Getting older comes with a lot of new responsibilities and freedoms. Many teens who secured their driver’s licenses will be taking on new driving challenges when school starts this fall. Keeping teen drivers safe isn’t always easy, but there are ways you can help protect your loved ones. Taking the time to educate and guide them today can help keep them away from accidents tomorrow.
Tips for Keeping Teen Drivers Safe
Provide Adequate Insurance
One of the best ways to help protect your teen driver is to ensure they are properly ensured. All drivers need insurance, even if they don’t own their own car. Many insurance policies will allow you to add family members on for an additional monthly fee. While you can just get the minimum insurance required by law, it’s often best to provide additional insurance. Younger drivers are often at a higher risk of being involved in an accident. More insurance could help reduce the financial strain should an incident occur.
Educate on Safe Driving Tactics
Keeping younger drivers safe is all about proper education. While teen drivers do need to complete a driver’s education course, many fail to properly understand the risks and dangers of driving. Because cars are so commonplace these days, it’s easy to forget how much damage and destruction they can cause. Teaching young drivers safe driving tips is essential to ensure they remain safe on the road.
Common safe driving topics include:
- Proper use of turn signals
- Preparing to break at yellow lights
- Keeping an eye on traffic for reckless drivers
- Safe yielding during heavy traffic
By educating your teens, you can help them make smart decisions while driving that could prevent accidents.
Provide Supervised Practice
When a teen has a learner’s permit, it’s crucial to ensure they receive enough supervised practice. Learning about traffic laws in a class and practicing them on the road are two different things. Many younger drivers are prone to fear or anxiety that could cause accidents in certain situations. With an experienced driver in the passenger seat, they have access to the help they need as they adjust to driving safely. Even when teens have full driver’s licenses, it’s still a good idea to help them practice as much as possible to prevent complications.
Ensure They Are Well-Rested and Fed
Lack of sleep or proper nutrition can severely impact our ability to drive safely. Many teens struggle to maintain a healthy sleeping or eating pattern, especially once school starts. Helping your teen get to bed on time and remain well-rested will ensure they are awake and aware enough when driving to school. If your teen does appear groggy or sleepy, it may be best to drive them yourself or have them take the bus to avoid accidents.
Roadway Auto Insurance Options
If your teen is getting ready to drive on their own, make sure they’re properly insured. Some insurance companies may not take the risk on younger drivers. Roadway Auto insurance plans are designed to help ensure everyone has the auto insurance they need. Contact us today to learn more about our insurance plans for teen drivers.