As students head back to school, roads can quickly become busier with school buses, new teen drivers, parents dropping off children, pedestrians, and cyclists all sharing the same space. For families with teen drivers, the beginning of the school year is a good opportunity to review safe driving habits, your car insurance policy, and the responsibilities that come with being behind the wheel.
Expect More Traffic Around Schools
Back-to-school traffic can create conditions that teen drivers may not have experienced during the quieter summer months. School zones, crowded intersections, busy parking lots, and long lines of vehicles dropping off students can require additional patience and attention.
Teen drivers should allow extra time to get to school rather than rushing. Leaving just a few minutes earlier can reduce the temptation to speed, make aggressive lane changes, or take unnecessary risks when traffic is heavier than expected.
Drivers should also pay close attention to reduced speed limits in school zones and watch for crossing guards, children entering crosswalks, and vehicles stopping unexpectedly.
Put the Phone Away
Distracted driving is especially dangerous for inexperienced drivers. A text message, social media notification, or even changing a playlist can take a driver's attention away from the road at the wrong moment.
Encourage teen drivers to put their phones somewhere they cannot easily reach while driving. Many smartphones also include driving modes that can silence notifications and automatically respond to incoming messages.
Passengers can also become a distraction. Conversations, loud music, and friends moving around inside the vehicle can make it harder for a new driver to concentrate on traffic conditions.
Watch Carefully for School Buses
School buses are once again making frequent stops in neighborhoods and along major roads. Teen drivers should know when they are required to stop for a school bus and understand the rules that apply in New York.
Drivers should never assume children will remain on the sidewalk or cross only at designated locations. When approaching a school bus or bus stop, slowing down and preparing for unexpected movement can give a driver more time to react.
Be Extra Careful in Parking Lots
School parking lots can be particularly challenging for young drivers. Cars may be backing out of spaces, students may be walking between vehicles, and traffic patterns can become congested before and after school.
Teen drivers should keep speeds low, avoid cutting across parking spaces, and check carefully before backing up. Even when a vehicle has a backup camera or parking sensors, drivers should still physically check their surroundings.
Seat Belts Should Be Automatic
Everyone in the vehicle should buckle up before the car starts moving. Teen drivers should make wearing a seat belt part of their routine and should expect their passengers to do the same.
It is also worth reminding teens that the driver's responsibility extends beyond their own behavior. Having several friends in the vehicle can change the driving environment significantly, especially for someone who is still developing experience behind the wheel.
Prepare for Changing Weather and Daylight
As the school year progresses, mornings become darker and weather conditions may change. Rain, fog, wet leaves, snow, or ice can all affect visibility and stopping distances depending on where you live.
Teen drivers should understand that the appropriate driving speed is not always the posted speed limit. Slowing down and increasing following distance when visibility or road conditions are poor can provide additional reaction time.
Keep the Vehicle Ready for the School Year
Safe driving also depends on having a properly maintained vehicle. Before the school year gets busy, families may want to check tire pressure and tread, headlights, brake lights, windshield wipers, fluids, and brakes.
Keeping an emergency kit in the vehicle can also be useful. Depending on the season and location, it might include a flashlight, phone charger, basic first-aid supplies, water, jumper cables, and weather-appropriate items.
Review Your Auto Insurance
Adding a newly licensed driver to the household is also a good reason to review your car insurance. Changes involving drivers, vehicles, where a vehicle is kept, or how it is being used may affect the policy.
Families with a teen driver may also want to discuss personal umbrella insurance. An umbrella policy may help provide additional liability protection above the limits of certain underlying policies, such as auto and homeowners insurance, which may be worth considering as a new driver gains experience on the road.
Families may also want to ask about available discounts or programs for younger drivers. Eligibility and availability can vary by insurance company and state.
Seaway Insurance Associates can help you review your current auto insurance and discuss options that may fit your household as your teen gains more driving experience. Contact us if you have questions about adding a teen driver, personal umbrella insurance, or updating your policy.
Frequently Asked Questions:
When should I add my teen driver to my auto insurance in New York?
Insurance company requirements can vary when a teenager receives a learner's permit or driver's license. Families in New York should contact their insurance agency when a teen begins driving so they can review the policy and determine when the new driver needs to be added. Seaway Insurance Associates can help explain the options and requirements that may apply to your household.
How can adding a teen driver affect car insurance in Gasport, New York?
Adding a teen driver may affect your car insurance premium, available discounts, and other policy details. Factors can include the teen's age, driving experience, vehicle, driving habits, and the insurance company. Seaway Insurance Associates can help families in Gasport review their auto insurance when a new driver is added to the household.
Can personal umbrella insurance help when you have a teen driver?
Personal umbrella insurance can help provide additional liability protection above the limits of certain underlying policies, such as auto and homeowners insurance. Families with a teen driver may want to review their existing liability limits and ask Seaway Insurance Associates about available personal umbrella insurance options in New York.