In the early days of childhood, what we learn about the road is that cars and other vehicles are dangerous. Then, suddenly we are thrust behind the wheel for driving lessons! Luckily your chosen driving instructor will do most of the heaving lifting when it comes to your teen being a safe driver – but you can help too.
Teenagers are much more likely to have an accident, so it is vital that road safety is a priority.
Driving mode
Unfortunately, mobile phones are used now as a means of navigation, but this can often be a distraction. Many phones have a driving mode that automatically detects travel movements that are common when sitting in a car. Encourage your child to have that setup. It means that there will be no notifications and no distractions.
No matter what, tell them they need to pull over if they need to use their phone.
Car systems
Getting in a new car for the first time, or even a new to you car. There are a lot of systems that might take some getting used to. Where are the headlights? In older models, they aren’t automatic. What about fog lights, and how can you adjust the mirrors?
Not to mention all the lights appearing on the dashboard as a warning. Some aren’t serious, while others will need a mechanic to inspect them immediately. Both of you should get to know the car.
Defensive driving
There are a lot of aggressive drivers on the road, and it pays to be a defensive driver. For instance, your child can get into a serious accident due to the fault of a defensive driver. In such cases, teach your child to contact a car accident lawyer from wattelandyork.com/phoenix/car-accident/ to apply for a personal injury claim and get the compensation you deserve.
The key to defensive driving is always considering the safest option in all circumstances. Optimal use of mirrors and learning to judge the behaviour of other drivers.
Instil:
- Safety first
- Being courteous and having patience
- Proper car maintenance
Driving defensively will reduce the likelihood of a collision and mean that you are likely to save on fuel costs too.
Speed
The general recommendation is to move at the speed of the traffic around you – but in many cases, people with many years of experience and knowledge of the roads will be driving too quickly. Your teen should be airing on the side of caution and sticking to the road traffic signs and indications. And, to reduce the chance of speeding, make sure to always leave earlier than required.
Right of way
Some junctions are unmarked, and it can be tricky to know who is supposed to go first in those cases. In most cases, when you aren’t sure, let the other person go first. While it might add a few moments to the journey, it can avoid a collision from a misjudgement of the road.
Consider things like when two lanes need to be trimmed into one, the most common action by impatient drivers will be to butt in as far down as possible. Let them, because they often aggressively do this, knowing that if they put the nose of their car in the lane, the other car is likely to stop.
You are in the right not to let them, but for the sake of safety and ease, letting them in is the best option. Here are some other tips to get your teen started: How To Prepare Your Children For Driving Lessons Before They Start | Powder Rooms.
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