Driving Tips to Discuss With Your Teen
The time is coming for your teen to start driving, and you’re probably just as nervous as they are excited. You play a big part in this turning point in their lives, so to ease your nerves, below are some tips you can discuss with your teen to encourage and regulate safe driving.
Follow Graduated Driver Licensing Laws (GDL)
Many states have provisional licensing laws or graduated driver licensing laws (GDL), which limit what new drivers can and cannot do behind the wheel. This lasts for the first year of driving or until the driver turns 18 (whichever comes first). These laws are set for a reason, and making your teen obey them with help keep them safe, and give you some peace of mind. Listed below are the GDL laws in the state of Illinois:
Minimum age: 15 years old
Learner stage duration: 9 months
Required supervised driving hours: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night
Nighttime driving restriction: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (Su. - Th.) 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. (Fr. - Sa.)
Passenger restriction (family members are exempt unless otherwise noted) No more than 1 passenger under 20 years old during the first 12 months
Minimum age for full-privilege driving: 12 months licensed or 18 years old (whichever comes first)
Cell phone or electronics usage: Not permitted before full driver's license
Buckle Up
In 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that 52% of teen drivers who died weren't wearing seat belts. Teens tend to wear seatbelts less than anyone, so help your teen understand that by buckling up, they'll help protect their friends' lives, as well as their own because, in a crash, an unrestrained body can hurt others in the car.
Restrict Nighttime Driving
Did you know that about two-thirds of fatal crashes that occur at night are speed-related and involve teen drivers? This is why Graduated Driver Licensing Laws have time restrictions on nighttime driving. So, for their safety, don’t let your teen drive during late hours. Remind them that if they're going out with friends, make sure it’s before dark, or have an adult drop them off and pick them up.
Keep a Safe Following Distance
Does your teen know that rear-end collisions make up a big percentage of total injury crashes? This is why they have to keep in mind their following distance (the distance you need to be from the vehicle in front of you so that no matter what it does, you won’t rear-end that vehicle). One can determine their following distance by watching the vehicle in front of them pass a standing object, and counting the seconds before they reach it. A safe following distance is typically 3 to 5 seconds. Your teen driver should also consider environmental factors like rain or snow, where they should both slow their speed and increase their following distance.
Remove Distractions
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the majority of crashes are caused by distracted driving. Distractions such as using a phone, drowsiness, eating, and multi-tasking all contribute to unsafe driving. Ensure your teenager removes these types of distractions to focus on safe driving.
Limit Teen Passengers
Studies show there’s an increased risk of teens getting into accidents when they have passengers in the car and new drivers get distracted easily when driving with passengers like young friends and siblings. So, don’t only limit the number of passengers in your teen’s vehicle, but don’t let your child ride with anyone who has less than a year of driving experience. Most teen crashes happen because of “rookie” mistakes.
To find out how to save money on auto insurance for your teen, give us a call and we’d be happy to help!
