It can be frightening to go out in the car, especially as a teenager learning to drive. While it’s true that vehicles can be dangerous, they can also unlock a lot of opportunities for young people. Driving allows teenagers to access work and internship opportunities, travel to and from school, and have the freedom to go out with friends. If you’re living in New Jersey and want to help your teenager feel safe on the road so they can take advantage of driving, then here are the best tips.
Sort out car insurance
First of all, you should always make sure your teen’s car is insured. In New Jersey, car insurance is required for all drivers, and you could face fines and driver’s license suspensions if you don’t comply. Although car insurance may not reduce the likelihood of incidents, it can help with anxiety surrounding how you would afford repairs should one occur. Liability car insurance in New Jersey could help to offset some of the costs to any other parties involved who may have received damage to their vehicle, as well as injuries.
For those who also want their own damage and injuries covered, it may be a good idea to opt for comprehensive cover. While it may not be pleasant to think about your teen being involved in an accident, it can be far better to prepare for a potential accident than to simply assume that it wouldn’t ever happen.
Enroll them in a defensive driving course
Extra driving practice can make your teen feel much safer on the road. A total of 56% of teenagers rely on their parents to teach them how to drive, but this means that teens could be missing out on expert tips or could even be picking up bad driving habits from their parents.
Defensive driving courses are a great option because they teach people how to anticipate and respond to dangerous situations while driving. For example, these courses can reduce the risk of collisions by teaching you things like keeping a two or three-second gap between your car and the car in front. These courses will also teach teens about the importance of eliminating distractions while driving, which can greatly improve their safety on the road.
Find a defensive driving course in New Jersey here.
Teach them how to avoid distractions
Although all drivers can become distracted, teens are especially at risk due to their frequent use of cell phones. Using your cellphone makes you take your eyes off of the road, which can lead to an accident occurring. Due to the dangers, New Jersey has laws regarding texting while driving, as well as other types of cellphone usage.
To increase your teen’s safety on the road, you must talk to them about the importance of eliminating distractions while driving. Tell them to leave their cell phone on mute while they’re driving so that they’re not tempted to pick it up if they get a text. Additionally, you should modify your own behavior. If your teen sees you using your cell phone while driving, they might think it’s okay and copy you.
Safer driving may result in fewer incidents taking place. By helping your teen get the right car insurance, access defensive driving courses, and learn good driving habits, they can feel safe on the road as they learn to drive.
