Learn how you can keep your teen driver safe behind the wheel.

As a parent, your child's safety is always your top priority. This is why the thought of your teen out on the open road can be a scary one. While you cannot always be there to protect your teen from danger, there are some steps you can take to reduce their chances of driving recklessly or getting into an accident. Teach your teen driver these responsible driving habits to keep them safe on the open road. Drive Defensively and Avoid Aggressive Behaviors First things first, teach your teen to drive defensively. For instance, they should always obey the speed limit, leave plenty of space between their car and the car in front of them, and scan their entire vicinity frequently. Teaching your teen responsible driving habits will ensure that they don't become one of those reckless drivers who speed, tailgate, and weave in and out of traffic without regard for their safety or the safety of others. Store Your Phone Away While Driving Before settling behind the wheel, teach your child to set their phone to silent and store it somewhere out of their immediate sight. This will prevent them from getting distracted by an incoming text or call, and will ensure that their focus remains on the road and, therefore, reduces the chances of them getting into a distracted driving accident. No Driving with Passengers While your teen is probably eager to drive around all their best friends, it's important to put your foot down on this subject. Because teens are inexperienced, they need to focus all of their attention on the task of driving. However, when they have friends in the car, they are more likely to get distracted by the conversation or the fun antics of their passengers. This, in turn, can make your teen more likely to make unsafe driving decisions or completely take their eyes off the road. Not only does this pose a danger to your child, but it also puts their friends and anyone else on the road at risk. To prevent a major accident, be strict about the no passenger rule for your teen. These are some of the safe driving practices that parents should pass onto their teen drivers.  Want another way to keep your child safe while they are behind the wheel?  Make sure you have the right auto insurance protections in place.  For assistance with all your car coverage needs, contact the experts at Weeks & Associates Insurance Services in Thousand Oaks, California to get started today.