Ok, friends. I’m gonna level with you. When I was a teenager I was a TERRIBLE driver. I was always speeding down back roads of my hometown. I was more focused on what was on the radio and how I was going to pull off singing lead vocals AND backup vocals at the same time than I was on the road. An abominable snowman could have sauntered across the road and I probably would not have noticed him. It was not safe, I see that now. I was risking not only my life, but the lives of the people around me. I was lucky and no one got hurt, but someone could have been killed. Below, you will find some helpful tips to help you to be a better and safer driver.

The Basics

• Obey the speed limits. They are there for a reason. If you’re going 60 in a 30 you have a lot less reaction time and you’re increasing your risk of accident and serious injury.

• Always wear your seatbelt – Honestly, your seatbelt could be the only thing standing between you and death.

• Adjust your car’s headrest to a height behind your head – not your neck – to minimize whiplash in case you’re in an accident.

• Make sure your windshield is clean. A stray beam of light reflecting off your dirty windshield can blind you from seeing what’s going on. Even temporary loss of vision is dangerous.

• Experts now recommend that you hold the steering wheel at either 3 and 9 o’clock on the wheel, or even lower at 4 and 8 o’clock. If you’re in an accident and the airbags go off, you’ll be safer with your hands not flying into your face from the impact of the airbags.

Be Considerate

• Don’t drive like you own the road. Drive like you own the car.

• Don’t assume you know where another driver is going or what they are doing. You can only be sure of what you are doing. Turn signals will only tell you where a driver is likely to go. Always proceed with caution.

• Watch out for aggressive drivers, and try to stay out of their way.

• Never pull out in front of anyone or swerve into someone else’s lane.

Be Aware

• Make sure your car always has gas in it.

• If you’re in the country or any wooded area, watch out for deer and other animals.  If you see an animal approaching, slow down and flash your lights repeatedly. Dusk and dawn are particularly bad times for running into animals, so be on the lookout for them.

• When the light turns green, make sure intersection clears before you go.

If you’re a parent of a new driver and you’re looking for a safe vehicle for your teen, check out the Nissan Versa Note or the Nissan Rogue, both of which were rated as top safety picks for teen drivers. Stop by Destination Nissan today to check them out!