One rite of passage when you become a teenager is getting your driver's license. If you're a parent, you probably feel proud when this happens. It's a sign your young one is growing up, and adulthood is not far off.
At the same time, you might feel nervous. If your teenager is not the most responsible individual in the world, you may feel as though they could make a mistake while driving. It's undeniable that teens do get in accidents sometimes.
It helps if you know some teen driving behaviors that can cause accidents. If you understand what they are, you can talk to your teen about them before they get out on the road.
Ignoring Cyclists and Pedestrians
Ignoring cyclists or pedestrians is one potentially dangerous teen driving behavior. A teen driver might:
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Hit a pedestrian on the sidewalk when they pull into a driveway
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Hit a cyclist on the street
If your teen hits a cyclist, that individual might decide to bring a lawsuit against them. In Baltimore, for instance, a cyclist typically has three years following an accident to decide they want to take the matter to court.
Someone walking along the sidewalk who gets hit by a car might also decide to press charges. It's all about the situation. If it's clear the pedestrian or bike rider did not have the right of way, and your teen hit them, they might decide the lawsuit is not worth pursuing.
Talk to your teen driver about watching for bikes, and also joggers and children on the sidewalk. That way, they can avoid a tragic event.
Drinking and Driving
Drinking and driving is not something you want to do at any age, but it can be more deadly involving teens. A teenager:
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Does not know their alcohol limitations
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Might feel like they're okay to drive when they're intoxicated
You should talk to your teen and explain to them they have no business consuming alcohol under any circumstances. If they do, though, they should definitely not attempt to drive.
You can talk to them about the many drunk driving deaths that occur every year in the US. Explain to them that alcohol and driving are two things that should never mix.
Texting or Talking on the Phone
Many teens also get in car accidents if they are texting on their phones or talking on them. Bluetooth technology does exist now, and some cars allow you to dictate a text message out loud, and then your phone will send it to the appropriate recipient. You can also use Bluetooth to talk to someone without having to hold the phone to your ear.
While this seems safer than physically texting while driving or holding a phone while doing so, that still doesn't mean it's safe. If your teen tries to use Bluetooth while driving, but they are not an experienced driver yet, they can easily get in an accident.
It's best if you tell them to avoid using a phone for any purpose while driving, even if the vehicle they drive is Bluetooth-enabled. They need to get some extensive driving experience before they even consider using this technology. A legitimate emergency might be this rule's one exception.
Trying to Change the Radio Station
Many teen drivers love blasting music. You should tell your teen to keep the music down, so it does not distract them from what's happening on the road in front of them and around them.
You might also mention that they should keep their eyes on the road rather than trying to adjust their radio station or put on their favorite album. This is another distracted driving behavior that can quickly cause an accident.
Driving in Bad Weather
Bad weather driving is sometimes unavoidable at any age. If you gifted your teen a used car so they can get to and from school, they might have to get there in a thunderstorm one morning.
While the weather is not something they can avoid, you can tell them to slow down in poor driving conditions and pay special attention to what's around them. If they go slowly, use their windshield wipers, and concentrate, they should be fine.
As your teen gets to be a little bit older, they will gain more driving confidence. They will feel better about highway driving, and they will master driving in many different weather conditions. If they learn good driving habits when they're young, those should continue into their adult life.
