Common adolescent driver mistakes

The year was 1985, a 16-year old named Tami took her exam, passed the test and drove to school a licensed driver. At noon, Tami thought it a grand plan to invite eight of her closest friends to hop in the car and drive to lunch. Not three hours after her test, and her first chance at having passengers, Tami pulled into an intersection without thoroughly assessing traffic and was sideswiped by a vehicle who never had a chance to slow down. One of those eight friends was me. No one was hurt, but the car had irreparable damage and Tami had in her possession a costly ticket plus points taken off her license.

Driving in an overcrowded or chaotic car is one example that a teenager can avoid. Here are some other common mistakes made by teenagers and new drivers:

• Distractions - Mobile phones, iPods, looking at a directions, these are all things that take eyes off the road - the most important place for them to be. Many drivers make these same mistakes, it isn’t just an adolescent problem. However, newer and/or younger drivers have less experience driving, so they need to pay special attention to what is going on IN the car. Distractions (for everyone) should be kept to an absolute minimum.
• Taking unnecessary risks - The typical adolescent doesn’t believe mortality is an option for them, so taking risks is often part of everything they do. Speeding, trying to out-race someone while entering the highway (not yielding), running stop signs, driving at night without lights, driving while drunk. Again, many people do this, but teenagers have an extra helping of “gotta do it.”
• Driving without a seat belt - Buckle up, it’s the law. And it saves lives!
• Following too closely - Reaction time to stop a moving vehicle takes several seconds. Many young drivers follow too closely and can’t get the vehicle stopped before collision happens.
• Reacting inappropriately  - Over correcting, unnecessarily slamming on brakes, moving before looking - these are all mistakes an inexperienced often makes.
• Driving while sleepy - Kids are very busy with school, after school activities, socializing, study sessions. It is often not until they get into the car that the eyelids start to droop.

Adolescents need to learn about these mistakes while learning to drive - and the typical teenager needs to be reminded every hour on the hour until they are 25.