Summer is a time of fun and adventure, especially for first-time drivers. These drivers are anxious to get out on the road, spend time with friends, and see new places. 

However, as parents or guardians of these young drivers, there are many concerns and worries to work through. Fortunately, there are safety measures and best practices to consider before your child enjoys those summer drives. 

There are ways to ensure your young driver is adequately prepared for the longer days and more time behind the wheel. As a parent, you should consider and understand when to add your child to your car insurance to ensure no lapse in coverage. 

Summer Travel and Driving Tips

Summer driving usually means fun adventures with lots of friends. This often leads to fond memories and great stories but can also lead to dangerous situations. While many young drivers are concerned about travel plans and adequate savings for travel, parents are worried about their day-to-day driving.

Driving in hot weather and summer storms or with a carload of friends presents some concerns for new drivers. Here are eight ways to minimize these issues and ensure your new driver safely gets from point A to point B. 

#1 – Few (But Mostly No) Distractions

One of the biggest causes of summertime vehicle accidents is distractions. There are distractions for drivers in any season or time of year, but summer is when more people are out on the road enjoying time with friends. 

Distractions like too many friends in the car, loud music, and even snacks can cause many problems for drivers.

Studies from entities like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show how dangerous distracted driving can be. A large portion of teens have and will text while driving. Taking even a few seconds to send a quick text can lead to serious, even deadly, results. 

Texting isn’t the only distraction drivers face either. Even talking to others in the car, changing the song, or eating can be just as dangerous. New drivers must know and understand the potential distractions around them.

Young drivers should take steps to limit distractions as they drive. Limiting the number of passengers, not changing music or navigation settings while actively driving, and not texting are all practical and necessary steps to keep everyone safe.

#2 – Prepare for the Weather

Most drivers know to prepare for winter weather, but what about summer weather? While it may not come with snow and ice, summer weather can present dangerous driving conditions for new drivers.

• Heat

The biggest weather concern during the summer months is the heat. Some areas of the U.S. can reach temperatures well over 100 degrees, which can severely strain vehicles and our bodies.

To prepare for the heat, it’s a good idea to get a hot weather tune-up. Consider taking your vehicle to a qualified mechanic to ensure all fluids are topped off, the oil is changed, the tires are ready for hot asphalt, and the AC works properly. 

It’s also a good idea to ensure you are ready for the hotter temperatures. To keep your body cool, have plenty of water daily, stay in the shade when possible, and keep the windows cracked if the AC is on the fritz. 

• Bad Weather

Summer storms can become severe and cause driving conditions to deteriorate quickly. New drivers need to understand how to handle strong storms and winds. Teaching teens how to drive safely in all types of weather is a good idea since this can help increase confidence and reduce stress.

#3 – No Substances

Driving while under the influence of any substance, legal or illegal, is never a good idea. The pressures of being a teenager come with the added pressure of drugs and alcohol. Using them can lead to impaired driving and even more dangerous results. 

Young drivers need to understand how dangerous impaired driving is. Not only are drivers taking risks with their own lives, but they are also risking the lives of all other drivers and passengers on the road. 

Driving under the influence of any substance, prescription or recreational drugs or alcohol, should never be an option.

#4 – Keep Emotions in Check

Driving can trigger some intense emotional reactions. If left unchecked, these reactions can lead to potentially dangerous situations and scenarios. Young drivers should be taught how to manage their emotions and situations that cause those emotions to rise. 

Teen drivers should be taught safe coping mechanisms when emotions start to run high. They should pull to a safe area and catch their breath before returning to the road if they feel overwhelmed or frustrated. 

#5 – Know and Follow the Rules

One of the best ways to be safe is to know, understand, and follow the rules of the road. Everything from speed limits to wearing seat belts is intended to ensure the safety of all drivers and passengers. 

When young drivers know these rules, they will better understand why the rules should be followed. 

#6 – Extra Practice

The old saying, “Practice makes perfect,” is true in many instances, especially regarding driving. The more time drivers spend behind the wheel, the better their driving skills. 

Summer is a great time to log some driving practice because teens spend 44% more time behind the wheel in the summer months. More time driving will increase a driver’s skill set and confidence. Plus, it’ll help ensure you feel more confident sending your teen off behind the wheel.

#7 – Respect Other Drivers

Drivers can only control so much about their time on the road. Hundreds of other vehicles and drivers can present concerns and potential dangers, but we can’t control those drivers. 

The best way to ensure your and all drivers’ safety is to show respect. New drivers must understand that all vehicles, especially large trucks, and semis, drive and react differently. These larger trucks have significant blind spots that have to be monitored by other drivers. 

Knowing and understanding the disadvantages of these larger vehicles will help young drivers stay alert, focused, and out of harm’s way. 

#8 – Set a Curfew

Driving late at night presents another set of concerns and issues. Warmer weather and longer days keep more drivers out late in the summer months, but that doesn’t have to mean teens stay out later. 

Late-night driving increases the risk of accidents because of limited visibility and increased fatigue. 

It’s a good idea to set a firm curfew for teenagers. A reasonable curfew still allows young drivers to enjoy their summer with friends but keeps them out of trouble while driving late at night.

Travel, Safety, and Insurance

Having a new driver presents a host of questions and concerns. Whether for the summer months or extended gap year travel, parents want to encourage the growth and development of their young drivers. One area of contention is auto insurance. 

Many parents wonder when or if they must add a new young driver to their auto insurance policy. The answer is yes, when they receive their driver’s license. New drivers who live at home should be added to their parents’ auto insurance policy even if they aren’t considered a primary driver. 

The biggest issue with adding a new driver to an existing policy is the incredible increase in your premium. In some cases, adding a new driver to your policy can increase your premiums by 161%. This is a significant increase, but it’s still cheaper than purchasing an individual car insurance policy for a teen driver.

The increase in insurance price can be costly, but it doesn’t beat the peace of mind of having an insured and prepared young driver out on the road. 

About the Author

Laura Gunn writes and researches for the auto insurance comparison site, AutoInsurance.org. She is the mom of two growing boys and is already planning for their days on the road. She is passionate about all parents knowing when and how to prepare their children for the road.

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