Safety Tips for New Drivers

It is a rite of passage for the youth in America today: earning a driver's license and hitting the open road. It is one of many steps towards independence as a young adult. However, it can also be an extremely dangerous step. As you master this new skill, learn to do so safely and responsibly.

• Always wear a seatbelt. Always.
• Always insist that your passengers wear a seatbelt. Never try to fit more people in the car than there are seatbelts.
• Limit the number of passengers in the car whenever possible; it's easy to get distracted by the conversation going on in the car or the music on the radio.
• Obey the speed limits and traffic signals. Speed and running red lights/stop signs are leading causes of accidents.
• Keep both hands on the steering wheel and avoid talking on a cell phone, applying makeup or eating while driving.
• Keep radio volume down low enough to hear any emergency vehicle sirens near by.
• Stay a safe distance behind the car in front of you. A good rule of them is one car length for every ten miles per hour you are traveling.
• Do not drive if you are under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, taking medication that affects driving skills, or if you are tired.