Teen Driving: Teen Driving Mistakes

Driving is serious business. It takes months, and even years, of driving to become experienced and learn how to safely react to sudden changes in traffic, drive in adverse weather, and know how to judge unexpected changes in road conditions. It is certainly no surprise to hear that teens have the highest death rates in car crashes of any age group of drivers.There are serious consequences when inexperienced drivers make mistakes on the road. Teen driving mistakes can cause car accidents that result in serious injuries, deaths, and extensive car damage.

Here is a look at ten of the most common teen driving mistakes:

Speeding – As an inexperienced driver, it’s difficult to judge your speed and know how long it will take to stop your car in certain driving situations. When you are exceeding the speed limit, it becomes even more difficult. Always obey the posted traffic speeds.

Not Wearing a Seat Belt – It is surprising the number of young people that don’t wear seat belts. It’s a know fact that wearing a seat belt reduces your risk of injury or death in a car wreck. Buckle up, it’s the law.

Taking Unnecessary  Risks – Inexperience can lead to reckless actions such as rushing through an intersection on a yellow light, not using your turn signal, switching lanes without checking your blind spot, and not coming to a complete stop at an intersection. These actions can increase your chances of causing  a car crash.

Rowdy Riders – Loud music, laughing and screaming friends create distractions for young drivers. When drivers become distracted with other passengers, they are not as focused on driving safely and can quickly become aggressive on the road by speeding and not paying attention to road signs.

Cell Phone Usage – Talking on the cell phone while driving is dangerous for any driver at any age. Texting and driving is illegal in most states. Teen drivers should never attempt to use a cell phone while driving. If a young driver needs to call someone, then pull over to a safe location and use the cell phone.

Playing with Music – Taking your eyes off the road for a split second to adjust the radio or music player can have serious consequences.

Late Night Cruising – Driving at night requires more attention and extra caution than during the daytime because of reduced visibility. Most states have curfews established for young drivers that prohibit teen driving past midnight.

DUI – Drinking and driving at any age is a huge error in judgement. Combine that with driver inexperience and the result is deadly.

Peer Pressure – At times, a driving situation in a car becomes dangerous due to the actions of another person. Whether a friend’s reckless behavior occurs behind the wheel or in the passenger seat, their actions can put everyone’s life at risk.

Overconfidence – A certain amount of confidence is important for young drivers, but when teens overestimate their level of experience, they are not as cautious as they need to be on the road. These mistakes are often made by young drivers within the first few months of driving on their own. If a teen can avoid making these driving mistakes early on, they have a much lower risk of being involved in a car accident throughout their many years of driving.

About the Author: Since joining Allen & Allen in 1991, Virginia personal injury lawyer Chris Guedri has focused his practice on complex traumatic brain injury cases, car accidents, trucking accidents, and product liability cases . He has handled cases in across the state of Virginia and nationwide. Chris Guedri is AV Peer Rated by Martindale Hubbell and is listed in Best Lawyers in America.