Auto accidents involving teenage drivers account for thousands of deaths every year throughout the U.S. As a result, it is imperative that teen drivers treat driving as a privilege, which requires a great amount of responsibility as well. Beyond that, it is just as important for the parents or guardians of teen drivers to ensure that their teen practices safe driving habits. In this blog, we will discuss important safety tips for teenage drivers.
Familiarize Yourself With Your Car
Getting your license is an exciting time. Once you have it, it’s easy to get in your car, start the ignition, and head to your next destination without fully understanding your vehicle. However, as a new driver, it is of the utmost importance to familiarize yourself with your car as much as possible. Start by reading the owner’s manual to fully understand the controls of your vehicle and what the symbols on your car’s dashboard mean.
In addition, it is important to ensure that your vehicle is equipped with an emergency kit in case you ever face any trouble while on the road. Another crucial factor of familiarizing yourself with your car is by learning basic car maintenance in case of an emergency, such as checking the tire pressure, and more.
Adjust the Driver Settings
Before you take off on the road, be sure to establish a routine before starting your car. This includes adjusting your driver settings, adjusting your seat so that you can properly operate the pedals and have a good view of the road, adjusting your rearview mirror and outside mirrors, and positioning your steering wheel. In addition, be sure that you and your passengers fasten their seatbelts before starting the car.
Remove Distractions
Studies have shown that one of the biggest contributing factors to crashes are due to distracted driving. There are a myriad of distractions that one may experience while driving, including texting, talking on the phone, eating or drinking, changing the radio station, overly active or noisy passengers, along with many other distractions. As a driver, it is crucial that you remove any distractions while driving so you can keep your focus on the road and protect yourself, as well as your passengers. It is no secret that cell phones pose a serious risk to safety and are a huge distraction. A good tip when driving is to put your cell phone on “do not disturb” before hitting the road.
Practice
As a teen driver, you can never get too much practice. Therefore, be sure to get in as much practice to improve your driving skills as much as possible.
Maintain a Safe Speed and Distance
Maintaining a safe speed at all times, as well as maintaining a safe following distance while driving are extremely important. This can reduce the risk of an accident exponentially.
Contact Fiore Legal if You’ve Been Injured in an Accident
Our team at Fiore Legal has years of experience representing accident victims and are here to help you get through this difficult time. If you or a loved one have been injured due to the negligence or misconduct of another driver, contact us for a free consultation with a trusted car accident lawyer in Los Angeles.