It’s been a fundamental right-of-passage for young adults across the world for decades: the purchase of their own car. Whether gifted to them by their parents or bought with their hard-earned money, chances are a person’s first car won’t be this year’s latest model. It’s often customary that one’s first car either be a hand-me-down from parents or relatives, or something bought off of a used car lot. Although this may make sense financially, is it a safe practice? After all, teen drivers crash four times as often as older drivers do, and are more likely to be driving a lighter, smaller, and older vehicle that won’t afford as much protection as a newer and larger model. When it comes to young people driving old cars, safety is a priority that simply cannot be ignored.

Safety Priority Protocols: Young People Driving Old Cars

For young people driving old cars, here are a few things you should consider both before you begin driving and while you’re on the road:

Buy A Newer Model

Chances are you will be limited financially or relegated to accepting a hand-me-down for your first car. However, if at all possible, young people driving old cars should try to purchase as new a model as they can. The reason for this are safety features. Newer model cars are constantly improving on safety priorities such as airbags, seatbelts, rear-facing cameras, motion sensors, electronic stability controls, side-airbags, and stronger frames. Choosing a car for yourself or your young driver means making safety a priority, and cars constructed in the last 3-5 years are much safer than older models in this regard.

Buy a Larger Vehicle

One area that plays a significant factor in automobile safety is the size of the vehicle. Larger vehicles have significant crush zones (i.e. part of a vehicle’s bodywork that is designed to absorb the energy in a crash, reducing the amount that is felt by passengers inside the vehicle) which offers more protection than smaller vehicles. Additionally, larger cars usually have sturdier construction, with features such as high-strength steel chassis and suspension designed to absorb and deflect crash energy. When it comes to safety priorities for young people driving old cars, it’s best that the car is larger as well as newer.

Obey the Rules of the Road

Of paramount safety priority for all drivers, but especially young people driving old cars, is obeying the rules of the road. This means respecting all traffic signs and signals and keeping your vehicle’s speed at proscribed levels. Daredevil or stunt driving in the form of dangerous tricks or inopportune racing can quickly result in deadly consequences for you, other drivers, and pedestrians, and is best avoided.

Vigilance is another important aspect of respecting the rules of the road. Keep your attention on your mirrors, windshield, and steering wheel and away from distractions like cell phones and rowdy passengers to make sure you are driving as safely as possible. 

And of course, stay away from drugs and alcohol while driving. If you foresee alcohol being part of your evening, appoint a designated driver, give your keys to a sober friend, or take a cab or Uber home and pick up your car when you sober up. Doing so not only saves you from harm, but other motorists and pedestrians as well.