It is not possible to fully protect yourself from accidents. After all, you can’t control all the actions and reactions of the other people out there and many times they are responsible for accidents you are involved in. But one thing we can have within our control is our inner-car driving environment and with that control, we have the obligation of creating a distraction-free zone.

The following tips will help you keep your driving environment free of unnecessary distractions so you can focus on the road:

• Put your phone in the glove compartment and ignore it

15 years ago, very few people were able to talk on the phone while driving, and none were able to text. While we now have the ability to do both while we drive, the truth is that we shouldn’t. And if you look at it objectively, you’ll possibly agree that there is nothing that can’t wait to be said or typed until the vehicle is parked.

• Leave the radio station alone

If you drive with the radio on, at some point you will be faced with a song or commercial that you don’t like and want to change the radio station to avoid it. But messing around with the radio can distract you for vital moments that you could have used to avoid getting into a car accident. Deal with the shampoo commercial or song instead and be patient—it will be over soon.

• Do not eat while driving

You know those times when you are running late and you grab something to eat behind the wheel? Well according to an article on NYDailyNews.com, that little maneuver is responsible for causing 80 percent of all the accidents on the road. Can you imagine how much cheaper auto insurance rates would be if there were 80 percent fewer accidents?

• Don’t apply makeup or shave

We’ve all been behind the person who thinks their rear view mirror is their temporary bathroom mirror and, naturally, uses it for makeup application or shaving. Unfortunately, this kind of intense and inappropriate facial scrutiny is very distracting and can easily result in an accident, even when you are driving at low speeds.

• Don’t read—even while stopped in traffic

You have so much to do that you need to make every second of your day count. So that’s why you read the magazine while trapped in traffic. But to really make every moment count, you should spend every second being responsible and paying attention to what you are doing—particularly when you are doing something as important as driving.

There are things that we can control, and there are things that we can’t. Take advantage of setting up your driving environment and exercise control over this small piece of your day. This could save your life.

Parents face a mix of emotions at every stage of their child’s development, but none is as powerful as the mixture of fear, pride, excitement and dread they face as their child turns 16. For your child, 16 is an incredible age that allows them to feel the real freedom as they get their license and start driving. For you, 16 is a magical age because you get to watch as your child starts to evolve into an adult and all the hard work you put into raising them creates a smart, well-adjusted and very inexperienced teenage driver. It is at this point that a little bit of the fear and dread start creeping in.

While insuring your inexperienced, new teen driver on your insurance policy is a no-brainer, there are some things you should consider before you do.

All Limits, Coverages and Deductibles are Not Created Equal

When you add your teen driver to your Minneapolis auto insurance policy, do not just default them to the coverage you have for yourself. Consider who will be paying their deductibles, what that person can afford and think about how much their automobile is worth. Most teens start out with a used automobile which may not be worth as much as the car you drive and a lower limit will be appropriate. Additionally, while you might not carry collision coverage on your own vehicle, carrying it on a new teen driver is almost a must-do.

Saving Money on Your Teen Driver

Auto Insurance for teen drivers is expensive but that doesn’t mean you are powerless to reduce the premiums you are charged. Here are a few ways you can drive that premium just a little bit lower:

• Increase the deductibles you choose (make sure you and your teen can still afford them)
• Invest in a defensive driving course for your teen
• Buy a safe used vehicle that is not one of the more expensive to insure

 
Another way to save money (and prevent your teen’s premiums from increasing) is to practice the following tips while you are insured:

• Don’t run every minor fender-bender claim through your insurer. Agree to a cost with the other driver and pay out-of-pocket instead. Make sure there are no injuries and that you are certain of all the damage before you agree because once you come to an agreement you’ll no longer be able to involve insurance if you later find that it was more serious than you initially thought.
• Do not allow a cell phone in the car. The dangers of texting and cell phone use while driving may be difficult to impart on a teenager so consider taking them to the local arcade and having them “drive” a video game while chatting and talking.
• Limit the number of passengers your child is allowed to have. The more passengers there are the more distractions and the higher the likelihood of an accident.