Helping Your Teen Navigate Winter Driving
No matter the weather conditions during winter in the United States, teenagers who have never experienced winter driving need to take special precautions. Winter isn’t merely a time when the weather turns foul. In fact, some areas of the country experience extremely pleasant outdoor conditions. It’s also a time when other drivers, motorcycle riders, bicyclists and pedestrians often become more distracted and inattentive. In some areas, various animals act differently as well. This guide covers everything parents need to know to teach their teen drivers in winter and how to drive safely in winter. Read on to learn more…
Why Does Winter Change Road Habits?
The winter season usually marks a time when people experience a greater rush to get things done. There are a lot of winter events and holidays. In some regions, dark, overcast skies and cooler temperature changes make people drowsier and reduce their reaction time or make them overcompensate by speeding. Seasonal Affective Disorder and repeated storm systems entering a region with rapid barometric changes can cause some people to become anxious, depressed and irritable.
Animals awakened from hibernation, experiencing their mating season, or searching for food often wander onto roads. Both humans and other animals alike can have more problems with visibility. Of course, bad weather conditions like heavy winds, snow, ice or rain make people more stressed and less aware of their surroundings.
Top Things to Say to Teen Drivers Initially
Some teens experience severe anxiety and negative self-talk when faced with what they see as a daunting task (i.e., driving in winter). Parents and guardians need to remind the teen that they’re proud of the young driver’s accomplishments so far. They should emphasize how it’s nice to have the teen as an extra driver to help with running errands. If their teen has had bad incidents in the past, they should talk positively about the teen’s driving improvements. After they give their teen some positive things to think about, they should then transition to addressing why it’s so important to use extra caution in winter.
Important Reminders Teens Need to Hear
Teen drivers need to learn how to prepare properly (i.e., check their vehicle’s fluids, headlights, wipers and tires before leaving; install a vehicle emergency kit; and make certain that the automobile has a half-to-full gas tank). Teens need to remember that they shouldn’t drive in bad conditions unless necessary. Additionally, they must plan a route, check road conditions, leave at least a half hour early, share their plans with a family member or friend, and get enough sleep before using their vehicle.
Parents and guardians should reiterate why using a seatbelt and maintaining one to two car lengths distance behind another vehicle are critical actions for preventing crashes and injuries. They should remind their teen to drive more slowly when experiencing limited visibility or slippery road surfaces. Drivers have a responsibility to drive at a speed appropriate to the road conditions, regardless of the posted speed limits. Traveling too fast for conditions is the biggest risk of an accident on snow and ice. Teens should learn to always turn in the direction of a spin (i.e., same direction as the front end and opposite the back end) and never drive through flood waters crossing a road. They must emphasize more than once that teens, who are more likely to become distracted and take risks than adults, shouldn’t use their phones or speed in any conditions.
Other Ways Parents and Guardians Can Help Teen Drivers in Winter
Lastly, parents and guardians can help teens by practicing driving with them in bad weather. They might pick a time of day when their teen is often tired to show them where to pull over or remind them to call someone to give them a ride. They might also provide tips, such as how to clean snow and ice safely from the exterior, if applicable, and how use high- and low-beam headlights.
During this instruction, they should also verbally describe their actions because some teens retain knowledge more easily when they hear instructions. A parent or guardian might say, “It’s dangerous to brake too hard on icy or slippery roads, so I’m slowing now even though I’m already one car length behind” or “Watch the sides of the roads for bicycle riders, pedestrians, open car doors, trucks unloading and wild animals.”