Safety and Preventitive Cautions for Teenage Drivers

Safety and Preventitive Cautions for Teenage Drivers

1. Review the basic safety rules of driving 2. Learn and comprehend the safety issues involved in driving 3. Understand what factors affect safe driving skills for teenagers 4. Demonstrate and apply those safe habits when driving

Overview of Lessons 1. Importance of Safe Driving 2. Review 3. Driving Behaviors 4. Driving Conditions and Environment 5. Driving Influences 6. Other Safety Concerns 7. Preparing for Test 8. Feedback

Why is safety a major issue for teenage driving? According to the statistics, 41% of teenage deaths (13-19 years old) are caused by motor-vehicle crashes each year. This percentage is higher than any other causes of teenage deaths (15% unintentional injuries, 15% homicide, 14% suicide). http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehicl esafety/teen_drivers/ Teenage drivers are also at a higher risk of a motor vehicle crash than any other age group of drivers.

What factors make teenage drivers at a higher risk of crash than other drivers? Behavioral issues The driving environment and conditions Parents and peers' influences and expectations

ALWAYS: Keep your eyes on the road. Keep a safe distance between you and the car in front of you. Pay attention to speed limits Complete full stops at every stop sign. Yield to pedestrians and bikers REMEMBER: Car maintenance (oil change, routine check-ups when needed). All lanes are not the same size Defensive driving is the key, not aggressive driving. Wear corrective lenses if needed when driving. The better you can see, the easier it is for you to drive.

What exactly are driving behaviors? Driving behaviors are the abilities and/or skills a person performs when driving. Behaviors could be acquired by watching other drivers or can be self developed over time. What do they have to do with driving? Driving behaviors are important because the more you understand them will help a person become a better driver by reducing any risky behaviors while driving.

There are three behavioral factors that affect your safe driving abilities. (1) Physical mood (2) Habits (3) Distractions These behaviors are the reasons for numerous car accidents. Eliminating or even reducing these behaviors will help you develop into a safer and smarter driver by lessening your chances of getting into a car accident or committing a traffic violation.

Physical Mood WARNING!!! WARNING!!! Driving when sleepy Do Not drive if you are sleepy. You should always be well rested before driving, especially if you are driving a long distance. When you are rested, you are alert and aware of your surroundings. When you are sleepy, your reaction time will be slowed down increasing your chances of getting in an accident. If you do feel sleepy while driving, pull to the side of the road when its safe and find a place to park to get some rest before driving again. VIDEO LINK- Sleeping behind the wheel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqxiiqywyog

Driving Habits Two safety precautions many teens fail to do before driving: 1. Wearing a seat belt Always wear a seat belt (regardless of distance). Wearing a seat belt is not cool. 2. Adjusting seat and mirrors Sit in an upright and comfortable position before driving. Both hands on the steering wheel at all times. Adjust mirrors to a position to see the road behind and to the side of you.

Seat Belt Statistics Compared with other age groups, teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use. In 2005, 10.2% of high school students reported they rarely or never wear seat belts when riding with someone else. http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/data.html

Distractions while Driving Statistically, distractions are the leading cause of car accidents amongst younger and inexperienced drivers Three distractions of teenage drivers 1. Loud music Keep music to a reasonable volume. Blasting music loudly can prevent from hearing alarming sounds such as other car horns, ambulance, or fire truck sirens.

2. Friends as passengers Driving with friends in the car increases the chances of getting distracted. For the first couple of months of driving, limit having friends in the car until you become more comfortable and develop safe driving habits. http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/teendriving/pages/t eenpassengers.aspx Crash rates are higher among teenage drivers than any other age group of drivers. Crash rates are also higher amongst teenage drivers with increasing number of passengers in the vehicle.

3. Cell phones Cell phones are the biggest distraction among teenage drivers. NEVER use a cell phone whether its talking or texting, when driving. If it is important for you to use your cell phone while driving, pull to the side of the road and park. http://www.cdc.gov/features/dsdistracteddriving/ Statistics show that use of a cell phone while driving are higher among younger drivers. VIDEO LINK- Texting while driving http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjc_0jblrge

Road conditions, the weather, and the time of day can affect safe driving. Driving in areas such as parking lots, parks, and schools also require special attention. By being aware and cautious to the surroundings will help develop safer driving skills. Understanding what to do in these conditions is a good way to ensure safe driving.

Weather Conditions Driving in the bad weather (rain or wind) can increase the chances of getting into an accident. Tips when driving in rough weather conditions: Driving in the rain-what to do? Roads are slippery. Drive in the tracks of the car in front of you. Stay in the middle lanes. Water usually floods on the outer lanes. Drive slower and maintain a safe distance behind the car in front of you. Turn on your headlights

Weather Conditions Driving when it s windy-what to do? Things can fly out on the road or objects may hit your vehicle. Be careful to not swerve out of the way too quickly when avoiding an object on the road. Be cautious of vehicles around you. Big trucks or big rigs have a increase risk of tipping over during high winds. Drive slower and maintain a safe distance with the car in front of you.

http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/q1_roadimpact.htm "Weather-Related" crashes are those that occur in the presence of adverse weather and/or slick pavement. (Source: Fourteen-year averages from 1995 to 2008 analyzed by Noblis, based on NHTSA data).

Road Conditions Bumpy, curvy, and narrow are characteristics of many roads. Be careful when driving through these types of roads. Pay attention to the speed limit on every road. Always stay in your lane and watch for oncoming traffic. Be aware that some roads may have potholes or speed bumps. Driving too fast over potholes or speed bumps could cause damage to your vehicle.

Day time vs. Night time Time of Day Driving at night is a little more difficult. It is tougher to see things (pedestrians, bikers, other cars), so be extra cautious when driving during this time. Use headlights and make sure tail lights and brake lights are working. Parks, schools, and Parking Lots Require special attention when driving through. Be very careful of speed, as well as pedestrians and other cars when driving in these areas. Use rearview and side mirrors to help scan the area.

In addition to behaviors and the outside environment being factors of safe driving, influences from parents, family members, and friends also have an affect on driving abilities. Parents may pressure you to drive safely, while friends may distract you from practicing safe driving skills. Only you determine the way you need to drive, but always keep in mind safe and smart decisions.

Parents and Family Members Influences Talk and Discuss They ve been in your position before, so they know how you feel. Their main concern is your safety when you are driving. Any questions or concerns, don t be afraid to ask. Show them Show them you are a mature and responsible driver.

Friends and Peers Influences Be in Control If the situation doesn t feel right or safe, don t do it. Think about your actions before doing it. If it s not safe, don t put yourself or any one else in the situation. Your Friends should Understand Friends don t put other friends in danger. If something is cool, doesn t necessarily mean it s safe. Do what makes you comfortable

Drinking and Driving DON T DO IT!! Drinking and driving is one of the worst decisions a driver can make. It puts the driver, their passengers, and everyone else on the road in real danger. If you have been drinking, stay wherever you are at for the night or have someone who has not been drinking, drive you home. There are thousands of other safe options to do rather than driving after you have been drinking. VIDEO LINK- Drinking and Driving http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0f17pvichw4

Review your notes. Remember, safety is the key. - Mix of true/false, multiple choice, and fill-in questions. - 20 minutes to complete the 20 question test. - Score at least 90% or better to pass the course - Score less than 90%, need to review the slides and take the test again until you pass. GOOD LUCK!!!

You are required to check back with us in a month and let us know how you are doing. Give us an evaluation on your driving and inform us of any accidents or tickets you have received during the months. For more statistics and guides of safety preventions of driving, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/index.html