When I asked my 13 year-old daughter what her top five tips for staying safe on the road were, I wasn't sure what her answers were going to be. We spend a LOT of time road tripping from state to state and country to country, and her responses not only surprised me, but delighted me for the fact that even though she's in the back seat of our car on most trips, she has been paying attention to those little ear worms that I casually mention when driving. Here are her answers:
- Pretend your cell phone doesn't exist when driving- Awesome answer, Kid!
- Keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times- Again, great answer.
- In bad weather, don't assume your car is Superman- Love this one! Knowing your car's limits is a good thing.
- Watch out for animals and other stuff in the road- Minding the road at all times for hazards will definitely help to keep you safe.
- No drinking and driving- Atta Girl!
These are all great tips, but I was surprised that there was no mention of car maintenance. At all. After all, she's watched me check our car's fluids before, during, and after a road trip and she's spied me checking the pressure in my tires for the correct amount, yet neither of these ended up on her list.
This really got me thinking about teen driving statistics and my daughter who will be driving in only a few years. Automobile accidents are the number one killer of teens in the United States and of the 2.2 million car accidents per year among inexperienced drivers, 12 percent can be attributed to tire issues, whether it's low tire pressure or low tread.
These days, if a teen wants to drive, states require a driver's training course to warn them of road hazards and give them skills to make them competent drivers on the road. If you have a teen newbie driver or have one that's still in training classes, ask them if their classes have touched on tire maintenance. The answer will most likely be no, as few teen driver's training courses add it to their curriculum.
A solution to this problem comes from Michelin Tire and their new campaign, Beyond the Driving Test. Their goals are to raise awareness of tire maintenance and safety by making resources available to teens and their families that will make for easy conversation starters and to have all 50 states include tire safety in their individual driver's curricula by the year 2020.
The Hard Facts of Teen Vehicle Maintenance
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| Just giving you the facts, Folks.
Does your teen know how to perform simple car maintenance? If not, maybe a light-hearted conversation is in order.
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How to Make Teen Driving Safer with Michelin Tires
By talking with your teen about simple steps and effective ways to keep them safe, having a teen driver on the road will not only make your family safer but will make the road safer for everyone. |
| Two Steps. Once a month. |
Two steps once a month can help all drivers maintain their tires: Check the pressure with a tire gauge and check the tread depth with a penny.
Glove Box Guide
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| A great print out to keep in the car. |
A Penny for Your Tire Tread Thoughts?
A quick and easy way to check tire tread is with the help of good old Abe Lincoln. If you can see the top of his head when you insert a penny into the deepest looking groove, it's time to purchase new tires. If Abe's head sinks into the tread, you're good to go.
Let's Talk About Teen Driving Safety with Traveling Mom on March 23rd at 9pm EST
On Monday, March 23rd at 9pm EST, I'll be taking part in a Twitter chat with Traveling Mom. I'm inviting my readers to join in and share their perspective on teen driving safety and education in the US. We'll be touching on the subjects of teen driving and safety and, of course, Michelin Tires safety initiative. I can't wait to chat with you and learn some useful tips for my soon-to-be teen driver.
Disclosure: I am participating in a SheBuysCars sponsored promotion to give you fine folks the scoop on Michelin Tire's Beyond the Driving Test safety initiative.
You ought to be familiar with everything around you while driving and not simply gazing at the line between paths. I learned at Port Macquarie Driving School that you must keep our eyes continually moving.
ReplyDeleteThe most important instruction among all I think is never to do drunk driving. Teens aren’t aware how much they have to pay down the line. My friend is a system admin in a DUI attorney Los Angeles office and often tells me how a single DUI can ruin your life if charge is not defended properly.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your tips on how to keep divers safe. You make a great point about making sure that you know the limits of your car based on weather conditions. With winter coming on, it can be important to know when you need to chain up or just turn around. It's important to keep you and your car safe in winter weather conditions. Many driver's education classes can help you know what to do in different inclement weather situations to help improve safety. Thanks for your article. http://www.dollardrivingschool.com/driver-education/
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! And, winter's just around the corner- thank you for the tips!
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