Driving safety for students is a huge concern. In 2020, around 2,800 teenagers between 13 and 19 years old died in car accidents in the U.S. Besides, around 227,000 got injured in such incidents.
Although driving safety is important for everyone regardless of age, students are more likely to be involved in car accidents. Being very young, they may engage in reckless behavior in order to impress others, or they may drink and drive without realizing the risk. In other cases, inexperienced student drivers may freeze in traffic or make a mistake, thus causing a crash.
Luckily, this is not something that cannot be fixed. With the right driving safety tips, students can become safer drivers. Here are some tips that might help.
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Don’t Speed Up
When you’re young, you certainly love extreme sensations, especially once you get used to your new car. “A little bit of speed will not harm anyone” you may tell yourself as you drive past the speed limits. But when you drive too fast, you have less time to react in unexpected situations, which can endanger both your life and other people’s lives. On top of that, you may easily lose control of your vehicle and cause a terrible accident, injuring yourself or perhaps even losing your life.
Always maintain a safe speed while driving. Respect the speed limits and don’t chase attention. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
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Choose the Right Vehicle
It’s not unusual for students to want the best and most expensive car. They want their friends to see them as the coolest, so they may look for something that looks amazing, is fast, and probably costs a lot.
Instead of falling victim to other people’s praise, you should look for a car that is not only easy to drive but also offers different protection features in case of an accident. Sport utility vehicles or small cars should be avoided. Settle for something safer.
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Keep Some Distance Between Yourself and Other Drivers
You should never be too close to the vehicle in front of you. This can not only be very annoying to the other driver but can also put you at risk. For example, if the car in front of you makes a sudden movement, you will not have enough time or space to react, so avoid rear-ending.
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Always Focus on Driving
Distractions can appear at any time, especially when you’re a student who loves life. Perhaps you are thinking about your upcoming exams, or perhaps your phone is going off, bombarded with notifications.
If you want to stay safe while driving, you should always ignore all distractions. Staying focused ensures you see any potential obstacles and that you do not miss important road signs.
That being said, slow down and keep distractions away. Put your phone on silent mode or turn it off until you are out of the vehicle, and never use any electronic device when you’re behind the wheel. On top of that, do not multi-task. This means that you should not eat, drink, or do something else while driving.
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Be Gentle When Braking
Don’t be aggressive when braking. You may be tempted to suddenly brake, especially when you’re a new driver and you see the light in front of you turn yellow or notice a stop sign. Instead of a sudden movement, you should gently brake until your car stops.
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Plan for Safety
If you are going to drive your car for a while, you should make a safe driving plan to avoid potential accidents.
For instance, you may want to schedule rest breaks or plan to stop at certain locations to eat and hydrate yourself. You can even plan on stopping somewhere to make a phone call or stop in a car park to eat or drink.
On top of that, you should always adjust your climate controls, mirrors, seat, and other settings before driving your car. Doing so will make sure you are not distracted on the road.
The Bottom Line
Unfortunately, car accidents are extremely common. For instance, motor vehicle crashes were the second leading injury and death causes in Georgia in 2020. You should try your best not to contribute to these numbers. So, if you’re a student who just got their driving license, you need to stay safe. However, if you end up in a car crash, you should hire an Atlanta car accident lawyer or a lawyer in your area to help you get compensation.
