The idea of kids turning 16 and learning to drive is terrifying. Especially when you reflect back on yourself as a teenager. During the stress of teaching your teen to drive and having to sit in the passenger seat while they practice there are some tips you may forget to tell them. Not to worry. York Tire & Auto Service made a list of tips for you and your new driver.
Invest in a safe driving course
While Pennsylvania doesn’t require safe driving courses for teens to get a license, taking one does allow young drivers to get an unrestricted license at 17 instead of 18. Not only that, it allows teenagers to get extra class time to learn about traffic laws, regulations, and vehicle safety.
Have “the talk”
You may assume that your teenager understands the dangers of drinking and driving or driving distracted, but the truth is that people under the age of 25 still have not completely developed cause and effect reasoning. Once again, remember when you were a teenager?
Sit down with your young driver on a regular basis to remind them how important it is to never mix alcohol and driving. Their phones are a part of their daily life. Remind them of the safety issue involved with texting and driving. Maybe consider setting rules for distracted driving in place with serious consequences in place when those rules are broken.
Slow down
New drivers are excited to be independent and alone behind the wheel. That excitement and thrill often leads to speeding. Remind your teen to slow down and obey the speed limit. If they end up with a speeding ticket, have them pay for it with their work wages or work for you to pay it off.
Be safe during traffic stops
If your new driver does get pulled over, it is important for them to know what to do. Make sure they know where their registration and insurance paperwork are and go over the process of what to do during a traffic stop. Pullover to the right if there is a safe shoulder. If there isn’t turn on your flashers to let the officer know you see them and pull into a safe, well-lit parking lot.
Find a mechanic you can trust
It may not seem like it, but this is just as important as the other tips. Every driver needs to find a mechanic they know will be honest, reliable, and efficient. Auto maintenance and repair are a big part of every responsible driver’s life. Bring your driver along for your next maintenance or service appointment and put them in charge of their own appointments. Teach them the questions to ask and what to look for in an auto repair shop. This will set them up to make great decisions in the long run.
If you are looking for a reliable auto mechanic in the Red Lion area, look no further than York Tire & Auto Service. We are the full-service auto repair shop that Red Lion drivers trust most.
