A new teen driver can send a Rock Hill parent’s stress-level, and possibly auto insurance premiums, soaring. Helping your young adult learn to be a safe, smart driver will serve them a lifetime while giving you peace of mind. And, safe driving will have a positive impact on your car insurance premium.
Here are recommendations for developing safe new drivers in your household:
- Make them pass YOUR driving test, which should include the ability to drive under adverse conditions (dark, fog, rain, ice, snow, rush-hour traffic, etc.).
- Be certain that he or she can properly pass vehicles, maintain a correct distance, park, merge and exit, change lanes, make turns, obey speed limits and be aware of pedestrians.
- Make sure your child understands traffic laws and has a healthy respect for the power of the automobile.
- Be a proper role model by using seat belts, not using your cell phone, and never using alcohol or drugs while driving.
- Enroll your child in a course on defensive driving as a tool for avoiding accidents and increasing his or her driving confidence.
- Require your child to understand, sign and comply with the “Youthful Operator Driver Safety Agreement.”
- Provide your child with a well-maintained vehicle, equipped with air bags and anti-lock brakes. Also, avoid vehicles that are vulnerable to serious damage during collisions or due to “rolling over.”
- Control your child’s driving privileges and curtail or revoke them in response to poor behavior.
We also encourage you to have your child watch our “Teen Driver” video that explains the importance of safe driving and the basics of auto insurance. This video is on our Personal Insurance page.
Talk to a Peoples First professional about more strategies to keep your new driver safe and keep your auto insurance down for Rock Hill and surrounding areas. We’re always here to help.