How Young Drivers Can Avoid Car Accidents
Nearly everyone is in a rush these days, including students. If you’re late for class, you might be tempted to hit the gas a little harder on your way to campus. When you do this, you are increasing your chances of getting into a serious accident. Car accident attorneys in North Carolina and across the country have safe driving tips for young people to use to reduce the chance of causing an accident.
Car accidents involving students can involve any of the following factors:
- Texting while driving: One of the major factors in car accidents involving young people, texting behind the wheel, without question, contributes to countless tragedies in the United States.
- Pedestrian accidents: Students tend to walk, which makes them vulnerable to pedestrian accidents. But students who drive also can cause such accidents if they are not paying attention.
- Underage drunk driving: It’s not news that some college students – even those who are underage – experiment with alcohol. When they mix such behavior with driving, the consequences can be disastrous. To do their part to reduce drinking and driving, many young people have gotten involved in Students Against Drunk Driving.
Tips for Students to Avoid Car Accidents
Teenager drivers should take the following steps on the road:
- Leave earlier – Many teenage drivers are in rush to get somewhere because they’re running late. So rather than race to get somewhere, leave earlier and allow yourself more time to drive safer.
- Slow down – More than anything, speeding contributes to many car accidents involving teenagers. The faster you go, the less time you have to react to everything around you.
- Leave more room – Don’t tailgate when driving. Leave enough room between your vehicle and other car in front of you. Most driving instructors recommend leaving a 3 second space between vehicles. This tip proves especially helpful during snow and ice storms, when drivers need more time to react to changing road conditions.
- Use your lights – Whether it’s signaling with your turn signal or turning on your headlines – even during the daytime – it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Headlights aren’t simply about helping the driver see the road ahead. Headlights make vehicles more visible to other drivers.
- Put down the phone – Even if texting while driving is legal in your state, that doesn’t mean you’re not putting yourself and others at risk every time you look down to read or send a text message. Keep your eyes focused on the road.
- Don’t drink – Even though drinking and driving is against the law, some teenagers still put themselves at risk by drinking alcohol and driving. Don’t put everyone on the road at risk. Don’t drink and drive.
- Take a break – If you feel tired or you’ve been on the road for hours, give your body and your mind a rest. That’s why there are rest stops on highways throughout the country. And if there isn’t a rest stop, simply get off the highway and stop in a parking lot and rest or walk around the car for a few minutes.
- Take a class – Even if you have already taken a driving class, it never hurts to learn more information. If you don’t feel confident about your driving skills, ask a professional driving instructor for their advice.
- Don’t drive – There’s nothing in the world worth risking your life or others to get somewhere on the road. If weather conditions seem severe, if you’re tired or don’t feel safe to drive, don’t do it. Your decision could save your life or someone else’s. Be smart. Play it safe.