If your college student is taking a car to college this fall for the first time, they need to be especially careful about driving on and around campus. Whether they’re at a large university like the University of Nevada, Las Vegas or a small college, they’ll encounter some unique and potentially dangerous situations.
Let’s look at a few tips that can help your child stay safe and keep others safe as well.
Get familiar with driving on campus before school starts
If your child has been walking, taking campus transportation or biking around campus, they may not be familiar with the limits of where they can drive in a car. It’s best to get used to the routes they’ll be driving to class and other activities on and off-campus. It’s good to learn where the parking is located and what permits are needed as well.
Be on the lookout for pedestrians and cyclists
It’s easy for college students with cars to forget that they used to be one of those people walking or biking around campus. It’s important to be especially careful — not just at crosswalks, but anywhere people could be walking across or near the road.
Watch out for inexperienced drivers
Most college students have only been driving a few years – if that. Teens are waiting longer these days to get their licenses. Your child will likely encounter a lot of drivers who have just recently gotten their full driving privileges.
A good rule of thumb for all drivers, but especially those on college campuses and surrounding areas is not to assume that anyone else is going to do the right thing. That’s what defensive driving is all about.
Make sure that if your college student is involved in a crash, they know what to do. If the crash was caused by someone else, it’s important not to settle for less compensation than they need to cover their expenses and other damages.
