Safety Tips for Teen Drivers

According to global research, teen drivers are 3 times more likely to have an accident or crash  compared to adult drivers. This high ratio for teens is due to several factors including inexperience, excitement, experimentation, intoxication and peer pressure. Locally, over the recent 2023 Easter holiday there were 30 deaths, 153 injuries in 288 road traffic accidents that were reported to the ZRP. Most accidents were caused by speeding, distraction, misjudgement and failure to observe road rules. The most fatal ones occurred at night.

Here are some safety tips to help your teen on the roads:

• Encourage them to turn off their cell phone or at most only use the Bluetooth function for calls. Texting or apping are great distractors even for adults.
• Reduce the volume when driving. Most teens will add sub-hoofers and other sound enhancing modifications to the car but these should primarily be used in appropriate circumstances when the vehicle is parked. When driving, the volume should be low enough to hear hooters and sirens of other vehicles.
• Get a tracker for their car which will report driving speeds and behaviours like harsh breaking. It’s not spying on them but protecting them. Use the information to correct them when you have noticed pro-longed incorrect behaviour like over-speeding. Otherwise, if the reports are ok, don’t tell them that you are tracking them 😊.
• Whilst most parents will encourage their teens not to drink or get intoxicated, unfortunately sometimes they will experiment, but they should know that the car is off bounds if intoxicated. If they break this rule, put a penalty to it e.g. No use of the car for the following 6 months. ☹
• If possible, graduate your teen from a smaller car with less power to the larger engine ones over time as they gain experience.
• Restrict night driving especially on weekends. They can still go out but probably by cab or you will pick them up.
• Limit the passengers that they can carry to avoid distractions whilst driving. A good number to start with is only 2 passengers allowed.
• Lastly, model the driving behaviour that you want them to follow. You are the greatest teacher they learn from. How are your driving habits?

Play your part in protecting your teen and others on our roads.

Please get in touch with our Firstlink team if you would like us to speak to your teen group, club, school,church or society on becoming a safer driver on (0242)744048/79, 0782146301, 0779203074 or 0772434103 or email info@riskmanagers.co.zw