BY SOLO INSURANCE®

Teaching your teen driver safe driving habits from the beginning can help them avoid common accidents, reduce their risk on the road, and potentially keep insurance costs lower over time. Through no fault of their own, young drivers suffer from inexperience. As a skilled, older driver, you may have the ability to react faster. You understand better how a car reacts in wet conditions. You know how much distance to leave between vehicles. Teens do not know this. To minimize the risk of Virginia Beach auto insurance claims, work to educate your teen on these and other factors.

#1: Safety Means the Right Environment

As you teach your teen to be safe, you direct their focus on driving–only driving, that’s it. Set distractions aside. Keep cell phones tucked away. Turn off the radio (at least at first). Don’t have food or drink in the car. Limit passengers by allowing just one other passenger in the vehicle. And, hold off on intense conversations until you arrive at the destination. With the focus on the task of driving, itself, safe driving becomes a habit.

#2: Distance Between Cars Matter

We’ve all had a close call, that time when you almost rear ended the car in front of you but didn’t. Teens can learn from our experience. The more distance between two vehicles, the more room your teen has to stop. Most experts recommend at least two vehicle lengths between cars. As a new driver, encourage your teen to stay even further back. Don’t tail others too closely and let tailgaters behind pass by. Allow your teen time and space to react.

#3: Maintain the Vehicle

A good running vehicle is a safer vehicle to drive. Get in the habit of checking around the car for obstacles. Keep up on maintenance, since you want to avoid break downs on the side of the road as much as possible. Keeping a vehicle safe while parked is important, too. Park in well lit areas, for instance. Talk about personal safety too. Teach your teen to lock car doors upon entering the vehicle. Discuss how to be aware of what’s happening around them and how to protect yourself as a driver. For example, teens need to be in the habit of checking the backseat of a car before getting into it.

#4: Be Sure the Car Is Ready

A short walk around the outside of the vehicle sheds light on concerns. Do the tires have proper inflation? Teach your teen how to know. Be sure lights are working. Your teen also should know when the car warning lights and funny sounds appear. Discuss what types of sounds can occur and why. Make sure important car insurance cards and registration is easily reachable in a secure place.

Get car insurance quote here.

#5: Know How to React

The hardest part of any driving lesson is teaching teens to react calmly when something does go wrong. Good things to go over are how to call the police and what to expect or how to get a damaged vehicle to the side of the road. Discuss things such as how to apply first aid or dangerous situations to avoid. At some point, take them driving in rush hour traffic or bad weather to get the experience with these situations. If you have snow, take them to an empty parking lot to slam on the brakes to see how the car reacts. Any time you can familiarize a new driver with potential situations will help them down the road.

Teach your new drivers well

For most people, driving is an important part of life. Establishing safe driving habits up front is important for lifelong success. You may get an eyeroll or two, but that’s okay. An alternative, take a driving course. An instructor may be just the thing a driving course to raise the bar of teaching and learning in the new driver’s mind. Discuss the option of a defensive driving course with your teen. Your state’s DMV often has a list of  approved courses or schools.  For instance, Virginial list of driver training schools and clinics: Virginia DMV. Whatever you choose, the goal is to get your teen driver knowledgeable and comfortable while respecting the seriousness of driving. They should also learn about car insurance. For a good resource, contact Solo Insurance® (info below).

🚗  -----  🚗  -----  🚗  -----  🚗  -----  🚗  -----  🚗  -----  🚗
Solo Insurance® where great rates and personalized service meet.   – Veteran/Family owned since 1994 –
We shop the rates for you upfront and at renewals to ensure you get our best rate every time.
Solo Insurance® ~ 800-207-7656 ~ Soloinsurance.net ~ Get a car insurance Quote here ~ Like us on Facebook
Over 30 years in business helping people navigate car insurance with top insurance carriers because at Solo, you’re a person, not a policy.