Learning to drive is a right of passage for many teenagers. One that gives us more independence and autonomy. However, every person who drives has a commitment to stay safe on the road, no matter what their age. The good news is you can read about some of the most common safety issues for teenage drivers and how to overcome them below.
Never use your cell phone while you are driving
When you get that notification that you have a new Instagram message or Snapchat it can be incredibly tempting to just check it quickly even when you are behind the wheel. Unfortunately, this is one of the most dangerous things you can do, because it only takes a fraction of a second’s distraction to increase your chances of being involved in an accident. One that could leave you, your passengers, or other road users with serious, and life-changing injuries.
With that in mind, it’s crucial that you do not check your phone during your drive. If you need to use your phone’s audio or navigation features be sure to do so through your vehicle’s infotainment system, rather than the phone itself. Some will even narrate messages to you so you can get them without having to take your eyes off the road.
If you really must check a message visually, be sure to pull off the road into a safe place before you access your phone.
Be aware of other road users
One of the most important things that any teenage driver can do is to learn to be aware of what other road users are doing. This is known as proactive driving and it means not only keeping an eye on the car in front but also a few cars in front of that as well as what is going on behind your vehicle. A technique that will allow you more time to react in case something does happen.
Of course, the sad truth is that no matter how good we get at driving proactively, sometimes other road users will behave in an irresponsible manner. Unfortunately, this can often increase our chances of getting into an accident.
If you find yourself having this experience then it’s essential that you seek the proper help to recover from your injuries. For many people, this will include seeing an auto accident chiropractor who can offer a course of personalized treatment designed to heal the damage done during your accident. In this way, you can maximize your chances of a full recovery even if the worst-case scenario does happen.
Never speed
Speed limits are not arbitrary rules designed to ruin your fun as a new driver. In fact, they are there because they are carefully statistically worked out to reduce the risk of fatal accidents. That means if you want to stay safe as a teenager on the road and keep others safe as well, it’s vital that you always obey the speed limit, even if you are running late. After all, when it comes to driving it’s like the old adage says: ‘Better late than never.’
