Waterloo Automotive

ICE can do a lot more than make your drinks cold. When it comes to driver’s safety, ICE can actually save lives. No, we’re not talking about applying it to injured areas. We’re talking about the three-letter acronym for In Case of Emergency, and it’s a simple abbreviation that can be life-saving in distressing situations—especially for teenage drivers. For the past few weeks, we at Meyer’s and Waterloo Automotive have been talking about teen drivers and their safety behind the wheel. As auto service providers, we don’t like reading the statistics that show just how many of our young men and women are losing their lives on the roads every year. As the leading cause of death among teenagers in America, auto accidents are a very real threat to their safety and their lives. That’s why this week we’re talking about the ICE method. Now, if you’re a parent, you may have already heard about this practice. If that’s the case, we’re happy that you’re using it! It’s a helpfu ... read more

Parents, do your teenagers know what to do if they’re involved in a car accident? Whether we want it to happen or not, it’s a real threat. There are more than six million car crashes in the U.S. each year, and many of them involve young men and women who are just learning the rules of the road. As the leading cause of death among teens in America, car crashes can be more than just costly, they can be deadly. At Meyer’s Automotive and Waterloo Automotive, we hope this never happens to your child, but just in case it does, it’s best to be prepared. So, parents, it’s time to sit down with your teenagers and help them understand what to do if they find themselves facing the situation. Who knows? You might need a refresher course yourself. First, the important thing is to try and stay calm. Yes, it’s going to be a scary situation. Be prepared for that. It’s going to be emotional, and it’s going to shake up all parties involved. That’s okay. The important thing ... read more

Fact: Underage drinking is a problem in the United States. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a recent survey found that an estimated 10 million people under the age of 21 had consumed alcohol within the previous 30 days. SAMHSA also reported that 10 percent of high school students who drank chose to drive afterward, and 28 percent got in a car and rode with an intoxicated driver. Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the U.S., and alcohol is one of the main reasons why. When combined with inexperience behind the wheel and the distractions of passengers, music and cell phones, alcohol can be the deadly component that sends a teen driver to the emergency room. Or, worse yet, the cemetery. It’s not a fun subject to address, that’s for sure, but it certainly deserves our attention. And the best place to start the discussion is in the home. Parents know that open communication ... read more

As school gets closer, we at Meyer’s and Waterloo Automotive have been using our blog to talk about teen driving safety. Soon they’ll be hopping into the driver’s seat to make their way to and from school, practice, work and, let’s face it, social activities. (Sometimes we parents like to forget that one.) Because auto accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers in the U.S., however, we want to make sure they are as prepared to hit the road as possible and have the best chance of making it safely to their destinations. This week it’s all about seat belts, and, of course, we’re starting with stats. Not surprisingly, as an age group, teenagers are the least likely to wear seat belts both while driving and riding in a vehicle. The biggest offenders are teenage males who choose against seat belts 4% more often than females. According to teendriversource.org, some of the common reasons teens choose not to buckle up are because they aren’t c ... read more

According to the AAA Foundation, 94% of Americans consider texting while driving to be unacceptable behavior. Why then do more than 1/3 of us admit to engaging in it? Statistics show that any sort of cell phone use quadruples a driver’s risk of crashing–a number that skyrockets when it comes to teenagers. We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again: Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers in the United States. Why? Because of a combination of factors that include inexperience, alcohol and—you guessed it—distractions. While the aforementioned habit of texting is just one of the many culprits, it’s where we’ll start. Texting while driving is a problem among every age group, but it is particularly heightened among younger drivers due to their culture. Statistics released in March of this year showed that today’s teenagers send and receive an average of 60 texts per day. And because teens reportedly expect text messages to be answere ... read more

Many parents have had the discussion with their kids about what to do if they are stranded in a location after-hours and not in a condition to drive. Parents, we applaud you if you have. Teenagers often make mistakes and get into compromising situations, which can be even more dangerous if they have car keys. At other times, they will have to make wise decisions by choosing not getting into the car of an intoxicated friend. Either way, it’s important for them to know whom to call and what to do. Hopefully, in these situations, the first call they will make will be to you, but that may not always be the case. In those times, your child needs to know what options are available for transportation. In a major metro area like St. Louis, a variety of city-run public transportation is available. With the Metrobus and Metrolink systems, teens can access stations depending on their location and easily get from one spot to the next. Because public transportation maps ... read more

Many proud moments come with being the parent of teenagers. Athletic events, recitals, grades, class projects and even the simple act of watching your child become an adult all can make your heart swell as you realize that your once little person is now growing up. Another proud moment for many parents is the one when they finally take the passenger’s seat in their car and hand the keys to their child. It’s a rite of passage that can only be experienced once, and it’s a big moment for both parents and teens—one that establishes a higher level of responsibility for the new driver. Because of that responsibility, which includes themselves, their passengers, other drivers and the automobile, it is important that teens be properly prepared to take the road. Yes, as a parent you will do so much to help your teen learn the basic mechanics of driving, but it’s also a good idea to allow your student to take part in a driver’s education course that prepares them for both the menta ... read more

It’s not something parents want to hear, but it’s a statistic that has to be shared. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States accounting for more than one in three fatalities in the age group. In fact, recent data shows that eight teens in the U.S. die every day from injuries sustained in car accidents. But why? Why are teens so susceptible to car crashes? Unfortunately it’s not just one single factor but a variety that, when combined, contribute to the high number of teen accidents. The first contributing factor is inexperience, and it’s the one thing that’s unavoidable. Teens are simply new drivers and less familiar with life behind the wheel. They’re going to make mistakes, and that’s just part of learning the ropes. Unfortunately, it often comes with a dent or two. But be patient and allow them to learn the skills. In time, the inexperience will develo ... read more

Summer Safety Tips for Teens It’s finally here! Your summer break has started, and you can’t wait to load your friends into the car and head out to enjoy the sunshine and warm weather. At Waterloo Automotive, we say go for it! You’ve worked hard and you deserve a break. Just be safe in the meantime. Because we care about our customers, we encourage you to use wisdom when you’re behind the wheel and remember that there are other drivers out there counting on you to be responsible. Consumer Reports recently published a great list of driving tips for teenagers. Check out their top 10 below: Buckle up. Compared with other age groups, teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use, and the majority of teens involved in fatal crashes are unbelted. Put down the phone. Sixteen percent of all teen drivers involved in fatal crashes are distracted. Texting or talking on the phone combined with inexperience behind the wheel is a recipe for disaster. Plus, it ... read more

If we’re guessing correctly, we’re betting that you’ve started to think about your Fourth of July plans already for this year. As one of our nation’s favorite (and most important) holidays, we all look forward to coming together for barbecues, fireworks and a celebration of freedom. We love this country! Here in the St. Louis area, we have so many great options for Independence Day fun. And, at Waterloo Automotive, we want to help our customers and blog readers discover all the area has to offer. That way, they can hop in their Meyer’s or Waterloo-serviced vehicles and head on out for a day of celebration! First up? Fair St. Louis. For more than three decades, the Archgrounds and Mississippi Riverfront have hosted this three-day festival, which has become one of the area’s favorite places to celebrate the Fourth of July. Featuring air shows, free concerts, a parade, fireworks and tons of food, Fair St. Louis 2012 is the perfect location for family entertainment. V ... read more