Keeping Kids Safe with OnStar: Quizzing Your Future Driver #KeepingKidsSafe

No parent, and I mean no parent, likes to think about the worst that could happen to their family when it comes to car emergencies. Just typing the last sentence gives me the willies.

But it does happen.

Everyday.

Between racing to the kids' soccer games or running to the store, families have car emergencies everyday. Facing the fact that it can happen to anyone (including me and my family) is a tough pill to swallow.

So, what do I do to feel better about all of the road trips that we take each year?

I arm myself and The Kid with as much information as possible. Although she's only 13 (and will potentially be driving in three years. Gulp.), I talk to her on our road trips about ways to protect herself when she does drive. I mean, if she's stuck with me in a the car for hours at a time, I may as well make it a learning experience, right?

I talk to her about not using the cruise control in rainy conditions, how to inflate our car's tires, and even when to change the oil in our car. It not only passes the time, but I have her undivided attention.

 At 13-years old, she's quite curious about the concept of driving and what makes a car tick. If I can talk to her about car emergencies in a calm, informative manner, she's far more receptive.

OnStar has a new way to teach kids about the car emergencies with a highly-informative e-book. Including a pre-quiz to give insight to what your child already knows about car emergencies, informative instructions for the most common types of car emergencies, and an emergency information form that you and the fam can print and fill out to keep in the car just in case, it prepares our upcoming drivers for a future of safe driving.

Taking the Quiz

The Kid has only just started her frivolous days of summer vacation, but I still think it's fun for her to keep learning throughout the year and to challenge her mind. With a quick, five-question quiz about car emergencies and what you should do if one ever occurs, she was finished in only a couple of minutes. I mean, the pre-quiz is to show the both of us what she already knows so it's a nice jumping off point.

Your Kid Can Handle Car Emergencies

 Once again, there's that touchy subject that no one likes to the think about: the unexpected car emergency. OnStar put together a guide so you can talk to the kids about road emergencies before they happen. Narrowing down six things to do in a vehicle emergency, OnStar has precise, sensible tips written in a way that kids, preteens, and teens, will understand and comprehend. We also read through "Five Emergencies and What to Do if You Encounter Them". These five included the most common scenarios that kids may encounter including what to do if you become locked in a trunk or hot vehicle, and how to escape a car if it's on fire or becomes submerged into deep water. I have to admit, I learned a couple of things myself.

We also read over the "Whos and Whats of an Emergency" together and it gave her a refresher course on what questions she needs to be prepared to answer should she ever have to call 911. It's an easy way to let her know that by keeping proactive while in the car for every trip is a good thing.

Putting New Knowledge to the Test

After we read through the "Six Things to Do in a Vehicle Emergency", I had my daughter re-take the five question quiz and between what she already knew and what she learned in the e-book, she aced it.

Do I feel safer knowing she has the skills to handle a common car emergency? You betcha!

Let's Talk Car Safety with a Twitter Party!

So now you and the kids know the facts about what to do in a car emergency, you can show off your car safety knowledge at a Twitter party with OnStar and She Buys Cars  July 8th.  Not only will you have a chance to talk with other parents about car safety, there's prizes including 2 car emergency kits and a $25 gift card. 

Disclosure: I have been compensated to give you fine folks the scoop on OnStar's new e-book about car emergencies. All opinions are my own.