Driving advice for newbies

> Your parents and driving instructor may have forgotten to tell you about some of these ...

they text (as in using their smartphones other than for verbal conversations) while driving. The numbers already show that even talking on a mobile phone will increase the chances of you getting into an accident, and that’s when your eyes are actually on the road! When you text, your eyes aren’t fully watching the road; those few precious seconds back and forth can be the difference between life and death.

If you don’t think you’ll be able to resist answering or checking your phone while driving, a good rule of thumb is to put it somewhere in the car where you absolutely can’t get to it while driving, like the very back. Yes, the caller may have to wait a few extra minutes to get a reply from you, but at least you won’t be causing accidents or getting hurt.

Driving under the influence Completely not worth it! Don’t drink and drive, and don’t ride with anyone who has been drinking (alcoholic beverages, that is). It doesn’t matter if you think you can pull it off – chances are, you can’t and you’ll get into a crash. Call your parents or other, non-drinking/drunk friends to take you home if you need a ride. Similarly, don’t drive or ride with anyone who has been doing drugs. This can include over-thecounter drugs, depending on how drowsy they can make you.

Distractions Putting on your makeup, changing the radio station, friends goofing around in the backseat – all these can lead to you losing focus and taking your eyes off the road. Avoiding accidents often require a split-second decision to brake or swerve, so eliminating distractions is vital to increase your odds. For a new driver like you, it is recommended to limit your passengers to just older family members (who have more driving experience than you) for the first year.

Fatigue Drowsiness can totally sneak up on you when you’re driving. For teenagers, driving late at night, say, between 11pm and 2am is a particularly dangerous time for falling asleep at the wheel. Here are some signs to watch for and do something about before you run into a tree or another car. You yawn a lot. You have trouble keeping your eyes open.

You don’t remember the last few minutes or seconds.

Your head or body jerks from the brink of falling asleep.

You can’t concentrate. The car wanders from the road, or into another lane.

What to do if you’re falling asleep

Immediately slow down and pull off the road into a safe parking space. Lock your doors and take a nap, at least 20-45 minutes.

Make a pit stop. Use the bathroom and drink something with caffeine and/or sugar. Sit up straight. If you have a passenger, talk to them. Play some music loudly. Sing along! Roll your window all the way down, or turn your air-conditioner on full, cold blast, with the vents directed at your face.

What to do if you’re in an accident Accidents happen to nearly every driver. Although accidents are a frightening and an emotional situation, try and remember the steps below:

Immediately call the emergency number 999 if anyone is injured. If everyone’s okay, assess the scene.

If possible, do not move any cars until photos have been taken, especially the car(s) numbers.

Call the police before calling anyone else. You are required by law to report the accident, no matter what the people at the scene – the driver of the other car(s), bystanders, other motorists, tow truck operators, etc – tell you. Don’t get intimidated!

Don’t leave your valuables like wallets, handbags and mobile phone in the car while you’re out of it. Call your parents if you need to. Get information from the other driver(s), including their name, address, phone number, and their insurance carrier.

Take photos with your phone or your passenger’s phone. Be sure to get pictures of the position of the cars, the damage, injury and anything else that are relevant. This can later help to prove how the crash happened.

Get the names and numbers of any witnesses.

Write down a note or make a voice memo for yourself, while the details of the accident are fresh in your mind. This can help with questioning later.

Call your insurance company/agent.

* Share this article, as well as last Friday’s Part 1, with your loved ones who are about to get into the wonderful world of driving!