Rural teen drivers face equipment, curvy roads and wildlife encounters; back-to-school is a good time for safety review

Teen drivers face a variety of roads and equipment.
(Photo from Successful Farming)

Rural teenage drivers face unique challenges, from learning to handle tractors and ATVs at a young age to navigating around slow, bulky agricultural equipment on curvy rural roads. Back-to-school planning offers an excellent opportunity to review the dangers of driving on rural roads and how to avoid accidents, writes Lisa Foust Prater of Successful Farming: "According to the Progressive Agriculture Foundation, death from an accident is 2.5 times more likely to occur in rural areas than urban ones. Large, slow-moving machinery; loose gravel and soft shoulders; and wildlife such as deer all play a part in the increased risk."

Parents can help their teen drivers by reinforcing safety as the priority. Prater notes, "Teenagers don't have fully developed thought processes yet. If they're running behind in the morning, they are probably worried about being late for school and may drive too fast. Remind them that a tardy slip is no big deal compared to an automobile accident that could involve injuries — or worse — and thousands of dollars in damages."

While back-to-school driving may mean more routine travel, time-off can also pose risks. Prater reports, "On the weekends, according to PAF, a U.S. teenager dies in a traffic accident every hour." The group offers these guidelines:

• Always wear seat belts and insist that passengers do, as well.
• Drive cautiously and within the speed limit.
• Be patient when driving behind a large or slow-moving vehicle; be aware you may not be able to see oncoming traffic.
• Pass only when the road is clear.
• Ride with your children occasionally and continue to teach them even after they have a driver's license.
• Never let anyone ride in the bed of a pickup truck.