Teen Driving: West Coast vs. East Coast

So, when it comes to driving the west coast or the east coast, you might think there are several differences. And while the cultures among each coast most definitely have their distinctions, what doesn’t differ are defensive driving techniques that drivers should follow. Whether you are an adult or a teenager, it is imperative that you do all that you can to make sure you are safe on the road when driving down the east or west coast. For now, let’s take a quick look teen driving and west coast vs. east coast driving tips.

Know where you are going

The first step you should take to ensure you are driving safely up and down the west or east coast is to map out your trip. After all, if you know where you’re going, you are going to be less stressed, which will make for calmer driving and a more enjoyable trip. As you map out your route, make sure you consider any attractions that you want to stop and see. Check out our recommendations listed below for the best east and west coast cities that we know you will want to visit:

Best East Coast Cities

• Roanoke, Virginia
• Annapolis, Maryland
• Fairhaven, Massachusetts
• Westport, New York
• Frederick, Maryland
• Portsmouth, New Hampshire
• Atlanta, Georgia
• Navarre, Florida

Best West Coast Cities

• Los Angeles, California
• San Francisco, California
• San Diego, California
• Seattle, Washington
• Bellevue, Washington
• Cannon Beach, Oregon
• Spokane, Washington
• South Lake Tahoe, California

Charge your mobile devices

The next tip you will want to follow when taking a trip up, whether you are going to experience NY travel by train or car, or travel the west coast to the east coast, is to make sure your mobile devices are fully charged. From a GPS system to your smartphone, you will find it extremely advantageous to use these devices to help navigate the coast. Plus, you can use your smartphone to find the best restaurants, attractions, and shopping hotspots for the towns you drive through. Any time one of your devices gets below 40 percent, make sure to plug it in and give it a quick battery charge.

Check with local and state road authorities

If you are traveling during the winter, you will want to contact local and state road authorities to see if there are any closures that could affect your travel. If traveling during the summertime, you will also want to check with these entities to see if there are any construction projects taking place that might delay your travels. If there are, you can always use your GPS or smartphone to find an alternate route. The following are a few tips you can use to help you avoid traffic delays altogether:

• Ask highway patrol if there are any special radio frequencies deemed specifically for hearing the latest traffic information; is there are, you can use them to navigate around road construction.
• Use apps to alert you to roadway construction.
• When entering a new state, stop at the nearest Welcome Center to see if any traffic information is provided.

If you enter a construction zone, you most definitely will want to watch your speed. If you catch a speeding ticket in a construction zone, you going to pay a hefty fine. To keep the ticket from affecting your driving record, you may be able to take advantage of traffic school.

The Takeaway

No matter the coast you travel, you will want to follow the tips outlined above to help ensure you have a safe and enjoyable trip. If you do end up with a traffic violation, make sure you don’t overlook the benefit of going to a defensive driving school that offers traffic school.