Parents and Teen Driving Safety News – Here are Some Safe Driving Tips for Newly Licensed Drivers
First and foremost, you should never allow your mood to affect your driving. A good mood should not make you stroll in the wrong lane and anger should never make you speed up. When driving, remain calm and composed throughout the journey and follow every rule and regulation. You might have noticed that most drivers honk unnecessarily. The purpose of a horn is to alert other drivers and not to draw your frustrations. Excessive use of horns might irritate the other motorists and cause road rage. Here are the other important tips for new drivers.
Stick to the speed limits
Adhering to the determined speed limits and obeying all the traffic rules is important. Excessive speed slows your reaction time and heightens the chances of getting involved in a car crash. If the weather conditions are bad, set your speed below the established speed limit. Driving very fast for a condition and obscured vision resulting from bad weather are among the leading causes of vehicle crashes. That is according to data from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration Survey.
Buckle Up – Its the Law!
Before you start driving, wear your seat belt and ensure that all your passengers do too. If an accident occurred, the seat belt will keep you inside the vehicle. In other words, you will not be thrown out of the car through a window if an accident occurs.
Always Remain alert
A single distraction can easily steal your reaction. Statistics show that around nine individuals die in the United States each day due to distracted driving. Actually, driving demands the highest percentage, if not all, of your attention. Yet, as many drivers become more comfortable and experienced, they find themselves trying to spread their attention across several distractions. You might be experienced, but distractions will increase the chances of finding yourself in a vehicle crash. The three types of distractions are visual, cognitive and manual distractions. Avoid texting, talking on your cell phone, conversing with the passengers, eating and applying makeup when driving. Be aware of yourself and the surroundings.
Keep your vehicle well maintained
A regular maintenance schedule for your vehicle- including rotations, oil changes, and tire balancing – will ensure your safety when on the road. Also, remember to check the tire pressure, the wiper blade efficiency, the windshield wiper fluid, the obstructions to view and the gas level. Regular car maintenance is important for your safety. Again, remember to perform a pre-trip checklist to ascertain that everything is right.
When possible, do not drive in bad weather
If adverse weather conditions confront you, ask yourself whether the trip is necessary. The best choice is to cancel the trip or delay it until the conditions have improved. Check the weather updates so that you can prepare and plan all your journeys accordingly. Use the headlights or low beams and the windshield wipers if the weather conditions have affected your visibility. Drive defensively. Keep these tips on your mind each time you start your vehicle engine and when driving on a highway. It is your role to ensure that all road users are safe. An online refresher-driving course might be of great help.