If you have a teenager who is about to begin driving on their own, you may be feeling uneasy or frightened about what could happen to them while on the road. While you cannot control everything that happens when you are not around, there are things you can do to help ensure that your teen stays safe while driving.
Here are some steps to take if you want to teach your teen to be a defensive driver on Illinois roads.
Teach them to be aware
It is important for all drivers, but especially new drivers, to be aware of their surroundings at all times and avoid any source of distraction. Distractions can include texting, talking on the phone or even listening to loud music. Many smartphones have a setting that pauses notifications while driving, so make sure your child takes advantage of this feature if they are easily distracted by their mobile device.
Make sure they know the safe following distance
Using the three-second rule is a good guideline to keep at a safe distance from the car in front of you and help prevent rear-end collisions. The three-second rule means that there should be three seconds between when the car in front of you passes a specific spot and when you pass that spot.
Emphasize vehicle maintenance
Since many beginner drivers operate older vehicles, emphasize to your teen the importance of maintaining the brakes and other components of the car.
Driving defensively is one of the best ways to help prevent getting into an automobile accident.