Getting your driver’s license can feel like a whole new world of freedom. Now you don’t have to rely on your parents, a friend, or public transportation to get from place to place. You can simply jump behind the wheel of your car and take off to wherever you want to go. As a teen, here are some necessary safety tips you should keep in mind when navigating the roadway.
Put Your Phone on Airplane Mode
One of the leading causes of accidents when it comes to teen drivers is texting while driving. Do yourself a favor and simply avoid the temptation. When you get in the car, put your phone on airplane mode. This way, you don’t hear any beeps that will pique your interest. You can simply focus on the road in front of you.
Always Yield for School Buses
It’s important that you understand how the laws apply to school buses. As a driver, you’ll need to yield to any school bus that has their stop sign out and lights flashing. It’s important to stop and let the children get on or off the bus before proceeding forward. Just because you don’t see a child getting ready to cross in front of the bus doesn’t mean they’re not there. Children can come from all directions so it’s best to stop and let the bus driver signal you when it’s time to pass them.
Move to a Safe Place When Disabled
A not-so-fun part of being a driver on the roadway is that your car can breakdown. If you experience a breakdown, it’s important to consider the others on the roadway. If you can, move your car into a safer area off of the road. This could be on the berm or the center median. These places can help to ensure that you stay safe while waiting for the tow truck to arrive.
Give Yourself an Extra 10
While you may have a good idea of how long it’s going to take you to get from point A to point B, things happen. Whether it’s an accident or a slow driver, you should schedule some extra time to give yourself a cushion. It doesn’t matter if you’re leaving for school or for your first date, give yourself an extra ten minutes to get there to ensure that you do so in a safe manner. Running low on time can make us all get a little antsy behind the wheel and make unintelligent decisions.
Don’t Drive Tired
It’s no surprise that trying to complete your homework, spend your day at school, participate in sports and other school activities, all while still having time to hang out with your friends is a lot to handle. You may be burning your candle at both ends. This can lead to unsafe driving. When you’re tired, you’re less likely to follow all the driving rules you’ve been taught and your reaction time is slowed down. Many studies compare tired driving to that of drunk driving.
When it comes to driving, there are many laws that need to be followed. As a teen, there are few that you should really hold in high priority. The above five will ensure that you stay safe on the roadway no matter what time of day it is.
