5 Tips for teenagers after passing the driving exam in Florida

Are you a teenager and just passed the driving exam? Well, congratulations for passing and getting ready your new license! However, driving is a big responsibility, and especially for teenagers who are just starting out, it could be deceiving, because they think they really know how to drive just for passing the driving exam. Here are 5 tips to help you stay safe on the road:

1. Avoid Distractions: Distracted driving is a leading cause of crashes, especially among young drivers. Keep your phone out of reach (yes, you know it, but admit it, you do it), avoid eating or drinking while driving (many times is not considered that dangerous), and focus on the road (sounds very obvious, but it is a forgotten very often).

2. Follow Traffic Rules: Obey traffic signals, speed limits, and other rules of the road. Don't take risks, it is always worthy to get a few minutes late than late with a ticket or even worse, not arriving at all because of a crash.

3. Wear Your Seatbelt: Buckle up every time you get in the car, and make sure your passengers do the same. In Florida, many people get tickets because they don’t know that any person under the age of 18 inside the car (in the front or rear seat) not wearing the seatbelt is against the law. Seatbelts save lives and reduce the risk of serious injury in a crash.

4. Practice Defensive Driving: Always be aware of your surroundings, check behind every time you brake and anticipate other never trust other drivers. Keep a safe distance from other vehicles, especially large trucks and buses.

5. Avoid Driving Under the Influence: Did you know that a DUI will be in your record for 75 years? Did you know that some DUI cases have cost the driver almost $9K? Drinking and driving is a serious offense, and it puts yourself and others at risk. Don't get behind the wheel if you've been drinking, and never ride with someone who has.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, drivers ages 16-19 have the highest crash rate of any age group in Florida. In 2019, there were 37,150 crashes involving drivers in this age group, resulting in 144 fatalities and 23,724 injuries. The first year of driving is particularly risky, with young drivers being 3 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than drivers over age 20.

It's also important to note that there are legal consequences for breaking traffic laws and/or causing a crash. Speeding, running a red light, and other traffic violations can result in fines, points on your license, and even license suspension or revocation. If you are at fault in a crash, you could be held liable for damages and injuries

If you ever said or thought this line: “that’s not gonna happen to me”, my friend, you are more vulnerable than many out there driving with the same experience you have. Don’t be part of the statistics!!!

Educated drivers = safer roads

We’ve been teaching people how to drive for almost 25 years now, during this time we’ve seen a lot of technological changes in vehicles. Innovations like keyless entry, rearview cameras, satellite radio, sensor operated windshield wipers and others are just a few examples of what I’m talking about.

But today’s pace of technological evolution in the automotive industry goes far beyond those relatively simple innovations and is accelerating rapidly. Vehicles today are smarter, safer and more productive than ever – provided that drivers are aware of new technology and understand how to get the most out of it.

Vehicle manufacturers will fight to get you inside their products offering everything possible out of the combination between comfort and technology, readiness for communication, safety and others to be ahead of competitors.

But here’s the question: Do drivers know about everything available there and understand how to get the maximum use out of it?

I have no doubt most drivers don’t know all about these features and understand the benefits they offer; the reason is simple, many people don’t read the operator’s manual. Even worse, many people go to the dealers to ask questions about different features on their new vehicles and representatives at the dealer don’t know how to use them either.

This is why I think that the problem is lack of education, in many levels. It takes time to produce such innovations and to be incorporated to vehicles, but everything could b just a waist of money if we pay for a vehicle with X number of features that we’ll never use because we don’t know how to use them.

It’s a tough nut to crack knowing all aspects and systems in your vehicle,  but it’s worth the effort. There’s no question new vehicle systems can make you safer, more productive and better rested. More importantly, many of these systems are proven winners when it comes to saving time and crashes – and nothing affects the bottom line as dramatically as having what it takes to be safer on the road.

Proper education about your vehicle as well as defensive driving techniques will be able to get you on the road for the years to come easily and safe. See you out there folks!!!