Driving Tips for Teenagers

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1,830 drivers between the ages of 15 to 20 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2017. With this in mind, it’s crucial for newer drivers in this age group to understand what it means to be a safe driver. 

At ZenLyfe, we take you and your loved one’s safety seriously. In this blog post, we’re going to be giving you our top tips for teenage driving.  

Wear Your Seatbelt

First and foremost, wearing your seatbelt is the most important safety factor. In fact, among drivers and front-seat passengers, seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45% and cut the risk of serious injury by 50%. Seatbelts keep passengers and drivers from ejecting out of the car, which more than 3 out of 4 people who are ejected during a fatal crash die from their injuries.

It’s best to get your children and teenagers in the habit of wearing their seatbelt and ensuring it’s on properly. The seatbelt should be diagonally placed across the chest, not under an arm. 

Put Distractions Away

Nearly 4,000 people were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers in 2015. Driving distractions come in many forms. Teenagers tend to eat, drink, do their makeup, talk on the phone, listen to music, and many other distractions. While listening to music or using Bluetooth speakers to make a call is safe, they should avoid doing anything that takes their hands off the wheel and eyes off the road.

Drive Sober

In 2016, 10,497 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for 28% of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. No matter the age it is never acceptable to be driving while under the influence of anything, especially for teenagers. 

While those over the age of 21 have a certain blood alcohol limit, teenagers are not old enough to be drinking or accessing marijuana where it’s legal. The DUI laws in every state make it illegal to drive while actually impaired by marijuana (or any other drug). 

Follow Traffic Signs

As a new driver, it’s easy to get confused by traffic signs and road changes. Teenagers should be educated on all traffic signs, what they mean, and how to follow them properly. The DMV should administer a test that makes them identify them, but in the case that they didn’t, you can take the time to educate your teenager. 

Plan Ahead

Before leaving for any trip, you should take the time to plan out your stops, who you’re driving with, what you’re packing, etc. All of this is crucial because you need to be focused on driving, not any of these other distractions.

For long trips especially you should have an idea of how many hours a day you plan on driving and what stops you’re making. This helps prevent a teenager from driving too long without any stops, thus potentially causing an accident. 

Key Takeaways

Driving is dangerous all around, especially for new drivers like teenagers. By educating young drivers and teaching them good habits early on, you help minimize the risk of accidents by negligence. 

Some great resources for teenagers looking to improve their driving are their local police department, safeteendriving.org, or the DMV. For more free safety tips and resources subscribe to the ZenLyfe blog and follow us on social media.