Every year, millions of new drivers begin driving on the roads of America. Since the legal age to drive varies by state, most teenagers begin driving between 16 to 18. Getting your driving license doesn’t mean you’re going to be a pro on the road. Don’t let the freedom of getting a license get to your head. Not only do you have to take care of yourself and your passengers, but also be mindful the 272 million vehicles registered in the United States that are also on the motorway.
Here are some driving habits to avoid, especially when you’re a new driver:
Being distracted
Driving is a task that requires your complete attention. You can easily get carried away with the joy of driving your vehicle and lose focus off the road. Any kind of distraction can be fatal when behind the wheel. 37% of people who took part in a survey and agreed they felt distracted behind the wheel due to calls and messages from work that need to be attended. Others are preoccupied with kids in the back seat or conversing with other passengers.
Distractions while driving are self-imposed and can be easily avoided. Take control of the environment in your car, place your cell phone away and turn it to silent when driving so that you don’t feel the need to respond. Keep the music or radio you’re listening to at a reasonable level so that you can pay attention to the road. New drivers should ideally not be driving any kids around until they’ve had enough experience on the road as well. Try and converse as little as possible with other passengers while driving too and always keep your eyes on the road.
Taking too many risks
Taking risks while driving is never a good idea. Risks while driving refer to inconsistencies while driving, such as not using your indicating lights, speeding through a yellow light, changing lanes without looking both ways, etc. There are only so many risks you can take before you’re one of the 3.9 million people who are involved in crashes across the United States.
Make sure you’re always taking into consideration the other vehicles on the road. They must be able to read your behavior on the road and being careful, keeping track of the speed limit, not and not being reckless on the road are all ways to stay safe on the road.
Overcrowding a vehicle
The first person in a group of friends to get a driver’s license always ends up being the one who picks and drops the whole friend group. This isn’t a great idea for someone who doesn’t have as much practice driving a vehicle. The more passengers you have in a vehicle, the more a new driver is bound to feel distracted.
Having passengers who don’t know how to drive is also a hazard in a way since they maybe won’t realize how much one needs to focus on the road. Don’t take on so many friends in your vehicle until you become a confident driver.
If you’re looking for a driving school in Cave Creek, Fountain Hills, El Mirage or Sun City West, AZ, get in touch with us at Jacob’s Driving & Traffic School. We offer driving lessons as well as defensive driving.
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