Auto Tips You Should Teach Your New Driver in the Family

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When your teenager is starting to drive, there are many things they will have to learn quickly to keep their vehicle running and to stay safe on the road. While they will have to learn many things on their own, there are some things that you can teach them in advance. By reminding them of the following things when they leave the house, you can ensure they'll have a more positive experience on the road.

Know How to Use Your Mirrors

Everyone knows that vehicles have blind spots, but most people don't realize they can eliminate blind spots by adjusting their mirrors. To begin, your rearview mirror should show you the entire length of your rear mirror. If this isn't the case, move the mirror until you can see the entire window. Your driver's side mirror should also be moved until you can no longer see the side of your own vehicle. To ensure the blind spot has been eliminated, drive in reverse alongside a parked vehicle. You should see the vehicle in your side mirror until it becomes visible through your driver's side window.

Know How to Take Puddles

If you drive too fast through a puddle, you'll risk damaging your ignition system. You'll also increase the risk of hydroplaning, which can turn the vehicle into a skid that a new driver won't have the experience to handle. The safer driving practice is to tap the brakes ahead of time and coast through the puddle at a slower rate of speed. After leaving the puddle, ride the brakes for a few seconds. This will create enough friction to dry the pads so you won't experience problems the next time you need to apply the brakes.

Have a Plan for Traffic Accidents

Even though your teenager has taken driver safety courses and is a safe driver, they still run the risk of being involved in a traffic accident. Even when it's not their fault, they should know how to respond after an accident. This involves collecting information from the other driver, using their phone’s camera to document the damages, and calling for emergency assistance. Your teenager should also know to contact a car accident lawyer in Birmingham or your particular locale. Even if you can't be there for them, you can trust that an attorney will act in their best interests.

Follow the Flow of Traffic

You can help your teenager avoid unpleasant traffic situations by showing them how to follow the flow of traffic. While watching the cars and trucks directly surrounding you is important for safety reasons, you should also be teaching your young driver to watch the traffic that's further ahead. When you notice trucks changing lanes suddenly, there's usually a reason for that. Even before other cars start changing lanes to follow suit, teaching your teenager to follow the actions of semi trucks in this way can help them avoid lane closures and blockages. Similarly, the sudden slowing of other vehicles on the road suggests a reason to drive with greater caution.

Warm Up Your Batter in Colder Weather

During the winter months, you're more likely to experience difficulty in getting your car started. The common response is to pump the gas, but insufficient fuel may not be the problem. Before risking a flooded engine, the better response is to turn on the headlights and radio for a few minutes before turning the ignition key. This will warm up the battery and generate a more active connection. In many cases, this will be enough to get a full start on the first try. If the vehicle still doesn't start, try giving the gas pedal a couple short pumps to push the fuel into the lines. This should resolve any minor problems that won't require a jump from another vehicle or an experienced mechanic. Just in case, you should make sure your teenager has the phone number for the auto service center your family uses.

Conclusion

As a parent, you'll also have to be prepared for the rare occurrence of a traffic emergency. There may be times when your teenager is stranded on a roadside or involved in a traffic accident. By having a response plan in place, you can respond calmly to any situation and show your teenager that a rational response is the best way to respond to any emergency situation.