Nothing can be scarier for parents than the day their kids become old enough to drive a car. Keeping these kids safe on the highways is all about education, and these five tips for rookies of the road should follow them, their passengers, and other drivers out of potential danger.
1. Turn Off the Mobile Device
What may already seem like old news to these teenagers, driving while distracted is not worth their life. These kids today grew up glued to their mobile devices, and an alert from social media and they go scrambling for their device, even when behind the wheel. Turn off the phone, that text, alert, or message can wait.
2. Set the Navigation System While at Home
Fumbling around with a navigation system while en route to a destination can lead to trouble. Keep eyes on the road, hands on the wheel, and program your navigation system while parked in front of your house. Most systems now have features that will not operate while the car is moving, but not all of them have this feature
3. Have Insurance and Attorney Contact Information
Inform the young driver that accidents happen, many that will not be their fault. Regardless who was at fault, these kids can quickly be taken advantage of by experienced drivers who will talk their way out of their obligation. Tell your child to call 911 after any accident and let the police sort out the details. They should also know to contact an attorney if injured behind the wheel.
4. Focus Like Playing a Video Game
Kids today grew up playing video games, and many of those games required you to have your focus in a dozen places at once. This same attention can translate well as they are operating a moving vehicle. Remind them to focus like they were playing the game, glancing inside mirrors, rear view mirror, ahead of them, side streets, and cars on either side. If they can seamlessly move their attention all around the vehicle while maintaining their speed, they will be just fine.
5. Never Get Too Comfortable
Every day they safely arrive home, remind these teenagers not to get too comfortable with today’s success. The focus is necessary every time they drive, and new distracted drivers are entering the roads each day, more reason they need to be vigilant in their attention behind the wheel.
These tips for rookies on the road should help to get them off to the best possible start and keep them safe behind the wheel. Reassure them every night that they are getting better and that you are certainly proud of them.