As a grandmother of a new teen driver I’d like to share a funny driving story; thank goodness it’s a funny story. He was recently pulled over by the police and the reason was because his car was weaving down the road and the officer thought he was intoxicated. My grandson had a drink in his cup holder and the officer asked what beverage was in the cup and he responded that it was water. Can you guess why his car was weaving? If you thought low tire pressure, you are correct. Both the left front and left rear tires were low.
It got me thinking that teaching or let’s call it suggesting to our teens a few basic car tips may help them be more aware of safety and not causing unnecessary damage to your family’s vehicle.
Show your teen or bring them by the shop for us to demonstrate how to check the tires for the correct pressure. Ask them to check the trunk to make sure there’s a spare tire and jack inside. Suggest they check out a YouTube video on how to change a tire. It’s easy and they feel empowered once they’ve handled their own flat.
Car manufacturers make check engine lights simple to understand; green (ok to go) not safety related, yellow (caution) address soon but vehicle is operational and red (warning) important could cause damage or be safety related. Have a deal with your teen that if a red light comes on, they call you.
Don’t expect too much but helping your teen take stock of the condition of their car is a good life lesson. Don’t be shy; our service department would be honored to help your new driver understand their new responsibilities. Please have your teen give Chuck in the Service Department a call at 303-691-9484 and he will set aside time to go over essentials and address any questions they have.
