So you’ve just got your license and you’re all set to hit the ground running, right? Wrong. You still don’t know all there is to know about driving, especially driving alone for the first time. We are offering some new driver safety tips to get you a little more prepared for the road.

1. CHECKLIST

First, it is important to create a checklist of good habits to start when you first sit in the driver’s seat. It should look something like this:

• Fasten your seatbelt
• Adjust your seat
• Adjust your mirrors
• Check your emergency and turning signals

2. KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

Secondly, the most essential step is to familiarize yourself with your vehicle. Its just you and your car now. The two of you have to become one to react quickly on the road. Find your buttons, lights, signals, etc. Knowing where they are can help avoid distraction on the road.

3. TEST DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE

In following with the second step, you want to test drive your vehicle in inclement weather to know how it reacts. Generally, you may want to start in a parking lot or less crowded roads.

4. CHECK YOUR BLINDSPOT

The Blindspot is exactly that. Its an area just outside of your peripheral vision, and anyone driving in it is risking their safety. Be sure to look over your shoulder, or sit up enough to see your blindspot in your sideview mirrors before turning or changing lanes.

5. DO NOT USE ELECTRONIC DEVICES WHILE DRIVING

In addition, with all the new technology, its very tempting to connect your phone to your vehicle. You may think its cool to answer calls through the car speakers or to play music from your favorite playlists, but this is only convenient for more experienced drivers. To you, its just another distraction. Most importantly, don’t text. I’m sure we don’t need to elaborate on this point.

While there are many other ways to practice safe driving as a new driver, starting with these tips will increase your chances of staying safe on the road.

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Coaching your teen driver can be difficult. They have a tendency to be impatient, which is just because they’re itching for the freedom of the road. It can be a difficult task. Not only that, but the rules of the road have changed a bit. Because of this, we’ve compiled a list of driving tips to pass on to your millennial teen driver. The best way to ensure good driving habits and safety practices is by instilling these tips from the very start.

The first rule you want to instill in your teen is wearing their seatbelt. This wasn’t always mandated. It’s important to impress upon your teen the importance of wearing their safety belt, while also making sure that all of their occupants are wearing theirs. Young people aging from 15-24 only represent 14% of the population. However, they are responsible for 30% of motor vehicle injuries.

There are other safety guidelines that weren’t around when you were learning to drive. For example, cell phone usage. Using your cell phone while driving can be extremely dangerous and in many states, it’s also punishable by law. Kindly tell your teen that while you want them to have their cellphone in case of emergencies, that it shouldn’t be used while driving.

The old “keep your hands at 10 and 2” rule has also changed. Experts now agree that the optimal hand placement for a steering wheel is 9 and 3. It reduces the risk of arm injury in case of an accident. Bent and relaxed arms placed at 9 and 3 are less likely to be injured by a deployed airbag.

Finally, your teen driver’s biggest distraction will be their passengers. It can be exciting riding the town without parents, which can lead to horseplay. Discuss with your teen the importance of focusing on the road to keep them and their friends safe. We wish you the best of luck in coaching your teen driver.

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