Safety Tips for Your High School Driver

Schools across the country are gearing up to get started, if they haven’t already gotten underway. When classes begin, more teenagers are on the road as they commute to and from school. Teenagers are statistically more prone to causing auto accidents. If you have a teenage driver in your household, here are some tips to help ensure that they are as safe as possible this school year.

1. Talk About Responsibility

We know that people should buckle-up in the car, we know about the dangers of driving and texting and so on, and we assume that our kids do as well. If you haven’t talked to your children about responsible and safe driving, it could be a mistake to assume that they already know what you do.

2. Be Observant

Let your child drive you around town and carefully observe their driving. If you notice that they are making risky or dangerous maneuvers, point it out and tell them the safer choices they should be making. If you never let your kid drive while you are in the passenger seat, you won’t know how they behave behind the wheel.

3. Know Who’s In the Car

In some states, it is unlawful for newly licensed teenage drivers to have any non-family member in the car as a passenger. Those restrictions are gradually reduced as the driver gains more experience.  In other states, a teen driver can have no more than one passenger. Know the laws in your state, talk about them with your teenager driver and make sure that your child follows them. If your child is permitted a passenger, know who they will be riding with.

4. Install an App

There are several apps available today that help you control just what your teenager can do with their cell phone while they are driving. There are also apps that allow you to see how fast your child was traveling and where they went. Take a look at the app store for your phone’s provider and see what may be useful to you.

5. Be an Example

Children hear what we say, but they are more likely to do what we do. Be an example for your child every time you slip behind the wheel. Drive appropriately and safely. Avoid distractions and obey traffic laws. This is especially important when your child is riding in the car with you.

No parent wants to get a phone call that says their child has been involved in an auto accident. A car accident can have a devastating affect on a family as a whole, especially if severe injuries are incurred.

If your child is involved in a car accident, reach out to our office for assistance. We will help you schedule a free case evaluation and speak to you at a time and location that is convenient for you.