Teen Driver Safety: Top Five Things to Remember if Your Vehicle Breaks Down
AutoMD.com offers teen drivers roadside safety tips during National Youth Traffic Safety Month
May is National Youth Traffic Safety Month, and with an average of 45 youths lost every summer weekend in motor vehicle crashes(1) AutoMD.com is providing teen drivers with important tips to stay safe both on and off the road if they encounter a breakdown.
"According to parents, a majority of teen drivers(2) are relatively
'clueless' about general auto repair and vehicle maintenance, including
the simple task of filling the gas tank. We suspect that because teen
drivers have limited experience on the road, they may also be 'clueless'
on what to do and how to stay safe on the roadside if their car breaks
down," said Brian Hafer, VP of Marketing for AutoMD.com. "Our Teen Auto
Repair and Maintenance Guide not only includes important tips on vehicle
repair and maintenance, but also offers advice on what to do in the
event of a break down while driving, and how to stay safe while they are
on the side of the road."
Top Five Things to Remember if Your Vehicle Breaks Down*
Get your car off the road - If your car stops running properly, and if
you can, move your vehicle to the right-hand side of the roadway as soon
as possible. Avoid stopping your car in an active traffic lane. Once
you have moved your car safely to the side of the road, apply your
parking brake and turn your steering wheel in the opposite direction of
the road so your vehicle doesn't accidentally roll into traffic.
Call for help - Make sure to have a working cell phone in your
possession at all times, in case of an emergency. Have emergency
assistance / roadside assistance numbers handy if your insurance
provides it, or if you belong to AAA. AutoMD Mobile also offers auto
repair info on-the-go, giving stranded drivers clues to diagnose their
problem, and helps them find a local repair shop. And, like every good
boy or girl scout, always be prepared - carry items such as flashlights,
flares or hazard triangles, a first aid kit and blankets in your car -
in case of a roadside breakdown.
Alert others with lights and signals - Remember to immediately turn on
your emergency flashers to signal a problem. Once stopped, if it is safe
to exit the vehicle, use flares or hazard triangles to alert other
motorists of a problem and place the flare or triangle approximately 50
feet behind your car to give other motorists adequate notice. Also,
raise your car hood or tie a white cloth to your door handle as a signal
for police help or assistance from passersby.
Stay in your car unless it is absolutely unsafe to do so - It is best to
stay in your car while waiting for help to arrive if your car is safely
out of traffic. Stay inside the vehicle with your doors locked and your
seatbelt fastened. Getting out of your car, even when parked along the
roadside makes you a pedestrian and the roadway is no place for a
pedestrian. According to a government report(3), 4,000 pedestrians are
struck and killed each year, and about 700 of those pedestrians are
people working in the roadway. Exercise caution when accepting help from
strangers. If you are suspicious, don't open your door. Instead, lower
your window enough to talk and let them know help is on the way, or to
ask them to make a phone call for you. If you absolutely must exit the
car, use the door on the opposite side of the roadway, remember to NEVER
step into the road, and always look out for traffic and moving cars
around you.
Tire trouble - If you have a flat tire or a tire blowout, pull onto a
flat area if possible so that a car jack can be used safely and
properly. If you have never changed a flat tire, do not attempt to try
it for the first time when you are pulled over on the side of the road.
AutoMD.com's Teen Driver Car Maintenance and Repair Guide offers
step-by-step instruction on how to change a flat tire, as well as other
basic vehicle maintenance and repair instructions. Practice these
repairs in advance with a parent or other responsible adult. Also, it is
a good idea to carry tools in the event of an emergency, such as a
jack, wrenches, screwdrivers, and be sure you have a properly inflated
spare tire in your car - you might be surprised to learn that many
automakers are not providing a spare tire in new vehicles(3).
AutoMD.com says that understanding the fundamentals of car repair
knowledge is just as (if not more!) important for the safety of teen
drivers as for the general population, which is why the company
developed a car repair educational resource specifically for teens.
Features of the guide include:
1) A vehicle diagram and glossary to help teens identify key
components of a car 2) A Do-It-Yourself (DIY) vehicle maintenance
checklist 3) DIY vehicle repair instructions for basic
maintenance/repair jobs 4) A list of car maintenance and repair
"Tips and Tricks" 5) Car repair safety information 6) Roadside
safety tips 7) A car maintenance quiz 8) A Certificate of
Commitment
To access the AutoMD.com Teen Driver Car Maintenance and Repair Guide, visit: http://www.automd.com/teen/
