Preventing new drivers from becoming part of a car accident statistic starts with teaching them how to drive defensively. That means giving them the knowledge and safety habits they need to avoid danger before it happens.
The problem?
Thousands of new drivers take to the road each year with neither. The stats will make your blood run cold.
According to the IIHS, there were 3,048 teen drivers killed by crash injuries in 2023.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
By enrolling your teen in a reputable defensive driving course and arming them with these 6 safety features, you can dramatically reduce their chances of being injured or killed behind the wheel.
Here’s what you’ll learn…
- Why New Drivers Face the Highest Risk
- Safety Features That New Drivers Need
- How Defensive Driving Training Makes All the Difference
- Building Good Driving Habits From Day One
Let’s jump in!
Why New Drivers Face the Highest Risk on the Road
The reality is that new drivers face the highest risk of causing a car accident. Not because they’re reckless (although some are). But simply because they don’t know what they don’t know.
Teenage drivers have the highest crash rate of any age group. Those between 16-19 years old have a crash rate that’s nearly 4 times higher than novice drivers over 20.
Shocking? Yes.
Unfortunately it’s true. But knowing how dangerous driving without experience can be is the first step in preventing it.
One of the best ways to drastically lower your new driver’s risk on the road is by having them attend a quality driving school in Greenfield, MA. A trained defensive driving instructor will teach them how to anticipate danger and recognize risks before it’s too late.
But driving school is just part of the equation. Equipping new drivers with these lifesaving safety features is the other half.
Seatbelts: The Single Most Effective Safety Feature
You may think this one is obvious. But seatbelts are one of the most neglected safety features by new drivers.
Did you know that buckling up could reduce your risk of fatal injury by nearly half?
Yep. Always wearing your seatbelt should be every driver’s number one priority. And something new drivers should learn before they start driving.
Especially on short trips. A minor fender-bender can turn into a deadly tragedy if your teenager isn’t wearing their seatbelt.
Make it a hard rule before they start the engine. No excuses.
Stay Up To Date on Your Vehicle’s Safety Features
While seatbelts might be the most effective safety feature on the road, they’re far from the only lifesaving tool new drivers should know about. Every vehicle comes with a variety of safety features built right in.
Some of the most common safety technologies that will help new drivers stay safe include:
- Anti-lock braking systems (ABS): Prevent tires from locking up so drivers can maintain control while braking hard.
- Electronic stability control (ESC): Keeps cars from sliding or losing control during sharp turns or slick conditions.
- Blind spot monitoring: Warns drivers when other vehicles are lurking in the driver’s blind spot.
- Auto emergency braking: Kicks in when brakes aren’t applied fast enough to avoid a collision.
Taking the time to learn how these features work is incredibly important, but they should never be relied on to prevent accidents.
Instead, think of your vehicle’s safety technology as backup plans to your well-developed safe driving habits.
Defensive Driving Courses Help Avoid Dangerous Situations
There really is nothing quite like professional defensive driving training when it comes to teaching new drivers how to drive safely.
Why? Because it teaches them to recognize dangerous situations before they happen, allowing them to avoid accidents altogether. Driving defensively covers things like:
- Keeping plenty of space between your vehicle and the one ahead
- Scanning intersections before entering, even if you have the right of way
- Knowing how to adjust speed for road conditions
- Avoiding distracted driving by staying off the phone
Studies have shown that new drivers who receive proper training have significantly lower crash rates during their first year behind the wheel than teens who don’t learn to drive defensively.
Sure, your teen could learn to drive by practicing in a parking lot with their parent. But will they learn how to handle merging onto the highway? Or how to adjust for limited visibility when it’s dark out?
Professional driver education teaches new drivers how to handle a variety of situations they’ll encounter on the open road. It’s something nothing can replace.
Checking Mirrors Keeps You Aware of Blind Spots
Here’s a safety feature every new driver should know about that many people overlook; their mirrors.
So many new drivers don’t adjust their mirrors correctly. And those that do forget to use them.
Checking your mirrors is second nature to experienced drivers. But try explaining that to a new driver who’s used to navigating by constantly looking at their phone.
If your teen isn’t properly adjusting their side-view mirrors to reduce blind spots and checking them frequently they’re at a higher risk for crashing.
Takeaway: Properly adjust your mirrors MINUS your head in the center and check them constantly.
Build Smart Driving Habits From Day One
All the safety features in the world can’t keep your new driver safe if they’re texting behind the wheel. As cliché as it sounds, attitude towards driving begins with the driver themselves.
Driving responsibly includes things like:
- Keeping both hands on the wheel at all times
- Putting their phone away before they start driving. Not on your lap. Not on the seat next to you. Away.
- Knowing their passenger and avoiding distractions during their first year of driving
- Steer clear of night driving until they gain plenty of experience
- Driving under the influence. Period.
You can teach your teen these safe driving habits during their driver’s education course, but they won’t know these habits until they practice them. Defensive driving courses stress these responsible driving habits.
What most people don’t realize is that good driving habits developed in year 1 usually carry on for the rest of your life. Bad habits do too.
Wrapping Things Up: Safety Starts with the Driver
One final thought on keeping your new driver safe.
Vehicle safety features, driver education, and defensive driving habits are all important to preventing accidents. But they only work when your teen applies what they’ve learned.
If your new driver HAS to text and drive, they will. Despite having ‘heard every argument in the book’.
That’s why it’s so important to teach your teen to drive defensively from day one. Use these lifesaving safety features to your advantage. And build good driving habits that will serve your teen for a lifetime.
Knowledge is power when it comes to preventing your new driver from becoming a car accident statistic.
Here’s a quick recap of what was covered…
- Know why new drivers have the highest risk on the road
- Wear your seatbelt. Every. Single. Time.
- Understand how your vehicle’s safety features work
- Take a professional defensive driving course
- Adjust your mirrors correctly and always be aware of your blind spot
- Build smart driving habits that will last a lifetime
