As soon as you turn sixteen-years-old, it’s off to the races to get your driver’s license. You’ve had little to no driving experience, except in the dungy parking lot at your grandparent’s house, but you feel like a pro. After a few driving lessons with a strict driving instructor, you’re ready to ditch the scooter and move up to vehicle-status. You passed the test, without even having to do a parallel park! You’re relieved, excited, and feel closer to being an adult than you’ve ever felt before. However, this excitement, inexperience, and inhibition can lead to dangerous car accidents. A crash can occur in no time, leaving another driver injured—or even dead.
Crucial Steps to Follow While Driving
When driving, there are a few key steps that you must follow to ensure your safety, and the safety of other drivers on the road. Here are a few tips to follow:
- Ensure that you obey the speed limits, as excessive speed is one of the main reasons that so many teenagers are involved in motor vehicle accidents.
- Make sure that everyone in your vehicle is wearing a seatbelt, and do not fit more people in your car than there are seatbelts.
- Make sure that your headrest is adjusted so that it is located directly behind your head to help prevent whiplash in a crash.
- Make sure that you’re driving with a clean windshield to prevent the glare of the sun.
- Always be aware of how much gas you’re driving with, and never ride around with your gas tank on empty.
- Always make sure that the intersection is clear before driving through a green light.
These are a few basic driving tips for teens that will prevent future accidents and ensure that no car accident settlements need to be received.
Teens and Texting
It is difficult for many people, not only teenagers, to be without their phones. Texting is second nature to people now, and it’s difficult not to look at your phone when the buzz, ring, or vibrate sounds. There are new distracted driving laws in Ontario that prevent this distracting behaviour on the roads. It is now illegal to operate any hand-held devices while driving, and if you get caught doing so—you will be charged. It’s been proven that even by talking on the cell phone while driving, it will increase the chances of you getting into a car accident. When you’re texting, your eyes are not even on the road, and an accident can happen within the few seconds it takes to look at your phone and back up at the road. It’s best to put your phone in the glove department, or even in the back seat, if you know that you have the tendency to check it.
Hiring a Toronto Personal Injury Lawyer
Crashes do happen, despite following these driving tips. You can only control your own driving, not the driving of others around you. If you have been involved in a car accident and are looking to receive a car accident settlement, a Toronto personal injury lawyer will be happy to help you with your case. Book a free consultation with a lawyer at Sokoloff today, and receive the car accident settlement that you deserve for your loses.
Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html
http://teendriving.com/driving-tips/on-the-road/
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/distracted-driving.shtml