Highway Driving Tips for Teens

If you are planning on going on the highway for the first time, we recommend finding the right time and place. We highly recommend starting on a highway that isn't very busy or at a time of day when there aren't as many vehicles on the road. You're also going to want to ensure that you are driving on a bright, clear day free from rain, snow, or fog, which would end up decreasing your visibility. Practice makes perfect, and the more you experience highway driving, the better off you'll be! 

When you drive on the highway for the first time, you should stick to only traveling in the right lane. The left lane is typically designed for passing, and young drivers shouldn't be in there for any reason. When you stay in the right lane, you will interact with the traffic coming onto the freeway, and you can maintain your speed easier there. You will always have to interact with the traffic when you're on the highway, so it's good to get used to it by traveling in the right lane and seeing and reacting to all the traffic coming on the turnpike. 

Maintaining a proper speed and distance remains the key to executing a perfect lane change when you're on the turnpike. Drivers must keep at least four to six seconds of space between their vehicle and those in front of them as they change lanes. You should also routinely check your rearview, side-view mirror, and blind-spot before you change lanes. More space means that you have more time to avoid a collision and react to anything you might see when on the highway, which makes leaving enough space extremely important. 

Teen drivers need to habitually use their turn signals as much as possible, even if they believe their intentions are clear. Your turn signals are how you communicate with other drivers on the road, and things can become problematic when you're not using them. If you are entering or exiting the turnpike or changing lanes, you must flip on your turn signal so that other drivers know where you're headed. 

Learning to drive on the turnpike is more than simply driving the right way. You also need to ensure that a new driver's maturity is up to the task. They need to learn never to take anything personally, especially when on the turnpike. If you see that someone has cut you off, you need to let it go! After all, you never know about the mental state of the other driver, and it's entirely possible that they made a mistake as nobody on the road is perfect. Remember that the calmer you are, the less likely you are to cause an accident or get pulled over. 

When your young driver heads out on the highway, they will need a vehicle to keep them safe. Here at Dick Scott Motor Mall, we have a complete inventory of new and pre-owned Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles that come with a ton of advanced safety features such as blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Feel free to test drive any of the vehicles on our lot, and when you find something you like, be sure to check out our finance department, where we will work with you towards a deal you're sure to enjoy. Even if you can't make it to the dealership right now, you can still check our entire inventory here on our website!