Safety Tips for Teen Drivers
We have all seen the stickers: Student Driver. When we see those, we know that means there’s a teen driver behind the wheel. As much as you’re dreading it, the time will come when your teen becomes a driver as well. Or maybe you’re secretly looking forward to it because you’ll no longer play the part of an Uber driver, getting them to and from places. Either way, we get it. Wherever you are on the scale, it is still equally important to prepare them with the appropriate knowledge of safety.
DON’T DRIVE DISTRACTED
In the age of technology, this is so important. Let’s face it: some adults even struggle with this, but when it comes to being a new driver, staying focused is very important.
The state of Georgia is also a hands-free state, so not only is it dangerous to answer that message or pick up that call, it is also illegal.
Here are some ways to ensure your teen doesn’t use their phone while driving:
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Do Not Disturb While Driving feature on iPhone : Apple has created this great feature that you can enable on your teen’s phone. The moment they enter a car and begin driving, Do Not Disturb turns on. That means they will not receive any notifications while they are behind the wheel, cutting back on any distractions.
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Hands-Free Bluetooth System : If Do Not Disturb is not an option, you can equip your teen with a hands-free bluetooth system. Most newer cars are already equipped with this system, but you can also purchase bluetooth devices that connect to a specific radio station, allowing your teen to make calls and texts completely hands-free. Plus, they will be able to jam out to their favorite playlists, so it’s a win/win.
Be mindful that no message, Instagram post, or Snapchat is worth that split moment of distraction. Encourage your teen to be focused on the road above all.
OBEY THE SPEED LIMIT
We’ve all been there. Those times where we consider the speed limit to be more a suggestion than any actual law, and we have paid the price for it–literally. Not only is it an inconvenience to be stopped for speeding, it also is dangerous to be speeding at all. Encourage your teen to abide by the speed limit, especially in less than ideal weather conditions. When your teen is in the car with you, make it a point to stay within the speed limit, showing them how one should safely drive.
A great tool to use to ensure your teen is abiding the speed limit is an app called Life360. This app is great altogether when you have a new driver in the house, but it is especially great for tracking the speed limit they drive at, alerting you when they drive too fast on any major or minor road. It also notifies you each time your teen leaves somewhere and arrives somewhere else, so you’ll always know that they are safe!
BEHAVE SAFELY DURING TRAFFIC STOPS
As much as we may dread it, your teenager will probably get pulled over sometime in their life. No matter how much you teach them about traffic safety and abiding the rules of the road, they are human which means a possible traffic ticket or two. Let’s face it, we’ve all been there, teenager or not. Talk to your teenager about the ins and outs of a traffic stop. What documentation they’re going to need and where it is located. How to safely pull over on the side of the road. Inform them how to also interact with police officers. These tips you share with your teen will further help them remain safe while behind the wheel.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR CAR
Remember being a teen and having your own car? If you were anything like me, you assumed maintenance was optional. Needless to say, it wasn’t, and my parents were not too happy with me. Don’t let your teenager make that mistake when it comes to the maintenance of their car. Teach them how to be a responsible car owner.
Talk to them about when maintenance should occur on the varying parts of the car. It would even be helpful if you brought them along when it was time for servicing. It’s very similar to how you use to help them order their food in a restaurant, directing them on how to be respectful and kind until they could do it on their own. It teaches social skills and responsibility while also ensuring they have these tools for the future. Have them ask questions about their car, so they’ll eventually be able to do it on their own, and they will be confident in their ability to do so.
The safety of your teenager is a priority. When the time comes to find a trustworthy mechanic for your teen’s car, Team Ryan Automotive is here to help. Give us a call at 678.765.7926 to schedule your next maintenance or repair appointment. You can also schedule online here.
