Learning how to drive is a rite of passage for many people. Those first few months on the road can be unnerving for anxious parents who fear for their child’s safety. Aiding your child on the road doesn’t have to halt when driving lessons stop. By encouraging the right habits, you can help ensure that your child remains safe and develops into a confident, intelligent driver. Here are three suggestions to maintain a young driver’s safety on the road.

How to Help Young Drivers Stay Safe on the Road

1. Avoid Cell Phone Use

Distractions of any kind can prove harmful, but cell phone use is among the primary culprits. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 3,100 people were killed in 2017 due to distracted driving. Of those, over 400 of them involved cell phone use at the time of the accident. Explain to your beginner driver that they can focus more diligently on the road ahead and their surroundings when they aren’t distracted. Stress that they’re much less likely to suffer an accident or injure someone else when they remain off of their phone. You should also remind them that it is against New York state law to use a phone in any manner while operating a vehicle. The legal consequences could be very serious, and the situation could turn deadly.

2. Be Mindful of Weather

Even experienced drivers can have a hard time navigating familiar roads in a heavy downpour or snowfall. While young drivers might feel invincible after they complete driving lessons and earn their license, it’s best to ease into difficult situations instead of jumping into them headfirst. Have them drive in optimal weather conditions regularly to get them used to the road. Accompany them if they’re driving in adverse weather conditions for the first time so that their nerves don’t get the best of them and you can provide visual assistance.

3. Never Drink & Drive

According to Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), alcohol-related accidents are more than twice as common among 18 to 20-year-old people as they are among those over 21. This is due to a combination of factors, including delayed response time, inability to perceive depth properly, sleepiness, and decreased focus. Driving inexperience and a lack of proper driving instruction are also common contributors. Have a serious conversation with your young driver about the consequences of driving while impaired. Remind them that operating a vehicle is a major responsibility and make them aware of the grave results of driving while drunk. 

Proudly instructing budding drivers since 1943, Morgan School of Driving is the oldest provider of driving lessons in the Rochester, NY, community. With additional locations in Greece and Fairport, the school is committed to helping everyone learn the correct way to operate a vehicle safely. Convenience is key, which is why instructors can even pick up their students at home or school. Visit them online to learn more about signing up for driving instruction and a pre-licensing class. You can also call (585) 425-2410 to make an appointment.