Help your teenager to become a safe driver

It’s that time! Your child suddenly morphed before your eyes and is now a teenager. It’s now time to learn how to drive. Here are some tips on how to teach your teen to drive safely.

You’ll need to always remember that you’re their role model. One of the most important things to remember is to practise what you preach. Your teen watches you very closely, so if you’re wearing your seatbelt and obey the rules of the road, your teen will follow suit. Beware of your bad habits and correct them as soon as possible.

When you are teaching your teen, you’ll want to eliminate all distractions. Turn the radio off, ask your teen to get off the cell phone and ensure that they are paying attention to your instructions.

It can be nerve wrecking to teach your teen to drive so try to remain as calm as possible. Increased stress levels will only result in a negative effect on your teen’s driving experience.

Guide them and teach them confidence while keeping it friendly and fun.

Teach your teen to maintain their vehicle. Not only for obvious reasons like getting the most of your car but you are also creating a safer driving experience for your teenager and other drivers on the road.

You may want to enrol your teen into a good driving school. This will not only allow them to become a better and safer driver but this will help on your auto insurance premium also. Practise makes perfect.

Some teenagers are not as mature as we would like them to be. Teenagers sometimes tend to think they are invincible and indestructible. It’s the parent’s job to determine if and when your teenager is ready to drive responsibly and safely.

Check out the Prudent Value Cars inventory at http://prudentvaluecars.com/ for our top quality used cars for when your teenager is ready for the road!

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO DRIVE SAFE IN WINTER?

We've already got our first real snow fall. So it’s time to gear up the way we drive to keep Toronto’s road safe.

Winter driving is difficult. You may think everything is all set after winter tires installation.

But in reality there is much more--check out our top picks to keep winter driving hassle free.

Get winter tires- All four of them!

Installing winter tires may look like additional costs after holiday expenses, but having only two winter tires may cost even more ---maybe someone’s life.

According to Transport Canada one must install all four winter ties to avoid over-steer and under-steer skid. 

Over steer skid may happen when a slip is occurred having only two winter tires at front. Because of the front two winter tires grip will only exist at the front, causing a rear spin and skid at the back. 

Opposite is expected for under-steer skid when two winter tires at the back will have grip that’ll cause a spin and skid in front with regular tires while facing a slip on the road.

Slow Down

It is expected to drive smart during winter—that means when traction is reduced, speeds need to be reduced. 

Such as-- when driving on packed snow, a good rule of thumb is to reduce that speed level to about a fourth of the usual speed for that area. 

This is because a speed limit of 80/km of on a road will mean that’s the maximum speed one can go given under the perfect weather and pitch condition. 

Clear the snow off the vehicle

Visibility is crucial for a safe drive. Section 74 of the Highway Traffic Act states that “No person shall drive a motor vehicle upon a highway (a) unless the windshield and the windows on either side of the compartment containing the steering wheel are in such a condition as to afford the driver a clear view to the front and side of the motor vehicle and (b) unless the rear window is in such a condition as to afford the driver a clear view to the rear of the motor vehicle.”

Check the weather

You definitely don’t want to face a snow storm on Highway 401! Check out weather conditions before you plan to drive. You can tune into any weather channel on TV or radio station to find out about road conditions. 

Plus, if you have a smart phone or tablet try to install a weather app to keep you up to date with weather conditions at all time.

Prepare yourself before driving

Finally, prepare before you drive. Turn off cruise control if not necessary, drive smoothly. 

Stay focused on the road not the car driving in front of you. Avoid wearing heavy boots and winter coats when you drive. There is heater on every car to keep you warm while you drive. 

Be comfortable; keep a pair of comfy shoes and lite jacket inside the car for driving purpose only. 

Plus, never forget to keep winter emergency driving kit including- windshield wiper fluid, an ice scraper, fuel line antifreeze, flashlight, shovel and so on.   

For more information visit www.prudentvaluecars.com