Make Sure Your Teen Is Ready For Winter Driving

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As a parent of a new driver, you probably worry every time your teen leaves the house — even if you've done everything that you possibly can to teach your teen about safe driving. Chances are, making it through your teen's first winter behind the wheel won't be easy either. It's up to you to make sure your teen is prepared for driving in inclement weather. Check out these tips to learn what you need to do before your teen hits the road this winter.

Stopping the Car on Ice

Stopping a car on an icy road isn't the same as stopping a car on a clear road. So, you need to teach your teen how to come to a stop on ice safely. To do this, you need to apply the brakes slowly, using steady, firm pressure. Have your teen place his or her foot just above the brake pedal and using the ball of the foot to apply consistent pressure until the car comes to a complete stop. Also, while you're discussing the importance of proper braking with your teen, you should take the time to review why it's important to maintain a safe distance from other cars while driving so that he or she has enough time to stop the car if something does happen.

Car Maintenance and Repairs

It's important to teach your teen about properly maintaining a car throughout the winter months. This way, your teen is less likely to need to deal with the car breaking down when there's a lot of snow on the ground. A few things that you should teach your teen to do to prepare the car for winter, include:

  • Check the fluids in the car, and have the oil changed
  • Have the brakes inspected, and the pads changed if needed
  • Replace the windshield wiper blades with ones designed to handle inclement weather
  • Check the tread on the tires, and replace the tires if needed

If your car needs to have repairs done, you should also consider having them completed before winter arrives, such as at Car And Truck Services Inc. Also, consider having your auto repair shop test your car's battery to make sure it will last through the cold weather.

Packing the Car with Supplies

Another thing that all new drivers need to know is what items should always be in the car during the winter months in case of emergency. Make sure your teen always has:

  • Jumper cables
  • Blankets
  • Shovel
  • Flashlight
  • Ice scraper
  • First aid kit
  • Water

You should also encourage your teen to always carry a cell phone in case of an emergency, as well as how to dig the car out of the snow if it gets stuck.

Anytime your teen gets behind the wheel of a car can be stressful, but your teen's first winter as a driver doesn't have to be overly difficult. Take the time to teach your teen about driving safely during the winter months, as well as preparing the car for winter, and have any auto repairs completed before it starts snowing to help keep your teen safe.

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26 July 2016

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