Watching your student go to university is always an unnerving experience. There are so many things to worry about, least of all their safety on the road. While the UK certainly doesn’t have the 5,891,000 motor vehicle accidents that the United States does every year, plenty of accidents happen here and threaten your child’s health. So here are a few tips to teach them before they go away to university to learn.
Put the Phone Away
Cell phones are addicting to all ages. Even adults have a hard time not checking theirs as they drive. And your university-bound student is likely going to be joined at the hip with their phone when on the road. Teach them safety tips, like pulling to the side of the road to answer texts to avoid accidents. Or teach them to simply turn off the phone and answer texts after they’ve arrived.
Practice the Roundabouts
The roundabout is a staple of UK roads and is easy to understand once you’ve mastered it. However, your student may feel uncomfortable on it at first or fail to understand what to do. So find a place to practice (such as a rarely used roundabout) and take your child there to practice. Remember: they have to yield to traffic in the circle but can go into it without vehicles.
Keep Your Car in Great Shape
Let’s be frank: teens don’t know much about maintaining a car’s health. For instance, they probably don’t know that they should change the oil every 3,000 miles or the vehicle’s manufacturer suggested. Go over these vital statistics and facts and create a list that they can use to avoid breakdowns. If necessary, budget money to pay for these repairs yourself.
Stay in Place After Drinking
Your teen is likely to drink when at university. The amount they drink will vary, but you need to emphasize the importance of staying in place after drinking. Try to get them to only drink at home or when visiting friends. Unfortunately, you may also need to be ready to come to pick them up (if they’re close to you) if they get drunk and have no other way to get home.
Minimize Your Moving Experiences
Do you remember your years at university and how often you moved? If so, you won’t be surprised to learn that one-third of people in their 20s will move during any year. Emphasize to your child that moving is a demanding and challenging experience, one that increases their risk of accidents. Find them a home and roommates that fit their personality to get the best results.
Come Home Early on Holidays
If your student plans on coming home for the holidays, try to get them to come home earlier rather than later. Roads are usually terrible for the two days before and after a holiday. If they come and leave a little later, they’re more likely to experience less traffic and safer road conditions as they drive.
Balance Your Mirrors Properly
Did you know that most people do not balance their mirrors properly on their car? If you didn’t, there’s a good chance that your teen does not. When you properly adjust all of your car mirrors, you have a nearly 360-degree view of the road without blind spots. The side mirrors must be adjusted to the point just after you can no longer see the side of your vehicle. And the rearview mirror must be level and easy for your teen to see.
These steps will protect your child’s health and ensure that they don’t get hurt on the road. Thankfully, experience will eventually teach them to handle many of these steps without your advice. Until then, though, you’ll need to emphasize them frequently to avoid issues. Doing so will help provide your young ones with the support and encouragement they need to be a great driver.
Additional resources:
- FVF Law – traffic accident and personal injury lawyers
- How to plan a safe and fun family road trip
- Crash statistics: how road deaths spiked early this year
