Are you worried about your kid driving to school or to a football game? If so, you’re not alone. A lot of parents fear that their children will be involved in a car accident that leaves them seriously injured. One way to try to prevent that outcome and give yourself some peace of mind is to talk to your child about defensive driving.
Defensive driving tips
Defensive driving is one of the best ways to protect yourself from a serious car accident. But it doesn’t always come naturally, which is why it might be best for you to discuss these tips with your child.
- Stay focused: Driving requires an individual’s undivided attention. That’s the only way to accurately assess traffic and weather conditions, identify hazards, and recognize traffic signs and signals. So, remind your child to eliminate distractions like cellphone use and eating while driving.
- Use the three or four second rule: Here, you merely keep three to four seconds of distance between your vehicle and the driver in front of you. This gives you time to safely stop, even if the driver in front of you slams on the brakes.
- Be seen: You can reduce your risk of being in an accident by simply positioning your vehicle so that it can be seen. Try to avoid blind spots and attempt to give yourself enough room to get out of danger if another driver swerves toward you.
- Plan for the worst: Let your child know that he or she can’t rely on other drivers to operate their vehicles safely. As such, your child should anticipate that drivers will move in unpredictable and dangerous ways. Doing so should maintain alertness and ensure that defensive actions are taken.
Be open and honest with your child
These are just a few of the many defensive driving techniques that your child can utilize. Of course, talking about safety with your child might be challenging if he or she is inexperienced with dangerous situations and the various hazards on the roadways. That’s why you should do your best to be open and honest with them, helping them see what’s truly at stake when involved in a car accident.
