As we all know, with great privilege comes great responsibility. Getting one’s drivers license is an exhilarating experience for any teenager, and a day one will never forget. However, there are many things to keep in mind for new drivers and parents of new drivers.
Here are some statistics:
- Half of all teens will get in a car accident before they graduate from high-school
- Car accidents are the #1 cause of death for teenagers
- Errors in driving resulted in 78% of fatal crashes when a 16-year-old was driving, and 69% when a 17-19-year-old was driving
How to Avoid Car Accidents:
Practice
Before you start driving, learn to be an expert! It is recommended that a student driver complete 50 hours of supervised practice driving before taking their road test, with at least 15 hours at night. Practice driving in moderate traffic as well.
Seatbelts
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than half of teen deaths in car accidents occurred to those not wearing seatbelts. Seatbelts prevent a person from being thrown from a car during an accident.
Night-Time Driving
Keep your night-time driving to a minimum if you are a new driver. Statistics show that teens are 3 times more likely to die in a car accident at night. The hazards of night driving may be due to fatigue and combined with the inexperience, cause a person to make a mistake.
Cell Phone Use
Rule of thumb: Do not touch your phone for a second while you are driving. Taking your eyes off the road for one second can be a fatal move. As well, using your phone while driving call also result in a ticket, and points on your DMV driving record. If you get too many points, your license can be suspended. Watch the video below to test your awareness.
It’s hard to miss something on the road if you are not paying attention.
Passengers
Keep the passengers to a minimum. More passengers mean more distraction in the car, which is not what you want as a new driver.