8 Safety Tips for New Drivers

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8 Safety Tips for New Drivers @DownshiftingPRO (1)

We hand them the keys for their first solo drive with trepidation. Up until today they were driving with either mom, dad or their driving instructor.  As you stand there watching them back out of the driveway slowly, you ask yourself these questions: Are they going to drive safely? Will they remember to signal when making a left turn?  Are they going to have enough gas? No question about it, safety is a priority.

YOU are not prepared but the woman who has passed your young driver has told them they are.  Gulp. This is a big moment in their lives and yours. As you wonder whether they are prepared enough to drive on a city street, know that as a parent you can give them a few safety tips on the responsibilities of being a safe new driver.

Safety Tips for New Drivers

  1. Remember what your instructor taught you: don’t speed, signal when you turn, don’t tailgate and never drink and drive!    Going over the rules of the road keeps them top of mind.  I’ve asked my new drivers to remind me of  the rules.  It’s not a bad idea to get a refresher and it also means you too will follow the rules.
  2. Put your cell phone in your bag in the back seat or glove compartment.  Turn the ringer off if you do not have a hands free option in your car.  So when your phone ‘pings’ it will take the temptation away  to check your messages ‘for just a second’. Your passenger’s safety should be top of mind!
  3. Know your limits: you can’t take more people than what the law says (some provinces limit the amount of minors in the car at one particular time or during specific hours).
  4. Never lend your license or the car to your friends.  This is the family car and belongs to this family.  If anything goes wrong, it is our responsibility. Besides, it’s against the law to lend your license to someone else. #Truth
  5. Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. Running late only makes you drive aggressively and that could lead to bad driving decisions.
  6. Understand the basics of car maintenance: know how to check air pressure in tires, oil levels, and read a gas gauge. In today’s modern cars, most will inform you that something is amiss but knowing the basics is important.
  7. Show them how to pump their own gas.  They may not know how to do this simple task so take the time to show them how to pay at the pump.
  8. Encourage them to always have money (whether cash, debit or an emergency credit card) on them to pay for gas.  If they are using the car, they need to pay for their own gas. We can take care of the big stuff for now(car payments & insurance).

I cannot stress how important it is to teach your new drivers how to pump gas safely.  We have always paid at the pump. It started when the kids were babies and I never wanted to leave them alone to go pay for gas inside the kiosk.  Paying first and pumping the gas after has become a habit and to be honest, I don’t know why this isn’t a requirement.  Apparently in British Columbia it’s already regulated to eliminate pump and dash.

Husky #MyHuskyOntario - Safety Tips for New Drivers from @DownshiftingPRO

Husky has introduced pay before you pump in Ontario.  This  provides better safety for both the customer and the employees.  I was happy to take my two new drivers to our local Husky service station to show them how to pay with their debit cards and then pump the gas.  There was an attendant there, ready to help us, for when we were not familiar with the pay before you pump system.  They managed just fine.  Their safety is important to me and knowing that they do not have to leave the car unattended works for me.  Figuring out this life skill is that simple.


Pay befor you Pump at Husky Canada - Safety Tips for New DriversDisclosure: I have partnered with Husky Energy and have received compensation for this post. I’m pleased to see their new Pay before you Pump campaign.  All opinions are my own.

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Margarita Ibbott is a travel and lifestyle blogger. She blogs about travel in Canada, the United States and Europe giving practical advice through restaurant, hotel and attraction reviews. She writes for DownshiftingPRO.com and other online media outlets.

2 thoughts on “8 Safety Tips for New Drivers”

  1. Hello Margarita, Thank you for writing-up about This Important issue, I’m very Thankful to find your Article. because we gonna buy Car for my younger brother a gift of his very recent birthday. It’s really must be awarded Article for public awareness or Social Service.

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