Keep Everyone Safe With These Tips For Teens And Parents

Coastline Academy is on a mission to eradicate car crashes by training safe and confident drivers for life. If you're the parent of a new teen driver, you might be looking for some tips to keep you and your teen safe behind the wheel.

Tips for Teens

Keep in mind the rules of the road for teens, as we share some helpful tips for teenagers to remember when getting behind the wheel of a vehicle:

• No cell phone use whatsoever while driving
• Always wear your seat belt.
• Don't drink and drive.
• Obey the speed limit, as speeding gives you less time to react.
• Before taking off, make sure to adjust the radio and climate controls. If you need to do it while driving, have your passengers adjust them for you or pull over to a safe spot and adjust them yourself.
• Do not eat or drink while you are driving.
• Leave early. It is better to give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination than be rushed. That is when mistakes happen.
• If you are driving behind a semi-truck and can't see the truck's mirrors, that means the driver cannot see you. Back up some and put some space between you and the truck.
• Most teens share a vehicle with a parent/guardian, so make sure you are adjusting the driver's seat and all mirrors before beginning your trip.
• Even with GPS, it is always better to plan ahead for trips and know where you are going before taking off.
• Always expect the unexpected, as you never know what might happen.

Tips for Parents and Guardians

• Know the rules of the road. (Need a refresher? Learn more about our Confident Parent Driver Coach Course.)
• Talk about safe driving with your teen before they start driver's ed.
• Make sure your vehicle is safe and well-maintained.
• Set an example. Teens like to follow what they see, so if they see you driving properly and following the rules, they will also.
• Be familiar with the tasks and requirements of teaching your teen to drive. We recommend lessons with a professional driving instructor.
• Start out slow and simple. Don't overwhelm them, so try a low-traffic area or a parking lot first before moving on to more challenging environments.
• There is no such thing as too much practice.
• Allow your teen to drive in all situations and all kinds of weather when they are ready.
• As they get more comfortable behind the wheel, work your way into more difficult driving areas.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our friendly support staff. If you want to start your driver's training journey with Coastline Academy, make sure to sign up for Driver's Ed and book your driving lesson today.