Your Teenage Driver
Is there someone in your family with a new driver's license? In addition to being excited about the keys they've just been handed, we're sure that there are other members of the household that are a bit apprehensive. To make sure your teen keeps their good driver standing for years to come and stays safe on the road, follow these helpful tips.
Roadway Tips for Teens
- Always wear your safety belt, even if you are just going for a short drive down the block. It's the law!
- Always abide by the speed limit.
- Never drive under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Also, realize that some over-the-counter medications can affect your reaction time and should not be taken if you plan to drive within a few hours of taking the medication.
- Avoid driving at night until you have more experience behind the wheel.
- If possible, wait for bad weather to pass before driving.
- Avoid busy roads during peak travel times.
- Abide by the two-second rule when following another vehicle - when the car in front of you passes a traffic sign, count to see how long it takes you to reach that same sign. If it takes you less than two seconds, you are traveling too close.
- Never reach for something inside your car, look for vehicle controls, talk on a cellphone, text message or have an involved conversation with a passenger. These distractions only increase the chance that you will get into an accident.
- Create a code word with mom and dad in the event that you get into a sticky situation and need some assistance. This way, you won't have to explain the situation to your friends and your parents can come and help you out.
Attention Parents
Teen drivers tend to get distracted easily, especially when first getting their license. During their first year of driving, do not allow teens to drive with more than one other person in the car to minimize the chance that they could become distracted by rowdy passengers.
Where TrueNorth Can Help
In just a few minutes, TrueNorth can provide you with an immediate quote on car insurance. Find out more here.