One of the main goals of the 4SafeDrivers.com blog is to spread important information about safe driving tactics and ways to make all of us safer drivers. A topic I want to touch upon today is teen drivers, we have all been a teenage driver at some point in our lives, and some of us have teen drivers of our own. We have all been there.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States is still car crashes. Obviously, driver inexperience and driving habits are the main cause, but when you add distractions, than can cause a recipe for disaster.
I will list the 1st 5 distractions in this blog, keep in mind that these distractions apply to all of us, and not just teenage drivers.
Let’s talk about some of these distractions, and please, don’t read this blog if you are driving, joke.
1) Chatting with friends-Young drivers who have young passengers in the car will often be much more distracted and take their eyes off the road when talking with their friends. Many states have passed laws restricting young drivers under a certain age from having young drivers in the vehicle. For more info on these laws, check them out by states on www.4DMV.com.
2) Cell Phones-This was not an issue for most of us 10 years ago, but it is a reality for most of us, including teenage drivers, today. It is hard for most of us to put off business or personal business, whether we are in the car or not. I personally will tell callers that I am on the road and will call them back if it is not something that is of up most importance. Having a bluetooth or headset helps, but conversing is the problem at hand. Save the conversation for when you aren’t behind the wheel.
3) Texting-This in my opinion is the number one danger facing ALL drivers today. When you text, you have to take your eyes off the road, period. Being in an engaging text conversation or an argument makes your focus even more on the conversation at hand than on the road in front of you. The car works best when both hands are on the steering wheel. If you must send a text, pull over and handle it. Most states are passing laws against texting, with stiff fines for those breaking the law.
4) Food-Quite simply, eating food and drinking your soda while you are driving is a distraction. I am shocked to see how often I see people driving down the highway, driving the car with their knees or elbow, while trying to shovel food into their mouth. Munching on a candy bar is one thing, trying to enjoy a 5 course meal at 70mph is another. Put the fork down and wait until you get home. No accident is worth a few calories.
5) Tunes-With CD players, steering wheel presets, radio, and the introduction of iPods, it is much easier to get the music you want to flow through your speakers. On the other hand, it is much more distracting. Try to use some preset playlists and preset buttons on your stereo. That split second that you look away to change a CD could mean an accident.
Obviously, it is impossible to avoid these 5 distractions. At the end of the day, use common sense, and if you have teenagers who drive, tell them about these distractions and find ways to help them avoid doing these things while they are driving.
Thank You,
Alex Soltani
4SafeDrivers.com
The post 5 Distractions that make accidents the leading cause of death for teen drivers. appeared first on Driving Records Information.
