No matter if you’re a parent, teen, or adult, you need to be safe driving. Here are some tips to help make you a safer driver.
Distracted driving
Distracted driving poses a serious safety hazard. According to the Centers for Disease Control, distracted driving is the leading reason for fatal car crashes in the United States. Despite the growing awareness of the dangers of distracted driving, it remains a serious risk for both teens and drivers of all ages.
According to the CDC, nine people are killed each day by texting while driving. The CDC also stated that there were 3.2 millions cell phone-related distractions during 2013.
Researchers also found that texting and driving while distracted is linked to other risky behaviors. It’s also linked with drunk driving. Teens who text while driving are more likely to be involved in a collision than other drivers. Educating them about the risks of distracted driving will help them develop safer driving habits.
In fact, a recent study found that teens who texted while driving were 1.3 times more likely to be involved in a crash than those who did not. It was interesting to note that teens who text while driving were more likely than those who did not wear their seat belts regularly.
Noelle LaVoie, a psychologist in Petaluma, California, conducted a study that included interviews with drivers from 31 states. She used video recording devices to analyze crash videos.
The study found that the phone was the most commonly used distraction. The National Center for Statistics and Analysis monitored cellphone-related distractions. But, phone use was not the most common.
Parents can reduce distracted driving risk by setting rules for cellphone use while driving. Safe driving can also be taught to teens by setting an example of safe driving.
Drinking – Abogados de Accidentes Santa Ana
To prevent teens from making poor driving decisions, it is important to have a minimum legal drinking age. Teens with alcohol in their system are at greater risk of being involved in a fatal car crash.
There are many programs to help teens drive safely. These programs include the Minor Decoy and Shoulder Tap programs. Both these programs are used to conduct compliance checks on licensees, as well the public.
MADD also has educational handbooks that provide parents with information on teen drunk driving. MADD toolkits have been created to promote safe driving in communities and provide valuable information about teens who have been injured by drunk driving.
Teens often feel pressured by peers when it comes time to drink and use drugs. This can lead them to drink more and drive more.
The best way to help prevent teens from engaging in this dangerous behavior is to open a conversation with them about the dangers of drunk driving. Explain to them what they can do to avoid this, including how to take a ride home safely. Talk to them about alternative options, such as designating a peer to drive sobriety.
Parents should model safe driving behavior. Be sure to follow your state’s Graduated Driver Licensing laws. Your teen will then be able to drive under supervision for a minimum 50 hours.
Teenagers who are close to their parents will be more comfortable driving. It’s important that you are a role model for your safety and encourage them ask questions if they have doubts.
Night driving
Teens are at greater risk when driving at night. One of the most common is poor vision. It can be difficult for people to see on bicycles, pedestrians, or other vehicles. Animals on the side of roads should be avoided.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, teens are twice as likely as adults to be in a fatal accident. This may be due to teenagers’ increased use of cell phones. Inexperience is another factor.
There are a number of ways to make driving at night safer for teen drivers. Driving education can be a great option. Many states require teens to drive at night. Parents can help by teaching their teens about the dangers of night driving.
Other things to consider are drowsy driving, poor vision, and other drivers who may be impaired. Alcohol is an important contributor to nighttime crashes. Drinking affects a driver’s judgment, reaction time, and decision making. You should never drive if you are drunk.
Drug abuse is another contributing factor. Teens should avoid using drugs and drinking at night. Both of these dangerous behaviors can lead to serious accidents.
Young drivers who are less experienced than their parents are four times more likely to be in a car crash at night. The National Safety Council estimates that half of all car accidents occur at night. Texas A&M Transportation Institute discovered that inexperienced drivers are at greater risk of being in an accident at night.
It is vital to ensure that your teen has clear vision at night. Teens should have regular eye examinations and ensure that their prescriptions are current. They should also check to make sure their glasses or contacts are in good condition.
Assisting peers as passengers
Adolescents should have peers to help them drive safely. Teenage drivers are at greater risk of fatal crashes than other drivers. Peer passengers increase this risk by distracting the driver from the road. However, the impact of peer passenger on the adolescent driver’s crash risk depends on the situation.
A pilot study was done to examine the impact of peer passengers on risky driving behavior in adolescents. A male confederate served as a risk-accepting passenger in a high quality driving simulator. Participants were interviewed either face-to–face or electronically about their perceptions and opinions of peer passengers.
The pilot study results showed mixed results. The pilot study revealed mixed results. While almost all participants acknowledged that having a passenger in a vehicle is distracting, the level of distraction was generally low. Furthermore, the study sample wasn’t representative of adolescent drivers.
These findings offer new insight into the perceptions of teens drivers about their peer passengers. This information could be used for further research on passenger-related crashes prevention efforts. It also provides important evidence that teens are aware of the risks of having peer passengers. It shows that adolescents are aware of the risk that peer passengers can encourage reckless driving behavior.
The drivers also discussed peer pressure and other sources. Surprisingly, younger drivers were more likely take advice from their parents. This may be a consequence of their lack of experience in safely multitasking while driving.
Peer passengers were also associated with impaired visual scanning in adolescent driver. This behavior is similar with tunnel vision in cognitively loaded situations. It increases the probability that a danger will be missed.
Developing driving proficiency requires experience
Teens need to have experience driving. Drivers must not only learn the skills and knowledge necessary to pass a licensing exam, but also how to safely operate a car. A parent’s role in helping a teen to achieve this goal is critical.
A driver education program is one of the most effective tools parents can use to help their teen become a safer driver. These programs are designed for teens to learn about the rules of driving, safe driving techniques, and how they can drive safely in different situations.
Driver education programs are not mandatory in all states. However, many jurisdictions require formal courses. These programs are often taught by ex-race car drivers and are designed for novice drivers to gain the knowledge and skills needed to be safe on roads.
A driver education program could address teens’ risk taking. In traditional programs, the emphasis is on manual skills and judgment. These skills are important for new drivers, but a standard testing program doesn’t assess a teen’s ability to handle a complex situation.
Talking to other teens about safe driving habits is another effective strategy. This can be a good way for teens to learn safe driving habits from other teens. It can also help them to be more willing to follow these same rules on the road.
Parents can also enforce rules and Abogados de Accidentes Santa Ana laws designed to reduce teen car crashes. Some states, for example, have strict rules regarding cell phone use while driving. Other states require that a teen wear a seat belt at all times.
Another strategy is to create extra safety space around your vehicle. This gives your teen the opportunity to react to any hazard.
