Key Points for Safe Driving
Operating a vehicle is only one part of being a licensed driver. Now that you’re driving solo, enjoy the freedom — and know your responsibilities.
Don’t expect to get the keys whenever you want. Your driving risk will probably never be higher than now. Your parents are right to require that you have a legitimate purpose for each trip. So, don’t get upset when your parents ask about your plans.
Don’t be overconfident. It takes about five years of experience to reach the skill levels of most drivers. Completing driver education doesn’t mean you have all the skills and experience you’ll need for driving safely. Overconfidence in your knowledge and skills will increase your chance of a crash.
Continue Practice Driving
- Build your skills. Your parents should continue to practice supervised driving with you — especially if you haven’t banked 100 hours yet. Ask them to help you practice in new driving conditions and on new roads, including highways, city streets and country roads.
- Be patient. Your parents are probably concerned that you’re on the road alone, so they may tag along on trips even when you don’t want them to. So, be patient with them and use the time to keep learning.
- Practice virtually. Offered by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, Driver-ZED is a computer program to help you practice driving on your PC as well as on the road — it’s a lot safer to make mistakes in a virtual environment than in the real world.
Additional resources:
- AAA StartSmart – A series of newsletters that address the challenges teens face when learning to drive.
- Becoming the New Driver – Designed for teens, this brochure outlines tips and responsibilities of being a safe driver.
- Driver-ZED – Offered by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, Driver-ZED is a computer-based program to help you practice driving on your PC.
