7 Safety Tips for First-time Teen Drivers

There is an absolute thrill that comes with being a first-time driver. The thought of going on road trips with your friends and you as the driver is exciting all by itself. However, even a pass on your driving test does not automatically make you a great driver. Hitting the road for the first time is in itself a high risk, not just for you, but for other drivers on the road. Safety when driving is paramount, given that teens are most likely to be involved in car crashes than are older drivers. That said, other than understanding and obeying the traffic rules, several safety tips that should guide you driving endeavors as a first-time teen driver. Here are seven of the most important ones:

1.   Check the state of your car

Before you even think of taking your car for a drive, evaluate its state. Most of the older drivers are aware of the vincheck.info offering vehicle history, which is how they can stay ahead of the state of their cars. Learn about the vehicle you want to drive, including its speed limits, safety belt functionality, pressure and temperatures of the tires, brake function, state of the different mirrors, front airbags, GPS, electronic stability control, to mention a few. It is wiser to drive a car that does not have any missing parts, and better yet, one that is covered by any insurance company.

2.   Accelerate slowly

Do not let the pressure of the lights turning green make you slam on the gas pedal to the highest of speeds. If you take your time to ease into the high speeds after a stop, you realize that your engine works much better than when you accelerate quickly all at once.

3.   Maintain a safe speed

After you are all geared up, ensure that you stick by safe speed limits. Even while you start feeling comfortable behind the wheel, don’t push the bounds too much or get caught up in driving too fast. Luckily, there is a standard of speed limits that are usually set for different states to keep control of the roads.

4.   Obey the traffic rules

Whether or not someone is watching, or whether there is no car to compete with you on a lane, be intentional about observing the traffic laws, including stop signs and speed limits. Even though the rules may feel restrictive, they go a long way in ensuring the safety of all drivers on the road. 

5.   Observe a reasonable distance

The distance between your car and the one in front of you should not be too small. A reasonable distance allows room for cushioning, enough to protect you from rear-ending. The safe distance will protect you from attracting unmerited car repairs and higher insurance premiums. Remember, if you keep a very large range, other drivers will keep overtaking you, not to mention, the annoying hooting from drivers behind you.

6.   Communicate effectively

Vehicles have blinkers for a reason. Any turn you make while driving is critical to your safety and that of other drivers. Use your signals correctly to indicate the direction you are taking. While the blinkers are significant for other drivers, they also help make your work easier, more so when you want to change lanes. Besides, with the side mirrors and the rearview mirror, you should be able to swiftly navigate through any road, with great mastery for exists.

7. Drive in the day

Night drives are great, but not so much for a first-time driver. Vehicle mishaps are more common in the night than during the day. If you can avoid driving for the first time in the night, avoid it, and make good use of the natural lighting.