Posted on 11/22/2013
What do you after getting involved in your first car accident? A teens first reaction is to freak out and then call their parents. Before you reach for your phone, slow down, take a deep breath and follow these responsible actions. Turn Off Your Vehicle The first thing you should do is put your vehicle into park and turn it off. If your car is sitting in a dangerous location or obstructing traffic then you should move it to the side of the road if possible. However, you should first know if this is legal to do. In some states it is actually illegal to move the vehicle out of the middle of the road after an accident. Make sure that you turn off the ignition. You do not know for certain what damage has been done to the vehicle and leaving it running could potentially result in a fire or further damage. Relax This is easier said then done. You most likely have a lot of adrenaline flowing through your veins at this moment. However ... read more
Posted on 11/18/2013
You can’t just rely on driver’s ed courses when it comes to teenage driving: parent involvement before and after your teen receives their driver’s license is key. In fact, according to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, teenage drivers whose parents establish driving rules and supportively monitor teenage driving are 50% less likely to get in an accident, 71% less likely to drink and drive, 30% less likely to use their phone while driving, 50% more likely to use their seatbelt, and generally less likely to speed. Give yourself a little peace of mind by following our tips for preventing teenage driving accidents. Tips for Parents: Preventing Teenage Driving AccidentsSupplement Required Teenage Driving Education Depending on where you live, your state will have different requirements for teenage driving education. For example, if you live in St. Louis, MO, your teenage driver will need to complete 40 hours o ... read more
Posted on 11/11/2013
Have you brushed up on your winter driving tips? With November here and December just around the corner, colder weather is sure to move in soon. Especially in St. Louis and other parts of the Midwest, snow and ice storms are a normal part of winter. If you’re new to driving or you have a teenaged driver, now is a good time to familiarize yourself with winter driving tips so that you and your loved ones won’t end up stuck in the cold. Winter Driving Tips for Teens The best way to stay safe in winter weather is to avoid driving altogether. However, this might not be possible for you — so you should still learn these winter driving tips for the times when travel is necessary! Winter Driving Tips: Icy Roads Follow these winter driving tips when you’re on icy roads, and you should avoid accidents: Turn your headlights on to ensure other drivers can see you. When road conditions become icy, slow down ... read more
Posted on 9/12/2013
Since the introduction of texting, texting and driving has increased dramatically. The increase in its use has been boosted by its benefits and mobility. However, there has been a growing concern over people who combine texting and driving. When driving, you should always be 100 percent concentrated; after all, your life could depend on it. If you are unsure about why it is so important to avoid texting and driving, educate yourself about its potential for negative ramifications. Dangers of Texting and DrivingPremature Deaths Texting and driving can sometimes result in accidents that can lead to the premature death of you or someone else. It only takes one second of distracted driving for a catastrophic, potentially fatal event to occur. “Each day in the United States, more than 9 people are killed and more than 1,060 people are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver,” said the ... read more
Posted on 5/24/2013
In honor of National Bike Month, people across the country are riding bikes to work and school and celebrating the benefits of bike riding in our communities. It is also a great time to address the safety issues that arise with bike riding. Do you know the rules of the road? Since the weather is getting nicer and more cyclists are on the road, now is the time to review the rules. Here are some basic guidelines for sharing the road with cyclists. Keep everyone safe by being aware of these tips. Be aware:
Be on the lookout for cyclists. When passing through intersections and when in traffic, scan for any cyclists. Give them room when you spot obstacles such as potholes or debris. Also, never honk your horn when you are close to a cyclist. This may alarm him or her and cause an accident. Pass carefully:
to leave room between your car and the bike. Check over your shoulder before returning to the lane and always be patient ... read more
Posted on 5/6/2013
Distracted driving is an issue of national concern. New guidelines released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last week recommend changes for auto manufacturers. This national safety administration is tightening up their suggestions, reminding automakers and drivers of the importance of focused driving. The NHTSA completed a study to analyze the visual and manual distractions involved when driving. The study found that when drivers engage in visual-manual tasks connected to handheld cell phones and portable devices, the risk of being involved in a crash is tripled. Some of the most distracting tasks that drivers try to complete while on the road include: making a phone call, browsing the Internet and text messaging. Just one text message can keep a driver distracted for 23.3 seconds. These statistics are alarming. Since distracted driving is so dangerous, the NHTSA made sev ... read more
Posted on 6/28/2012
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
Posted on 6/13/2012
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