January is teen driving awareness month, and for good reason. In 2019, nearly 258,000 teens were treated for injuries caused by auto accidents. It’s no surprise that teenagers are at risk of being involved in auto accidents— many are new on the road and with less experience behind the wheel, teens are more likely to make mistakes or become distracted while driving. Keep your teen safe behind the wheel with these safe driving tips from ZT Law Group; your trusted Las Vegas personal injury attorneys.
Safe Driving Tips For Teenage Drivers
When it comes to auto accidents involving teenage drivers, some of the more common factors include inexperienced driving, distractions, and carelessness regarding speeding and night-time driving. It is important that you speak to your child about driving safely and responsibly and remember to address the following tips:
Get To Know Your Car
Any time a teen driver is behind the wheel of a vehicle, it’s important that they familiarize themselves with the vehicle. Before starting the car, be sure that they adjust the seat to a comfortable position, adjust the rear and side-view mirrors, test the turn signals and headlights and just become familiar with where everything is before they start driving.
Additionally, it is important to get comfortable with how the car accelerates and brakes. A driver should have a good idea of how much time they need to come to a complete stop. This will help prevent causing a rear-end accident due to following too closely.
Don’t Text And Drive
These days, it’s rare to find a teenager (or adult for that matter) that isn’t glued to their phone. While we may want to be accessible to our family and friends at all hours, using a phone while driving can be extremely dangerous. While it can be tempting to pick up the phone at a red light to change the music or to quickly reply to a text message it can increase the likelihood of causing an accident. It is a good habit to place the phone in the center console or glove compartment before driving so that there are no distractions.
Maintain A Safe Distance and Drive Defensively
Another safe driving tip for teens is to always drive defensively; keeping a safe distance between other vehicles. Driving aggressively, tailgating, speeding, and cutting off other vehicles while driving is a sure way to cause an accident. It is recommended that drivers leave 3 seconds of space between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them. This gives the driver enough time to react to other drivers safely.
Never Drink and Drive
In 2018, over 20% of DUI fatalities in Nevada involved an impaired driver under the age of 21. While underage drinking isn’t something that teenagers would be open about to their parents, it’s a good idea to discuss the dangers of driving under the influence with your teen. Be proactive about underage drinking and driving and let your teen know that it is never ok to get behind the wheel or to get in the car with anyone who has consumed alcohol.