A young teen sits in the driver's seat of a new car and reaches out the window for the key

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10 teenage driver safety tips

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Safe driving is key to adulting. Why? Because when you’re a safe driver, you can depend on yourself for transportation. Getting to school? Not a problem. Shopping? You can do that. Seeing friends? Easy.

Not only does safe driving help you feel confident and independent, but it also saves money on car insurance. And — most importantly — you’re less likely to get in an accident.

Here are 10 safe driving tips to keep you safe on the road. 🚗

4 General safe driving practices

First, let’s cover essential safety tips when driving.

1. Buckle up

As the driver, it’s your responsibility to remind everyone in the car to put their seatbelt on. Plus, make sure yours is always buckled.

2. Minimize distractions

Focus is key. Avoid using your cell phone, eating, drinking, or adjusting controls while driving.

3. Limit driving at night

Some drivers get tired — or are more likely to be distracted — late at night, so stick to daytime driving whenever possible. This also keeps you away from other drivers who are distracted or possibly under the influence.

4. Never drive when tired or under the influence

Driving when tired or under the influence of drugs or alcohol is much more likely to cause serious accidents. Never drive if you’re in either of these states — and never get in a car with anyone driving while impaired. If you’re in a situation where you need a ride home, leave your car and call a parent or trusted adult to come pick you up.

6 Inclement weather and seasonal driving safety tips

Learning to drive brings a sense of independence and accomplishment, especially when you’re driving in day-to-day circumstances. But unpredictable situations can happen to any driver — snow, fog, and driving at night are just a few examples.

Here are some tips to prepare for those less common and more stressful situations.

1. Go slow in rainy and wet conditions

Always drive slowly and leave plenty of space between you and the car in front of you. Feel free to pull over and wait it out if it gets hard to see. Waiting is better than feeling anxious or having an accident. Another tip for driving in the rain? If it starts to rain heavily, turn on your headlights to help other drivers see your car.

2. Use fog lights in low visibility

Foggy, low-visibility weather calls for fog lights and slow driving. These low-beam headlights will help you see where you’re going.

Our best safety tip for driving in fog? Avoid turning on your high-beam headlights or brights because the fog will reflect the light, making it even harder to see.

3. Stay alert when driving at night

Make sure you’re well-rested before driving at night. Consider playing music, a podcast, or an audiobook to stay alert and awake.

Keep night drives short and avoid any long, nighttime road trips. Additionally, turn off any lights inside the car so you can focus on the road.

Night driving safety? Check.

4. Keep a safe distance when driving in snow or ice

Our top winter driving safety tips are to drive slowly and give yourself plenty of space to turn and stop. Everything goes slower in snow and ice, which means it will take more space and time to turn or come to a complete stop. So, be cautious, go slowly, and stay as calm as possible.

5. Be mindful of new drivers in the summer

Summer = warm weather and no school (which is pretty great 🙌). But that also means cars are at a higher risk for overheating, and other teens may be learning to drive in their free time.

Step 1.) Park in the shade and make sure your car has enough coolant. This will keep it running smoothly all summer long. Step 2.) Be extra cautious on the road. There are likely many first-time drivers out there. Defensive driving will be your new bestie.

6. Use caution when driving in the fall

Now that we’ve covered summer driving safety tips let’s get into fall driving safety tips. In addition to beautiful leaves, fall brings a few hazards to keep in mind.

It’s likely to rain more often and frost overnight. Be prepared to drive in the rain, and be mindful of frost on the ground in the mornings. If you see frost, leave plenty of space between you and the car in front of you and drive slowly.

What is defensive driving? How does it help you be a better driver?

Defensive driving is a safe driving practice that reduces hazards. So, what does that actually mean? It means being alert, informed, and cautious to proactively prevent accidents or hazards — rather than simply reacting as they arise.

Let’s walk through it. As a defensive driver, you’re alert and focused when you get in the car — and always buckle up. When driving, you look at the road for debris, stopped cars, animals, pedestrians, and other hazards. You leave plenty of space between you and other cars and respond calmly if an unexpected situation arises. This type of driving reduces your likelihood of getting in accidents.

TLDR; Defensive driving means always being one step ahead and staying focused and calm in the car.

Use Greenlight Infinity to stay safe

When it comes to safe driving, car safety apps are game-changers. They monitor your location, send alerts when you’re in trouble, and so much more.

Greenlight is here to support you on your safe driving journey. That’s why we built in crash detection to Greenlight Infinity. The app will alert 911 and your emergency contacts if you're in an accident. With one simple swipe, you can also easily send SOS alerts to 911, family members, or both. So you and your family have peace of mind.

Safe driving? Check.

Being a safe, responsible driver is a must-have life skill. ✅ You’ve already nailed the first step by being curious and reading these driver tips for beginners! Now, it’s your turn in the driver’s seat.

The takeaway? Practice defensive driving by being cautious, alert, and focused whenever you get behind the wheel. Plus, be on the lookout for hazardous situations — like heavy rain and nighttime driving. They’ll take extra attention and patience but don’t worry. You got this. 💪

Ready to learn more? Read about car insurance, buying your first car, and more on Greenlight’s blog.