Adolescent Drivers: How to Prep Kids for the Road

Teenagers can certainly be naive and careless in life, and especially on the roads when first learning to drive. Before getting behind the wheel, young drivers need to understand some important tips and parents can help them prepare to be responsible, well-trained drivers.

Responding To A Car Accident

Inexperienced drivers need to be prepared to handle a car accident. Parents should start to teach their children about the importance of making specific phone calls immediately after a crash occurs. Calls should be made for help that’s provided by the police and emergency department. While waiting for help, it’s a good idea to gather some information from the other driver and passengers involved in an accident. A driver’s license, and auto insurance card provide enough information that can be later used for filing claims, lawsuits, and other investigations. Calls to an attorney and auto insurance agents should also be made after a car accident. A lawyer can file claims against the insurance companies in order for accident victims to receive a fair compensation for injuries.

Mobile Phones & Driving

Teenagers need to be taught about the dangers of driving and using a mobile phone or any electronic device. As any attorney will tell you, texting and driving is illegal in most states. Similarly, talking on a cell phone while driving is also illegal most parts of the United States. Even if it’s legal, talking on a mobile phone while driving is still dangerous because it creates major distractions. Wireless Bluetooth technology can be used by adolescents to answer phone calls without physically holding a phone. Otherwise, some mobile phones can set to driving mode in order to reject phone calls automatically while a teenager is in the driver’s seat.

Roadside Assistance

Teenagers can get into some serious trouble if their car stalls in the middle of a highway. Most teens probably can’t change a spare tire, or even jump start a car. It’s essential to have some sort of roadside assistance program that’s registered on a car driven by teenagers. The contact information for the roadside assistance service should be listed in the contact book of a mobile phone. Modern vehicles are equipped with digital technology that automatically calls for help. For example, the signature On Star system can be used to call for help anytime and anywhere in the United States. GPS technology automatically sends out roadside assistance to a car that’s in trouble and full of naive teenagers.

Avoiding Hazards on the Road

Parents should stress that it’s never worth it to drive in poor weather conditions. A car can get stuck in several of inches of snow. Additionally, there is a great risk of getting into accidents on snowy and icy roads. Heavy rain can also compromise the traction of a car, and lead to accidents. Teenagers need to develop good habits of judging the weather and road conditions. Rather than try to drive in challenging conditions, it’s better for teens to get picked up by someone.

Inexperienced adolescent drivers need plenty of advice, and practice for good road safety. In case of an accident or emergency, teenagers should know exactly what to do if they’ve had talks with their parents, and been certified by a licensed teacher.

“Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger from New Mexico. After graduating from college she moved to Los Lunas where she now writes and researches her articles when she isn’t outside gardening, hiking, running or biking. She used an accident lawyer in Alexandria as a resource for this article. Contact her via Twitter @BrookeChaplan.”