Here’s the thing about driving. It seems really simple as you learn to drive; however, accidents can happen even if you’re a great driver.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more young drivers are involved in vehicle car crashes compared to older adult drivers each year in the US.

While not all of these are preventable, young drivers have some simple steps that they can follow for better safety on the road. Here are some main ways to prevent driving accidents if you’re a young driver.

1.  If You’re in an Accident, Contact a Lawyer

If you are involved in an accident, the first thing you should do is contact a lawyer. Lawyers specialize in this area of law and can help you navigate the legal process and ensure your rights are protected.

If another driver caused the accident, the other driver’s insurance company would likely want to settle with you as soon as possible

If you don’t have an attorney to assist in such instances yet, you can contact Dolman Law Group’s experienced attorneys to discuss your case if it happened in Massachusetts.

2.  Buckle Up

Just as proper planning for traveling on a budget is essential, buckling up is one of the easiest ways for young drivers to prevent accidents and save lives. In fact, not wearing a seatbelt is one of the biggest risks for teen deaths in car accidents — regardless of age.

According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belt use reduces the risk of death in vehicle collisions by 45% and serious injury by 50%.

The NHTSA also found that more than half of fatalities from vehicle accidents in 2020 were unrestrained. So make sure you buckle up every time you get behind the wheel.

3.  Follow Traffic Laws and Safety Rules

Always follow traffic laws and use signals when turning or changing lanes. If law enforcement officers stop you, follow their instructions carefully to avoid being ticketed or arrested for violations.

While this may seem obvious, it’s crucial to understand how important it is to obey speed limits, not run red lights or stop signs, and follow lane rules when merging into traffic lanes or changing lanes on the highway.

These small safety precautions could potentially save lives in the long run.

4.  Avoid Distracted Driving

Distractions can be hazardous for any driver, but they’re especially risky for new ones because their inexperience can lead to poor judgment.

The most common distraction while driving is using a mobile phone, which includes talking on it and texting or emailing.

If you have an urgent call or text you need to send or receive while behind the wheel, pull over at a safe location where there’s no traffic and ensure you have time to pay full attention to your phone before resuming driving.

5.  Drive Sober

Alcohol can stay in your system for up to 12 hours after drinking stops, depending on how much you drank and how quickly your body metabolizes alcohol.

Drinking two beers over an hour might not make much difference, but drinking four beers over three hours could leave you feeling pretty tipsy — and possibly drunk if you drink enough of them.

Therefore, if you or someone else is going to be driving after drinking alcohol, it’s important to think about how much time it will take for your body to get rid of the alcohol in your system and its effects while you’re behind the driving wheel.

6.  Practice Defensive Driving Techniques

Defensive driving is the best way for young drivers to avoid accidents. You should always keep an eye on your surroundings when you’re on the road, especially in areas where there are many other cars and pedestrians.

You should watch for cars that might pull out in front of you or people who could jump into traffic unexpectedly. It’s also important to be aware of other driver’s blind spots, which are areas that may cause an accident if someone isn’t paying attention in that area.

You Can Avoid Many Accidents by Simply Driving Responsibly

If there’s one thing that young drivers can take away from this blog post, it’s that they have so much to gain by being extremely cautious and responsible when they drive.

By doing so, they’ll put themselves on the path to building a safer driving history—which isn’t something we can say of all new drivers.