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Mistakes are made more often in teen driving than during car trips with older, more experienced people behind the wheel. Because teens that have recently received their driver’s licenses are still learning to handle their vehicles effectively, safety is important. Driving school instructors recommend avoiding these mistakes that are often made by young drivers.

What Are Common Driving Mistakes Teens Make?

1. Failing to Use Turn Signals

Many new drivers fail to utilize their turn signals at all, while others aren’t using them correctly. Turn signals help avoid accidents by giving nearby drivers time to slow down in anticipation of your next move. Switch them on about 100 feet before your intended turn or lane change to avoid an accident.

2. Tunnel Vision

Teens driving tend to focus on one specific thing at a time rather than being more broadly aware of their surroundings. They can become easily distracted by things like monitoring their speed or staying in their lane, so they don’t notice an upcoming traffic light change or merging traffic approaching ahead of them. Having this tunnel vision makes it more difficult to react to changing conditions in a safe and timely manner.

3. Speeding

Studies have shown that young drivers are more likely to speed than more experienced drivers. This is due, in part, to not having the driving training needed to accurately maintain steady pressure on the accelerator. This is problematic because speeding makes it more difficult to stop in an emergency. 

4. Driving Distracted

Teen DrivingDistracted driving is much more common in teen driving. Experts have found that despite knowing the risks, young people drive distracted at much higher rates than more experienced drivers. This increases the risk of being involved in a collision.

5. Aggressive Driving

A lack of experience amongst young drivers causes them to behave more erratically behind the wheel. This includes aggressive techniques like tailgating, changing lanes rapidly, or dangerously passing up slower vehicles. Aggressive driving tactics put everyone on the road at a higher risk of experiencing an accident.

 

Ensure young drivers in your family are safe on the road by signing them up for driving classes with the experts at Bob Shropshire Sons Driving School in Cincinnati, OH. Their specialists offer a variety of teen driving courses designed to instill the best practices for lawful and responsible driving habits, so both you and your young drivers can be confident in their abilities. They’re conveniently located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati. Reserve a spot by calling (513) 721-3915. Learn more about their services online.
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