Yes, Safety Tips for Teen Drivers (and their parents). My teen earned her license in the Spring (*cue heart wrench*). Not that my daughter is a bad driver (regarding the heart wrench) it’s that she’s a newish driver out there in the world with some good and some bad drivers. Seriously, it’s a scary thing to hand over your car keys to someone you gave birth to! Thus, I’ve compiled Safety Tips for Teen Drivers (and their parents)…read on…
Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and OnStar and have received compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.
Avoid distractions. And I know…the first thing we think about is mobile phones. The texts, the social media pings, the music streaming apps. But there are other distractions…like switching radio channels. Having too many loud-laughing passengers (get my younger daughter in a car with her friends and the sound levels triple). Even drinking one of those trendy soy lattes. These can all be distractions to teen drivers. Remind them to stash their phones out of reach (a zipped up backpack in the backseat avoids all mobile distraction). Use confidence to tell friends to settle down. Sip the latte at the destination.
Take your time. Some teens have a video-game-mentality when it comes to driving (fast and furious-esque). But you gotta tell them obeying speed limits save lives. As do seat belts. And looking at road conditions before you drive (because rain, snow, and wind can dramatically affect your ability to control a vehicle). Take your time and you arrive alive.
Consider getting OnStar. OnStar is an in-vehicle safety and security technology with a human touch, available only on Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles.
- Automatic Crash response
Get help right away in a crash even if you are unable to ask for it for yourself. If you are hurt or can’t reach your cellphone – OnStar is right there with you. - Emergency Services
Assistance in an emergency is only a button push away. - Roadside Assistance
Trained Advisors will get you the help you need when you need it (this would have come in handy for the little headlight problem my teen had — see below). - Crisis Assistance
Critical assistance in severe weather, natural disasters or other crises. - Turn-by-Turn Navigation.
OK this is something not only helpful for newer drivers but for experienced ones like me who have direction problems! Access to the directions you want from an Advisor while you’re on the road.
BONUS FOR PARENTS: OnStar Vehicle Locate* gives you peace of mind with 24/7 access to the location of your student’s OnStar-equipped vehicle, enabling you to track progress on their journey.
Read more Teen Driving Safety Tips via OnStar
Turn the lights off when you park. This one comes from personal experience. When my teen took the car for her first evening drive, she forgot to turn off the headlights. The next morning we had a brick in our driveway as the car had no battery and we couldn’t move it.
This week, my teen drove herself and friends to a concert…downtown…at night. I wish I had OnStar in the car for her to help with navigation, roadside assistance, and simple peace of mind that even though she is out in the world…someone is looking out for her.
I agree, distractions aren’t caused just by new technology like texting; even changing radio stations or adjusting dashboard dials are distractions we need to be aware of.
A good read, my son is 12. But 16 will be here before I know it!!