Creating a Safe Teen Driver

Key To a Defensive Driving Attitude

How many times have you heard a teen say "It's not fair!"

My observation is that this can be a key contributor if the newly minted driver is involved in a collision with another vehicle. The new driver has just learned the Rules of the Road, and has been told over and over that obeying them is required. Subconsciously, the new driver has developed the attitude that everyone else will do the same. When this expectation is not met, the result can be a collision.

One of the key elements we stress in our defensive driving course is to always assume that the other driver will do the wrong thing - that way, you as the defensive driver may be pleasantly surprised when they do the right thing, but you'll be ready when they don't.

Getting a new driver to watch out for the mistakes of others will go a long way in making them a much safer driver, even if "it's not fair".