Learning to drive is an exciting milestone, but it also comes with serious responsibility. Teen drivers often pick up bad driving habits simply due to inexperience or lack of awareness. While some of these behaviors may seem harmless at first, they can lead to dangerous situations on the road. Catching and fixing these habits early can help teen drivers stay safe and feel more confident on the road.
Below, we break down the most common mistakes teen drivers make and how to correct them.
Driving Habits to Adjust
1. Distracted Driving
The Habit: Texting, adjusting music, eating, or interacting with passengers are all forms of distracted driving. Teens may underestimate how long it takes to lose focus.
How to Fix It:
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Keep your phone on Do Not Disturb mode while driving.
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Set your music or navigation before leaving.
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Limit the number of passengers during your first year of driving.
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Remember: even a two-second distraction can be enough to cause a crash.
2. Speeding or Driving Too Fast for Conditions
The Habit: Teen drivers may feel pressured to keep up with fast traffic or misjudge safe speeds in rain, snow, or heavy traffic.
How to Fix It:
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Always follow posted speed limits.
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Slow down during bad weather, in construction zones, and near schools.
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Practice defensive driving and focus on staying in control, not rushing.
3. Tailgating
The Habit: Driving too close to the car in front is dangerous and doesn’t leave enough time to stop if it suddenly brakes.
How to Fix It:
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Use the “three-second rule” to maintain a safe distance.
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Increase that distance in poor weather or at higher speeds.
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Stay patient—even in traffic—because close following can lead to rear-end collisions.
4. Rolling Through Stop Signs
The Habit: Instead of coming to a complete stop, some teen drivers slow down but keep rolling through intersections.
How to Fix It:
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Always come to a full stop at stop signs.
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Count “one Mississippi” before proceeding.
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Look both ways, even on empty roads—it builds good habits for the future.
5. Improper Mirror Use or Blind Spot Checks
The Habit: Relying only on rearview mirrors and forgetting to check blind spots when changing lanes.
How to Fix It:
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Adjust all mirrors before you start driving.
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Always check over your shoulder before switching lanes.
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Use your turn signals early to alert other drivers of your intentions.
6. Ignoring Vehicle Maintenance
The Habit: Teen drivers may not realize how important it is to keep up with regular maintenance, like checking tire pressure, changing oil, or replacing wiper blades.
How to Fix It:
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Learn the basics of Subaru maintenance, such as how to check fluids and tire tread.
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Book regular service visits to catch problems before they start.
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Pay attention to dashboard warning lights and unusual sounds.
7. Driving While Drowsy
The Habit: Many teens have busy schedules, and a lack of sleep can lead to dangerous drowsy driving.
How to Fix It:
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Don’t drive when you’re too tired to focus.
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If you feel sleepy, pull over safely and rest.
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Avoid early-morning or late-night drives until you’ve had more experience.
Help Teen Drivers Build Safe Habits from Day One
Correcting bad driving habits early makes a huge difference in long-term safety. Parents and guardians can help by setting a good example, joining practice drives, and promoting safe habits. Remind teens that mastering driving takes time—and that driving carefully isn’t “uncool,” it’s smart.
