5 Simple Car Care Tips to Teach Your Teen Driver
You hand your car keys over to your teen driver, and suddenly you feel like you can’t breathe. It’s natural to worry when your child is behind the wheel, but there are some things you can do to help them stay safe. By teaching your teen driver these five simple car care tips, you can help them avoid accidents and keep their car in good condition. Plus, it will give you peace of mind knowing that you’ve taught them a bit about car safety. Read on to find out five simple car care tips to teach your teen driver.
1. Always Service Your Car on Time
According to a recent poll, over 77% of automobiles needed maintenance or repair. That means that nearly four out of every five cars on the road are in need of some type of service. Most car troubles can be avoided if you simply keep up with the maintenance schedule for your vehicle. Make sure your teen knows when their car is due for an oil change, tire rotation, or any other type of service. You can find this information in the owner’s manual for your car. Remind them that it’s important to service their car on time to avoid any major problems later on.
2. Do Not Ignore Warning Lights
If a warning light comes on in your car, it’s important to take action immediately. Warning lights are there for a reason – they’re trying to tell you something is wrong with your car. Ignoring a warning light can lead to more serious problems later on. It’s best to take your car to a mechanic and have them take a look at it as soon as possible. If your teen is ever unsure about what a warning light means, they can always consult the owner’s manual. This will help them understand what the light is trying to tell them and how to fix the problem.
3. Regularly Check Your Car’s Fluids
You need to regularly check your car’s fluids in order to ensure it keeps running. You should check the oil level, brake fluid, coolant, and power steering fluid regularly. These are all vital fluids that help your car run properly. If any of these fluids are low, it could lead to serious problems with your car.
It’s easy to check your car’s fluids. All you need is a clean rag and a few minutes. Simply open the hood of your car and locate each fluid reservoir. To check your oil level, remove the dipstick and wipe it clean. Then, reinsert the dipstick and pull it out again to check the oil level. If it’s low, add more oil until it reaches the full line. Locate the reservoir and remove the cap to check your brake fluid and coolant. The fluids should be at or near the ‘full’ line. If it’s low, add more fluid until it reaches the full line.
4. Always Lock Your Car
Did you know that in 4 out of 5 cases of auto theft, car owners left their doors unlocked, while in 1 out of 5 cases, the keys were left in the ignition? That’s why it’s important to always lock your car, even if you’re just stepping away for a minute. It only takes a few seconds for someone to break into an unlocked car and drive away with it.
5. Avoid Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of accidents, so it’s important to avoid it at all costs. Distracted driving involves anything that takes your attention away from the road. This can be things like talking on the phone, eating, drinking, changing the radio station, or even talking to passengers in the car. If you’re not paying attention to the road, you’re more likely to get into an accident. It is also important to remind them never to drink and drive or to drive when they are fatigued. Why is this important? According to statistics, about 30% of all commercial truck accidents are caused by driver fatigue.
These are just a few simple car care tips you can teach your teen driver. By following these tips, they’ll be able to keep their car in good shape while remaining safe.