones in the car.
Make it clear to your teen that the phone is always a second priority. Everything on the device can wait until the car is parked and they are no longer driving.
Drive Slowly in Inclement Weather
When it’s raining or snowing, driving becomes exponentially more dangerous, even for experienced drivers. Teenagers should know that even though they might feel confident and capable the moment they get behind a wheel; difficult weather can be a challenge for any driver and can change the capabilities of a particular car.
Because of these problems, there’s nothing wrong with driving more slowly and carefully when the weather is rough. Even if traffic behind them becomes clogged due to impatient drivers who think they can’t make driving mistakes, teenagers should know that safety is always more important than speed.
They need to know to take their time and be very vigilant in these situations. It’s far better to be late to class or work than to hurry along in some kind of storm and end up in an accident that could have been avoided if everyone paid the proper respect to Mother Nature.
Take Care of the Vehicle
Finally, a good vehicle needs constant maintenance. If a teenager doesn’t understand the lengths to which proper care is needed for vehicle safety, they shouldn’t be allowed to drive. Along this vein, teach your teen some of the basics about car care.
Things like car tire changing and tire health, oil changing, and all the other security lights and alerts which can illuminate the dashboard should be gone over before they have a chance to drive a car of their own. Not only will this approach keep them safer, but it’ll also likely end up saving everyone money since they’ll be on top of repairs and needed maintenance.
Maintenance that is put off for too long can result in worse or more expensive repairs at an auto shop. Or worse, they might result in a failure of some critical automotive system, leading to an accident. Make sure that your teen knows how to take care of their vehicle, even if they just got it as a gift.
Conclusion
If they follow all of these rules, your teenager will be safer than ever on their journeys through America’s roadways. Driving a car is a fantastic experience and privilege that many young adults look forward to as they grow older, but it’s also a great responsibility. Cars can be dangerous, but they don’t have to be with the right mindset and proper respect for the rules of the road.
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