Eccles Auto Tips for Teen Drivers
To our young teens who may be getting their first car, we’ve got a few excellent tips on how to navigate your first years behind the wheel successfully. It’s important to know that every driver is at-risk for accidents, especially less-experienced drivers. Eccles Auto Service in Dundas Ontario is happy to share the rookie mistakes you need to avoid.
Choose the right car
Whether it’s a hand-me-down, a junkyard rescue, or you’ve saved up enough holiday cash over the last 15 years to purchase your own sweet ride, it’s vital to have a car you can rely on to be safe and dependable. So, before you settle on the car of your dreams, check the list to see if it also meets the top criteria for teen safety:
- Avoid High Horsepower
- Big, Heavy Car
- Proper tires
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
- Great Safety Rating
Put your phone down
We understand it’s your direct connection to everything. However, every text, like, comment and snap will still be there when you get to where you’re going. So, avoid using your phone behind the wheel. Not only is it dangerous, but it’s also against the law. If you need to map your destination, plug in the coordinates before you ever turn the key and keep your hands free. There’s no text that’s ever important enough to risk your life to answer.
Get smarter
Maybe the last thing you think you want to do is sit at another desk in another classroom. But seriously, the last thing you actually want is to total your new primary source of transportation because you just didn’t have the tools you needed to be a safer driver. So consider taking driving school. Not only will you be smarter and safer, but you’ll also be able to save on car insurance!
Slow down
When you’re on the road, it’s easy enough to recognize you’re cruising past the speed limit, and although it might be fun, you know it’s not safe. But truly, more speed-related incidents occur where posted limits aren’t as obvious, such as parking lots and private properties. All it takes is a little bit of a heavy foot to earn your first fender bender badge.
Stay focused on the road
Whether it’s the radio dial, a smartphone, a car full of friends, a distracted teen driver is a dangerous teen driver. Focus on the road and ride solo as often as possible. Risk for an accident increases considerably for every teen passenger in a car with a teen behind the wheel.
These tips are no guarantee you’ll be 100 percent safe in your first years of driving. But they’re a great place to start. If your new vehicle needs an inspection, tire alignment, an oil change, or any form of maintenance bring it by Eccles Auto Service in Dundas Ontario before you hit the road!