Safety Tips For New Drivers Headed Back To School
Published Aug 29th 2007, 7:00pm by Jody DeVere in Featured Articles
Is your teen driving to school for the very first time this year? As a
parent you probably feel proud, relieved, and a maybe even little
concerned, especially upon learning that the first six months of
unsupervised driving are the most dangerous for new teen drivers.
So what's the best advice parents can give their teens as they give them the keys to the car and watch them head out the door?
"Don't
drive distracted," advises GEICO's Janice Minshall, assistant vice
president of communications. "That's the best message parents can give
to new drivers. It's vital that teen drivers are highly focused driving
to school in busy traffic. Highway safety experts know that young
drivers don't have the experience to cope with a lot of distractions
when they're first starting out."
Many states now enforce
different types of graduated drivers licensing (GDL) laws to phase in
expanded driving privileges for new drivers during their first 12 to 18
months of unsupervised driving. GDL laws prohibit critical distractions
and give new drivers more time to focus on their driving and learn how
to handle unexpected driving situations.
However, with back-to-school season right on top of us, GEICO
recommends teens follow these guidelines to help them get to school and
avoid distractions. Then repeat on day two, etc.
*
Limit the use of cell phones to emergency situations. Even in an
emergency situation, drivers should safely pull off the roadway to make
a call.
* Limit the number of passengers. GDL laws in many states
dictate that new drivers are not allowed to have any passengers in
their vehicles at all for several months, other than licensed adults.
* Avoid eating while driving.
* Do any multi-tasking outside the car.
* Pay full attention to the vehicles around you.
* Be fully rested and awake when driving. Drowsiness is a major cause of accidents.
* Be familiar with the route to school and the local neighborhood roads.
* ALWAYS wear safety belts. That goes for new drivers and experienced ones.
New
drivers also need to be reminded that driving under the influence of
alcohol or drugs is illegal and with strict zero tolerance laws in
place, the penalties are severe. (Download GEICO's handy PDF of teen safety tips at www.GEICO.com.)
by Brandy Schaffels
Contributing Editor
Tags
back to school, driving advice, expert advice tips, female friendly automotive advice, female friendly dealer, geico insurance, new used car, safety tips, selling buying, teen driving Recent Posts
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