According to the Statistics: Here Are the Top 10 Mistakes Beginner Drivers Make

New drivers are some of the most dangerous drivers on the roads. In most states, driver’s ed programs are not thorough enough to properly train the newest drivers. Even though driver’s ed instructors do their best with the resources and time that they have, once new drivers get their licenses, the mistakes are many.

Beginning drivers tend to make several of the same mistakes. These mistakes can result in accidents that can cause serious damage to vehicles and to human bodies. Fortunately, these young drivers can get help after accident troubles.

Speeding

Driving fast is fun, or at least new drivers think it is. Since young drivers are under 18, they have yet to learn how risky their speedy driving habits are. Eventually, they will understand that their actions do have risks associated with them and they will slow down. But not all of them do it in time. Too many car accidents are caused by people who drive too fast for the conditions. Young drivers should slow down and follow speed limits more closely as those limits were established for the conditions of the roads.

Tailgating

Accidents also happen when young drivers tailgate on the road. Even though young people have quick reflexes, they are still not always fast enough to stop when they are following a driver too closely. Young drivers should be encouraged to stay far back from the cars in front of them. When they follow too closely, they are unable to make themselves aware of their surroundings and may miss other potential problems. With substantial space behind the car in front of them, young drivers can have a better grasp of the rest of their driving experience.

Driving while distracted

Distracted driving is one of the biggest problems that young drivers (and all drivers) face today. Smartphones, radios, makeup, food, friends … the list goes on and on. No one should use their phones while driving and most states are developing laws that punish drivers for using them. Drivers of all experience levels should have their full attention on the road at all times. Even if they look at their phones for a moment, they could end up in a terrible accident.

Parents can set up their children’s phones so they cannot use them while driving. And, they can also set up their cars so they can use Bluetooth if necessary. But, even using Bluetooth can be incredibly distracting as drivers focus their attention on the conversation rather than on the road. Some phones will automatically reply that the owner is driving and that the driver will reply after arriving at the destination. If you want your young driver to be safe on the road, you should make the effort to have your child avoid using his or her phone.

Having too much car

Young drivers should have safe cars that they can handle. No young driver should be behind the wheel of a sports car with excessive horsepower. They should also have a car that they can park – not something like a massive pickup truck that doesn’t fit in a cramped high school lot. The car shouldn’t be too big or too small either.

Since young drivers often have to learn through mistakes (like hitting other cars in parking lots), most young drivers should not have the nicest car on the road. A car with a few dings is not a bad choice, because it won’t bother you too much if a few others appear over the first few months on the road. Your young driver can buy the car she wants when she gets a good job and can afford to pay for the car, insurance, maintenance, and repairs.

Lack of defensive driving training

Some driver’s training programs do not teach defensive driving skills, so young drivers never learn what to do if they never learn to swerve out of the way or have to slam on their breaks. If young drivers live in parts of the country that get snow and ice, they should take their driver’s training course in the winter. Otherwise, they will not be taught how to drive in dangerous winter conditions, when slower speeds and defensive driving skills are an absolute necessity to keep out of ditches and medians.

When young drivers do not know what to do in defensive situations, they just keep driving the only way they know. Then, they get in accidents and they get tickets. With defensive driving training, students learn that they shouldn’t follow too closely, drive too fast, or talk on their phones, because they need to be hyper-aware of the other drivers around them who are doing all of those dangerous things.

Being too tired to drive

Young drivers are usually in high school or college. Therefore, they are almost always tired. They drive early in the morning and late at night and they are dangerously sleepy during both of those times. Studies show that driving while tired is just as dangerous as driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Young drivers should be taught to recognize when they are getting drowsy behind the wheel. They should also be taught what to do when they recognize how tired they are, so they know where it is safe to pull over and take a nap when needed. It doesn’t hurt to keep caffeinated beverages close by, because a little caffeine can give drivers the jolt they need to stay awake and safely arrive at their destinations.

Repeating their parents’ habits

When young drivers are with their parents, their parents should pay close attention to their own driving habits. If parents follow too closely, their children will do the same when they learn to drive. If mom or dad speeds, you can bet that the young driver will, too. Parents are their children’s first teachers and children pay attention to what their parents do behind the wheel.

Parents should be sure to talk to their young drivers about driving habits and they should always model best practices. Parents should never use their phones while driving and they should be sure to avoid other dangerous distractions, too.

Erratic behaviour

One of the best ways to arrive at your destination is to know where you are going in advance. Young drivers are just learning where the roads take them, so they often behave erratically on the road. Those quick, unpredicted turns can be dangerous, especially if they are taken too quickly. Not using turn signals or breaking properly can also be dangerous, especially for people who are behind erratic drivers.

Young drivers should not only avoid driving erratically on their own, but they should avoid drivers who are behaving erratically. They should slow down and keep a safe distance if they happen to end up behind an erratic driver. When drivers behave erratically or unpredictably, their actions cause other drivers to react and those reactions can sometimes result in accidents.

9. Driving drunk

No one, not just young drivers, should drive while drunk or high. It is no secret that driving while drunk can be deadly. Fortunately, drunk driving accidents have been on the decline as organizations continue to promote healthy habits. But, people still do it and people still die from it. Young drivers are particularly susceptible to choosing to drive while drunk because they are often not old enough to even legally drink. After making that bad decision, they try to hide it by driving home or driving to a friend’s house. Getting caught by cops while driving under alcohol can lead to DUI charges. It can lead to a night or more in jail. Parents then need to hire DUI attorneys to fight the charges. You can go now to this page to understand how lawyers assist with DUI charges.

If you are worried that your young driver could drive while drunk, you should always encourage him or her to call you instead. It is better to get grounded at home than to die on the road. Safety should always be the number one concern of every driver.

Not wearing a seatbelt

Seatbelts are required for all drivers. All states have seatbelt laws for drivers and front-seat passengers and nearly all states have seatbelt laws for passengers in the back seats. Not wearing a seat belt is one of the stupidest things that any driver can do. People who wear seatbelts are less likely to have serious injuries in car accidents. They are less likely to be thrown from cars and they are more likely to walk away from accidents.

Parents should always wear their seatbelts while in the car as it encourages the same behaviour from their young drivers when they get behind the wheel.

Other Common Mistakes

There are other mistakes that young drivers make, but they are not as common as these other ones. Young drivers should not fill their cars with too many friends, because they are so distracting. They should also learn to pay close attention to road signs and learn to look for them, rather than overlook them. They need to realize that they should slow down and not follow so closely. They should remember to use their turn signals and know where they are going before they turn on the car. With safe behaviours behind the wheel, young drivers will eventually become older, more experienced drivers, rather than dead ones.