How to Prepare Your Teen Driver for Road Dangers and Accidents

It’s not enough to just teach your kids to drive. They should also be taught what to do in certain situations. Once you hand them the keys, you won’t always be by their side to help them and they should know what to do.

Tire Blowout

First, if your child has never been in a car that has blown a tire, tell them what to expect. It can sound like a loud boom followed by thumping sounds. It’s important they remain in control of the vehicle and not slam on their brakes.

They should pull safely off the side of the roadway by taking their foot off the gas and let the car slow down naturally onto the side of the road – as far as possible. Their hazard lights should be turned on and they should look for traffic before exiting the vehicle to assess the tire.

If they are on a dangerous road such as a busy highway, it may be best to call for assistance instead of attempting to change the tire on their own.

Skidding

If they find themselves in a position where their car is suddenly skidding out of control it’s crucial that they know how to not make the situation worse. Instead of turning into the skid, which can be confusing to young drivers, instruct them to take their foot off of the gas and gently steer the car toward a focal point.

If they oversteer or try to turn the wheel left and right it can easily cause a rollover accident. This is especially true for top-heavy vehicles and sport utility vehicles. Only after they have regained control of the vehicle should they apply brake pressure – if needed.

Accidents

Vehicle accidents happen. Whether it is their fault or the other drivers, safety precautions in handling the accident should be followed. If the accident occurs at a busy intersection or highway and the car is still operable, they should pull the vehicle into a safe spot.

It will not hinder the investigation and their first priority should be their safety, as well as the safety of oncoming cars. If the vehicle is inoperable, they should not stand by the car in the roadway. Instead – walk to the furthest side of the road until help arrives.

If they are not involved in the accident but are a witness to another accident, instruct them to pull over and not leave the scene until help arrives or at a minimum giving the other drivers their information.

Be sure they know not to move an injured person as it could make their injuries worse. In both instances, they should call 911 or have someone else call if they do not have a phone.

Equip your teen drivers with a roadside emergency kit as well and show them how to use it. The kit should include flares, safety triangles, and a safety sign which they can place near the scene of the accident to prevent other accidents from occurring.

If possible, they should call the insurance agent from the accident scene and pass along the other drivers’ insurance information. They should also request to see the drivers license and copy the information or take a photo as well.

In some cases, police will not respond to the scene of the accident so it’s important they know what information to have before they leave.