Sitting behind the wheel of your first car is exciting and potentially liberating. Here are some things every new driver should consider before heading out on the road.
Keep Off That Mobile Phone
New young drivers might be part of the first generation that have found their mobile phones to be indispensable tools in their social and work lives. Unfortunately, this means that too many young people are being distracted by their mobile devices when they are driving. Distracted driving is one of the major causes of road fatality in the United States. Drivers aged 25-34 were the most likely to be involved in a road accident while using their mobile phone. Legislators are currently pushing for harsher laws governing the use of mobile phones on the road. Don’t make checking your mobile phone on the road a habit – it could come back to bite you.
Get Properly Insured
Make sure to purchase comprehensive insurance if you are driving a car that you actually cherish. 3rd Party insurance is a legal requirement in most states, but it is wise to cover damage to your own property as well. Companies like Root Insurance offer comprehensive plans that take into account factors such as car power, location, and frequency of travel when they offer a quote.
Go Cheap And Cheerful
New drivers might be tempted to save up and get a high-powered car or truck for their first vehicle. Unless you need such a vehicle for work or because you live away from paved roads they you will be wasting your money purchasing a high-powered or flashy vehicle for your first car. High-powered vehicles cost more to insure and tend to guzzle gas. Get something cheap that you don’t mind seeing pranged a few times.
You Can’t Control The Actions Of Others
You might be confident in your own driving ability, but that does not mean you are not susceptible to other people’s bad driving. Keep your wits about you even if you have complete confidence.
Take A break
Long inter-state drives can be relatively grueling experiences. The life of a long-distance trucker is not for everybody. New drivers are likely to have small cars with low-powered engines due to insurance costs. These vehicles are slightly more tiring to drive long-distance as they are geared for low-speed travel and often rattle when on the interstate highway traveling at 70 miles per hour.
Tiredness kills. According to the United States Department of Transportation, drowsy driving was the cause of 697 road-based fatalities in 2019 alone. If you feel your eyes begin to roll, treat it as an immediate danger. Stop at the nearest possible exit and take a 20-minute break. A cup of coffee will sometimes do the trick, but caffeine only temporarily affects your ability to stay awake. A break with some food and sleep is the best way of countering drowsy driving. Drowsy driving was causing so many accidents involving long-distance truckers that laws had to be introduced preventing truckers from driving over a predetermined length of time.
