Safe Driving Tips for Teens

Driving is a mental task, and there are many things your teen has to think about when they step behind the wheel, such as the road conditions, speed and position, observing all traffic laws, and other vehicles on the road. Be sure to have your teen focused on the road and not on eating or talking on their phone as they are less likely to react to potential problems. It's not only teens that have this problem, but those who have been driving for a long time also tend to be overconfident and their driving can get sloppy. All drivers need to remind themselves to remain focused. In addition to staying focused, teen drivers need to remain alert, which means not getting behind the wheel if they are tired or have been drinking alcohol so they can react quickly to potential problems. 

Have your teen avoid aggressive and inattentive driving tendencies as it will put them in a better position to deal with other people's bad driving. Also, make sure your teen leaves plenty of space between their vehicle and the traffic in front. Also, make sure to have your teen lock their doors and put on the seatbelt to protect them if they are involved in an accident. 

Make sure your teen checks their mirrors frequently and scan their surroundings 20 to 30 seconds ahead of you while keeping their eyes moving. If a vehicle ahead shows signs of aggressive driving, they should slow down or even pull over to the side of the road to avoid it. If the driver is driving so dangerously that they become worried, have them get off the roadway by turning right or getting off at the next exit if they are on the freeway. Ensure that your teen also keeps an eye out for pedestrians, bicyclists, and pets along the road. 

Most collisions tend to occur in front of the driver, so your teen should follow the 3 to 4-second rule to help them establish a safe following distance while also providing an accurate so they can brake to a stop if needed. Take note that this rule only applies in normal traffic and good weather conditions. If the weather is bad, have your teen increase their following distance a second for every condition such as rain, fog, nighttime driving, or when stuck behind a large truck or motorcycle. 

Posted speed limits should only apply to clear weather conditions. It's your teen driver's responsibility to ensure that their speed matches how bad the weather is. Be sure to have them slow down if the weather is bad, so they remain safe when in traffic. Aso, if your teen drives at a higher speed, it will make it more difficult to remain in control of the car if things go wrong. To maintain complete control of the vehicle, your teen must maintain a safe driving speed. 

When your teen gets old enough to drive, it can be a stressful time, which is why we here at Akins Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM seek to make things a little easier. We have a wide selection of new and used vehicles along with a terrific financial department that will help you and your teen get a car that suits all of their needs. If you even need service on your vehicles, we also have experts on hand that specialize in everything from a simple oil change to a complete transmission repair. You can check out all of our vehicles here on our website as well as schedule service. We can't wait to see you here at Akins Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM!