Getting your driver’s license is one of the most exciting events of a teenager’s life. This is a sign that they are growing into adulthood. Teens are quick to love the new sense of responsibility and freedom that having their license provides. However, their inexperience behind the wheel should never be forgotten.
In an effort to allow their teens to grow into adulthood, while still keeping them safe as inexperienced drivers, parents are encouraged to use the following safety tips.
Tips To Keep Teens Safe Behind The Wheel
- Phone Off App. There are several apps available that you can have your teen download to their phones that will keep the phone from ringing or making any noise while they are driving. These apps will answer the phone with an automated message stating that the person you are calling is currently driving and cannot answer the phone. Text messages will respond with the same message. Some insurance companies even have devices that will connect wirelessly between the car and phone and send out this message automatically every time the car is turned on and that phone is in the car.
- No Texting. Strictly enforce the no texting rule. If you choose not to use an app to keep the phones off, strictly enforce the no phones-no texting rule. Explain to them this simple figure: It takes approximately 4 seconds to send a text. It takes 4 seconds to cross the length of a football field when a car is moving at 60mph. It only takes 2 seconds for a fatal accident to occur.
- Bad Weather. Tennessee winters can be rough, even for experienced drivers. Make sure that your teen, if they are going to drive in rain, ice and snow, know how to handle the car in this type of weather. Practice with them in a parking lot when the weather changes. Make sure they know to leave earlier whenever they go somewhere so that they can drive slower in this type of weather.
- Friends Rule. For the first six months after getting a license, you should limit your teen to only having one other person in the car. Even one person can be a distraction, but a car full of teens can be too distracting for a new driver.
- Cold Medicine. Over-the-counter cold medications and allergy medicines can make you drowsy. While these medications are perfectly legal to use, they can impair anyone’s ability to drive. Sadly, even non-drowsy formulas still contain a little of the medication that causes drowsiness. If your teen needs to take any of these medications, it would be in their best interest to not allow them to drive. When you are drowsy, your reflexes are much slower and this increases the possibility of accidents occurring.
The best tip of all, however, is to stay involved. Have your teen drive you places so that you can judge how they are doing behind the wheel. Talk to them about driving on a regular basis. Showing that you care is a great way to keep your kids safe on the road.
