Studies show that teen drivers account for more car accidents than any other age group. And that was true before every teenager had a smartphone on them 24/7.

However, by practicing proper driving techniques, teens can keep themselves and their passengers safe. Here are some safe driving tips for new teen drivers as well as tips for parents to ensure they take the necessary precautions to stay safe.

Tips for Teens

Put your cellphone away
Seriously, put your cellphone away.

Many states now prohibit the use of cellphones while driving. Whether it is against the law or not, you are better off keeping your phone off or out of reach while you are behind the wheel. Research shows that on average, texting causes a loss of focus on the road for 4.6 seconds. This is enough time to drive the length of a football field. A lot can go wrong in such a short period of time when you’re on the road.

Turn on your headlights
In order to increase your visibility at night and allow other drivers to see you, it is essential that you turn on your headlights when it is dark outside. And, yes, this includes the early morning and the early evening hours.

The truth is, despite the fact that there is 60% less traffic on the roads, more than 40% of all fatal car accidents occur at night. In fact, the fatal crash rate of 16-year-olds is nearly twice as high when it’s dark out. The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute recently released a study revealing that about 2,300 pedestrians are killed in the United States each year because of drivers’ inability to see at night.

Maintaining your car’s headlights can be an important step in practicing safer nighttime driving. If your headlights have seen better days, talk to your parents about fixing them up with a headlight lens restoration kit. Headlight lens restorers are not hard to use and by simply applying a headlight restoration spray, you can significantly decrease your chance of getting into a nighttime accident.

Tips for Parents

Limit the number of passengers
According to research, the number of passengers in your teen’s car is directly related to the risk of getting into an accident. Your state may have a law in place to limit the number of passengers allowed in a new driver’s car, but if it does not, consider establishing your own family rule.

Establish a driving curfew
As we described above, the fatal crash rate of 16-year-olds is nearly twice as high at night. Among teen nighttime crashes, 58% occur between 9 p.m. and midnight. To keep your child safe, consider setting a curfew. By limiting your teen’s nighttime driving, you can significantly decrease their chances of getting into a late night accident.

Teach Your Teen About Car Care
Far too many people never learn how to safely change a spare tire. Likewise, it’s important to stress upon your teen the importance of routine car maintenance.

Here’s a great way to get your son or daughter in the habit of practicing proper car care. Give them a DIY headlight restoration kit as a gift. It may not be as exciting as a new iPhone or Xbox, but it will help them practice actively taking care of their car.

Also, check your teen’s car for obvious problems that a new driver might not notice. If maintenance is needed on the headlights, consider teaching your teen how to use a headlight lens restorer. If the tires are low, teach them how to fill up their tires with air.

Do you have any additional safe driving tips for teens or parents? Do you have any questions about the tips listed above or about headlight lens restorers in general? Feel free to get in touch.