7 Unsafe Driving Habits Your Teen Probably Has

Driving is a dangerous activity and teens are some of the most likely to get into serious accidents. This list is meant to inform parents of some of the things their teen might be doing that would make it even more likely they end up in harm's way. Make sure to talk to your teen about safe driving habits and how to be a careful driver.

1 - Talking on the phone

When people think of dangerous driving habits, they often think of texting but just talking on the phone can be almost as dangerous. Not only does this require you to have one hand off the wheel, trying to talk on the phone can leave a person very distracted and unable to respond adequately to situations that arise on the road.

2 - Texting

This is an issue that has been receiving a great deal of attention recently and is indeed incredibly hazardous. The amount of time you are forced to take your eyes off the road to text can put you in a great deal of danger. Make sure your teen understands the risks of texting while driving and the fact that it is illegal in many areas.

3 - Eating or drinking

Most people understand that it can be risky to use a phone while driving, but wouldn't hesitate to eat or drink something in the car. This is especially true of teens. However, eating and drinking has been shown to provide enough of a distraction to considerably increase the amount of accidents that occur when someone is engaging in this activity. Tell your teen to just wait till they get to their destination before eating their food.

4 - Using an Ipod or other Mp3 player

Ipod's and other Mp3 players have become incredibly common, and are frequently used as an alternative to the radio when driving around. However, looking away from the road to select a song or change settings can be just as bad as texting while driving. Tell your teen to put together a playlist before they leave so that they can listen to their music while staying focused on the road.

5 - Having pets in the car

It's no secret that dogs enjoy rides in the car and owners will often try to accommodate this by taking their pets with them on short trips. This seems innocent enough, but can actually be very dangerous. If a dog becomes overly excited, it might try to jump on the drivers lap. When this happens, the driver has their control over the car severely limited. 

6 - Driving while sleepy

Driving while drowsy is something that most people do at some point in their life, but should be avoided at all costs. Studies have shown that driving while very tired and on the verge of falling asleep is nearly as dangerous as driving drunk. This is a danger parents should watch for if their teen is coming back from a friends house late at night.

7 - Putting on makeup 

If your teen is late getting ready in the morning, she might be inclined to try to put on her makeup during the drive to school. This can be a huge distraction and often involves taking at least one hand off the wheel. Encourage your daughter to make sure she's ready before she leaves or to take some time to put on her makeup in the bathroom once she gets to school.