TEENS: The summer is over and the days are getting shorter. Students are back at school and busy dealing with many simultaneous priorities. Accordingly, more teens are driving regularly this time of year. And since daylight saving time will occur in less than a month, a portion of this driving is likely to be after dusk or during the nighttime.

Teenage drivers have been known to drive at speeds exceeding the speed limit roughly three times as often as all other older drivers combined. And sadly, excessive speed often leads to severe injuries and even fatalities, not only for teen drivers and their passengers but for others on our roadways.

Some teenagers are old enough to use ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft, but many teens still regularly get behind the wheel to drive a vehicle to reach a targeted destination. Some areas have laws that allow some teens to use ride-hailing services with parental consent, but there remains a steady stream of teenage drivers on our roadways.

This therefore is a good time to reinforce and encourage all teen drivers to follow some of the driving tips that are important for all drivers, especially those who are young and therefore less experienced behind the wheel. Here's our list of the tried-and-true suggestions we've compiled that can improve defensive driving and overall driving safety:

No. 1: When traveling on a multilane freeway or highway, choose a lane and stay in it. Changing lanes often, or making sudden lane changes, is very unsafe and often the cause of a collision.

No. 2: Be sure to leave extra room between you and the car in front of you. Also be aware that the higher the speed you are driving, the more time it will take to come to a complete stop if the car in front of you slows down or even has to apply its brakes suddenly.

No. 3: Always use your turn signals so the drivers around you will know what your intentions are. This is a common driving courtesy, and one that greatly enhances safety as well.

No. 4: When driving, always keep your eyes roving. Be sure to look farther ahead than just the car in front of you. Also, when you have a moment that is safe, check your rearview mirror and side mirrors regularly as well. It's important to know where other cars are in relation to yours. If a car is severely tailgating you, for example, and it's safe to turn on your signal and move over to the next right lane, do so.

No. 5: Always wear your seatbelt and be certain that everyone else in your vehicle wears their seat belts as well.

No. 6: Be aware of all traffic laws and follow all posted traffic signs. They are there for a good reason, and by being aware of and following posted traffic signs, you will greatly enhance your safety and the safety of others around you.

No. 7: When you are a passenger in a car, refuse to take a ride from a friend you know speeds regularly. And if you're in a car for the first time with a new driver who is speeding, request that driver to pull off of the roadway and let you exit the vehicle at a safe location.

No. 8: Never drive impaired by any substance at all, and never enter a vehicle with a driver who you know has been drinking alcohol or consuming any substance, which could impair their ability to drive a motor vehicle safely.

No. 9: Plan ahead for all your driving trips. Don't be distracted to look at a cellphone for directions as you are operating the vehicle. Leave early enough for all your trips so that there will be no temptation to speed to arrive earlier than safe, normal driving would deliver. And when driving in inclement weather, especially winter weather, drive only as safe as the roadway conditions allow, rather than any posted speed limits. The basic rule of the road is to drive at a safe speed at all times, even if that speed must be greatly reduced below the actual speed limit.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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