More safe driving tips for young male drivers
In this blog, we’re going to take a look at a rather splendid new campaign from our friends at THINK!
The campaign is called “Good Driver” and it’s mostly aimed at those young men who find themselves tempted to take risks such as driving too fast or using a mobile phone when they’re at the wheel.
The campaign is accompanied by a snazzy video that employs 70s icon Gloria Gaynor’s smash hit ‘I Will Survive’ (ask your parents!). OK, I can’t recall the video to that song ever featuring four guys in a football strip, but, c’mon, this is all about the safe driving message!
Why this message is important
THINK’s research reveals some shocking information about young male drivers. Many of them are overconfident in their driving ability and believe it gives them a licence to take risks. Many of them speed when they’re on roads that they think they know well.
The statistics behind the campaign bear this out: 17 to 24 year-old male drivers are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than drivers aged 25 or over, making them an extremely high-risk group.
What you can do about it
If you’re a young male driver, what you can you do? Well, the good news is that there’s loads of useful tips and techniques you can use to keep yourself safe on the roads. Even better, we’ve covered some of them in blogs past. Now, here’s an honest question that deserves an honest answer:
When did you last take a driving-related risk?
It was probably more recently than you would like to admit to. You’re taking a risk any time you fail to pay attention to the road or make a decision that puts you, or anyone else, in harm’s way. It doesn’t have to be anything more than changing the radio station or talking to a passenger, either. In that moment, you’re distracted, and distraction is the enemy of safe driving.
Go and watch the THINK video, and bear the following in mind:
- Safe driving is as much an attitude as it is a skill.
- What does this mean? Well, if you set out with the intention of focusing on the road, the chances are that you’ll maintain that focus until you’ve reached your destination
- Reviewing your driving is important.
- Think about what happened on your journey and make a note of any distractions. If you felt tempted to do anything that put you in danger, ask yourself why and what you can do to make sure that it doesn’t happen again. This can be as simple as agreeing ground rules when your mates are in the car or hiding the mobile phone somewhere where you can’t get hold of it
- Adopt a growth mindset.
- Passing your driving test shows you meet the required standard to drive on your own, but it doesn’t teach you everything about safe driving. The truth is, you’ll never stop learning.
Keep practising your skills and get as much driving experience as you can. And remember, if there’s anything that you feel you need to brush up on, don’t hesitate to get in touch with an ADI. Many of them offer refresher lessons for post-test drivers, so you need never feel like you’re on your own.
Oh, before we go, here’s another important takeaway from the THINK campaign: Their researchers also revealed that young men who like to take risks with their own driving, actually prefer to be driven by those who drive safely! Think about it…(sorry!)
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