Driving Tips for College Students and Young Drivers

Driving a car is one thing that most people will eventually want to do in their lifetime. It is important to remember that driving is a privilege and not a right, so doing the right things on the road will ensure that you are able to continuing operating a motor vehicle. For the most part traveling by car is the most dangerous form of travel and more casualties are seen every year in relation to car accidents than any other form of travel. When it comes to driving there are certain groups of people who seem to be at a higher risk for accidents. The elderly and the young are at an elevated risk for car accidents. As a result of theses higher risks there are many things that both the elderly as well as college students may have to deal with.

Avoid Drinking and Driving

The college years are notorious for partying and drinking. Be careful not to fall into the trap of driving after a big night of partying. Drunk driving accounts for hundreds of thousands of deaths every year. The problem with college students and drunk driving is that most young people suffer from what is known as an "invincibility complex". This means nothing can ever happen to you. Nothing could be further from the truth! In fact, statistically, you are much more likely to be in an accident as a result of drinking and driving than just about any other demographic group. Don’t play around when it comes to your safety and the safety of others.

Use Caution in Dark Parking Lots

Unfortunately, one of the many things that young people seem to take for granted is the existence of predators. There are a lot of really wicked people out there who seem to prey on young and attractive college students, particularly young women. If you are living alone in a strange town because you have gone off to college, you will want to be very careful about things like walking through dark parking lots. Try to find the closest space possible and always try and bring a friend along when shopping at night.

Things to Know When Shopping for Insurance

There are many different things that you will have to consider as a student driver. One of the most important things about owning a car is having proper insurance coverage. The thing about insurance is that when you are shopping for quotes on automobile coverage, you are likely to find many different rates. The important thing to keep in mind is that shopping around will yield the best results as far as car insurance is concerned. Generally, college students will receive much higher monthly payments on their car insurance policies than those people who have been driving for many years. There are however some things that you can do to increase your chances of being able to get a good rate on insurance.

Safe Driving Courses

As a younger person, with limited driving experience, you will naturally be viewed as higher risk when it comes to driving. As a result of the perception that younger drivers are at a higher risk for mishap, insurance rates for people under the age of twenty five are much higher than those that someone who is in their thirties will receive. However there are things that you can do to make insurance companies look more favorably on you. Taking a driver’s safety course is a great way to not only learn safe driving techniques but also to slightly alter the perception of the insurance company. Drivers who have completed a safe driving course are seen as lower risk and in many states are required to have lower insurance rates than those drivers who have not completed such a course.