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Speed Control

Life is Not a Race, Go at Your Own Pace | Madison County High School (IN), 2015 Winners

Speeding increases the distance needed to be able to stop the car while reducing reaction time to avoid a potential collision. According to NHTSA, speed was a factor in 32 percent of the fatal crashes that involved passenger vehicle teen drivers in 2016.

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Adult Tips:

  • Drive how you want your teen to drive.

  • Make sure your teen is aware of the dangers of speeding and the consequences of unsafe speed, including fines & penalties.

  • Talk to your teen about the importance of going the speed limit (taking into consideration the weather, time of day, light, traffic density, etc.), and leaving an ample amount of space between their car and the one in front of them.

  • Share your driving experiences with your teen.


Teen Tips:

  • Pay attention to your speedometer.

  • Practice patience while driving. Leave early so you are not in a rush.

  • Use the 3-second rule for following distance. The three second rule helps you avoid accidents. When driving, pick a non-moving object along the road, like a speed limit sign, a tree, or a telephone pole, and when the vehicle in front of you passes that object, start counting in your head. Count slowly "one-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand" and note when your vehicle passes that object. NOTE: The 3-second rule only applies to good, daylight driving conditions. If you are driving in heavy traffic, driving at night or in weather conditions that are not ideal, such as rain or fog, consider doubling the 3-second rule to six seconds as a safety precaution. If the weather conditions are very poor, like heavy rain or heavy fog, try tripling it to nine seconds to maintain a safe driving distance.
    See NRSF's PSA "Cars Aren't Toys": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vJTm_FnHow

  • In safe conditions, use the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technology safety system called Adaptive Cruise Control.

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