Driving Checklist - Road Rules to Keep Your Teen Safe
Sometimes,
the best advice comes from someone who has been there. Most
adults, such as one's parents, are experienced drivers who
can offer suggestions for safe driving.
Or you can take the advice of Ryan Buckholtz. When he was
a teen learning to drive, several of his classmates were
involved in car accidents. So he created a website, www.teendriving.com,
to help teens become better drivers. Some of the tips he
offers include:
-
Always
wear your seat belt, and make sure all your passengers
buckle up, too.
-
Make
sure your windshield is clean. At sunrise and sunset,
light reflecting off a dirty windshield can momentarily
blind you.
-
Never
try to pack in more passengers than there are seatbelts
in the car.
-
Make
sure your car has gas. Don't ride around with the gauge
on empty because you don't want to become stranded.
-
Obey
all speed limits for both maximum and minimum speeds.
-
Don't
run red lights or stop signs.
-
Come
to a complete stop at lights or stop signs.
-
Use
your turn signal to indicate that you want to turn or
change lanes. Turn it on to give the cars behind you enough
time to react before you make your move. Also, make sure
the signal is off once you're done.
-
When
a light turns green, make sure the intersection has cleared
before you go.
-
Obey
curfews and leave yourself plenty of time to reach your
destination.
-
Don't
blast the radio. You might miss a siren or a horn that
could warn you of possible trouble.
-
Don't
drink and drive, and don't ride with anyone who has been
drinking. Call your parents or friends to pick you up
if you need a ride.
-
Don't
take drugs and drive, and don't ride with anyone who has
been using drugs. Even some over-the-counter drugs can
make you drowsy, so check the label for warnings.
-
Don't
drive with small children or even small teenage friends
in the front seat of a car that has a passenger-side air
bag. They should be buckled up in the back seat instead.
Children and small people can be hurt if the air bags
deploy, even in collisions at slow speeds. (It's actually
safer not to drive with friends and kids in the car when
you're learning to drive because they can distract you.)
-
Don't
talk on your cell phone, put on makeup, comb your hair,
or eat while driving. If you need to make a call, pull
off the road to a safe spot and park.
-
Always
pull over (to the right side of the road) if a police
officer stops you.
-
Don't
allow friends or other uninsured drivers to drive your
car.
-
If
you feel tired or sleepy, pull off the road and call your
parents or another adult to help you.
-
Don't
drive like you own the road - drive like you own the car.
Driving
safely is crucial to learning the rules of the road. Just
remember to be safe, use good judgment, and practice as
much as you can. If you do, you'll enjoy driving even more
because you'll know you're protecting yourself and your
passengers.
(Source:
KidsHealth.org) |