There’s a reason why a teenage driver’s auto insurance rates are so expensive. Their inexperience behind the wheel leads to many common mistakes found among young drivers.
Probably the most common mistake among younger drivers is 
speeding. Obviously, the faster a person drives the longer it takes to stop and prevent an accident from occurring. I don’t have to explain all the dangers speeding brings with it, we’ve heard it all our life.
Another mistake common found in teenage drivers is the amount of distractions in the vehicle. As you already know, kids have many distractions in their car that can take their attention from the road. We have cell phones, iPods, and worst of all other kids in the car.
If you can limit the type or amount of passengers your child can carry in the car, you will make a huge impact by reducing or one of the biggest distractions. Other kids will influence your young driver to do things that he may not normally consider. The passengers will also be answering their phones, engaging in conversations, hanging out the windows, and other things that can cause your younger driver to look away from the road.
Over correcting is another common mistake. Because of their lack of experience, when a new driver gets into a situation where they need to correct they often over-correct causing loss of control of their vehicle. If they are also speeding this would compound of the effect and potentially cause a serious accident.
Our kids have been learning how to drive by watching us ever since they were young. If we have a habit of speeding, they will most likely develop the same habit. If we talk on the phone, play with the radio, or keep that while we’re driving then they will do the same when they drive. It is important to give your young driver good habits from the start. If you didn’t do that, you can start now.
The other day, my oldest daughter commented on how I didn’t signal when I made a turn. At first, I was getting ready to defend why I didn’t signal and it was okay and then realized she has her drivers permit and will be driving on her own in a few months. I quickly stopped defending and said, “You’re right. I should have signaled. I’m not sure why I didn’t.”
If a child takes a driver’s education course, this will help with his or her safety. It’s important for them to maintain a clean driving record, not only for their safety. This will allow your child to qualify for good driver discounts earlier. Keep these mistakes in mind when teaching your new driver how to drive. It will allow you the opportunity to prepare them and teach them how to react when they occur.
