Like many Oklahoma parents, if you are currently teaching someone how to drive, you may have already experienced a few urgent situations on the road where you were at risk for collision. Inexperienced drivers often make mistakes, sometimes minor ones, such as forgetting to use a turn signal when exiting a parking spot or pulling away from a curb; other times, new drivers may become distracted at the wheel or misjudge the distance between their vehicles and others, thus placing themselves and their passengers (or instructors) at risk for injury.
As you do your best to help your driving student learn the ways of the road and develop skills that will enable him or her to become an independent driver, there are several things you can do to help lower the risk for distracted driving collisions. You can also provide support resources for the young driver at hand, in case an accident occurs.
Set a good example
One of the best ways to teach the dangers of distracted driving is to set a good example by being a safe driver yourself. The following list includes practical ideas to help novice drivers and others stay safe:
- There is no way to safely multitask while driving. Whether using a cellphone, eating or drinking behind the wheel, or even turning around to interact with someone in the back seat, you place yourself and others at risk for injury if you try to do anything other than focus on driving.
- If you are teaching someone to drive, it is critical that you provide clear instruction regarding distracted driving danger. Emphasizing important facts like keeping eyes on the road and hands on the wheel at all times may help inexperienced drivers and others avoid a collision.
- Motorists ages 16-24 are at great risk for injuries in collisions involving hand-held cellphone devices.
You may recall a time in your past when leisurely drives through the country or around town were typical happenings in the average family lifestyle. Nowadays, high-speed traffic and busy roadways make it difficult to do such things. However, it’s still possible to enjoy driving and also to enjoy teaching someone to drive as long as you adhere to the traffic regulations designed to keep you safe.
What if you can’t escape a distract driver on the road?
No matter how cautious and alert you are behind the wheel, another person’s negligence can turn your uneventful trip into an urgent situation. If you suffer injury because of someone’s negligence, you should not have to bear the full impact of the expenses associated with the incident.
Many Oklahoma accident survivors seek recovery for their losses in court, which often leads to compensation that can help offset medical bills and other related costs.