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Teen Drivers: The Top 10 Tips for Teens Motorists

This article is sponsored by Lafontaine.

 

Summer driver's education courses are beginning and spring semester driving classes are just ending. Paired with the lack of school for most teens, this time is around when the roads see a spike in teen drivers. Getting your first driver's license is an exciting moment for any teen as the accomplishment comes with prestige and freedom. Practice makes perfect, but statistically, newly-licensed teens make the roads a bit more dangerous. Keep these top 10 tips for teens in mind to make driving practice safe for everyone.

1. Remember Driver's Education

Driver's education isn't like that intro to calculous class. Unlike other classes teens have taken before, the information from driver's education courses is useful every day of one's life, even after the final exam. Keep this info in mind every time you get behind the wheel. Always check your mirrors and adjust them accordingly, especially if you share your car with someone else. Blind spots are a real thing and could lead to a dangerous accident if the entire side of a car is a blind spot due to poor mirror placement.

2. Hands On The Wheel, Not The Phone

In most states, talking on the phone or texting while driving is illegal. However, in some it is not. Even though something is not a law does not mean that it isn't dangerous. Distracted driving, which includes simply chatting on a hands-free device, decreases attention on the road and increases the likelihood of an accident. No matter what the laws are in your municipality, don't split your attention between the road and a phone.

3. Keep Up The Good Grades

Grades actually do have an impact on driving. Responsible students are likely to be responsible drivers. The opposite can happen, too. Teen drivers should show their maturity by getting good grades and this will likely pay off with more informed and safer driving maneuvers. Whats even better is that many insurance companies offer lower prices on insurance for students who achieve higher than a 3.0 GPA, which only reinforces the point that good students are (usually) good drivers.

4. Know Your Limits, And Shoot Below Them

Teen drivers should know what their driving ability is. Those more comfortable behind the wheel can drive a bit faster than those who feel uneasy behind the wheel. However, always shoot to drive at a speed slightly slower than the speed limit or what you are comfortable with. By driving under the limit and slightly slower than what you are comfortable with you can increase the likelihood of handling a dangerous situation more safely.

5. Zero Tolerance

Teen drivers should have a zero tolerance policy in regards to drinking and driving. Although the popular "legal limit" in the United States is a blood alcohol content of .08 percent, this is intended for drivers who are 21 and older. Teen drivers even found with a .01 percent BAC will be arrested for driving while intoxicated. Even more, drunk driving accidents are a leading cause of death for teen drivers. If teen drivers are to drink against the law, they should spend the night at wherever they are to avoid arrest or accident.

6. Preparation Is Key

Teen drivers should be prepared for anything. Keep an emergency kit in your car that includes jumper cables, a flashlight, a first aid kit and a blanket.

7. Limit Your Passengers

It is against the law in many states to have more than one passenger in the car with a teen driver to avoid the likelihood of multiple injuries in a crash. This is also done to minimize the distractions that a teen driver faces. Even if it is legal to carry a full car, teen drivers should avoid this because more passengers equates to a higher likelihood of an accident.

8. Beware Night Driving 

Night driving is not for the inexperienced. Deer and other cars serve as hefty obstacles in the road that a teen driver might not be able to immediately react to due to lack of experience.

9. Ice Is Literally The Worst

Avoid driving in snowy conditions. If it is an absolute necessity, drive with a parent who can talk you through a dangerous situation to help you gain snow driving experience. Snowy conditions are dangerous and take a lot of time to adjust to.

10. Drive The Right Car

Teen drivers should drive cars that do not have anything actively wrong with them. ABS lights and check engine lights mean that something is wrong with the car. A car in poor health paired with an inexperienced driver is always dangerous. Cars like the new Chevy Malibu have added safety features for teen drivers like automated driving reports sent to parents.

Follow these tips and happy practicing!

Robert Mathius is a Chicago suburb native who currently lives in Tinley Park. He has a passion for the automotive industry in addition to journalism and works to blend his two passions in his writing. Additional automotive reporting by Robert can be found on Examiner.com.

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