How to teach your kids to be car safe in 2022
Are you concerned by the numbers of kids in accidents. Are you looking for ways to help your kids be safe on the road?
It seems like car safety is a topic that’s been discussed for years. In the car industry, it’s one of their biggest concerns! Why? Well, car accidents are still a leading cause of death among children in America.
Thats why we felt compelled to write this comprehensive guide to help you teach your kids how to be car safe
This article will help you make car safety a priority with your child and ensure they know the basics before getting behind the wheel themselves.
How to teach your kids to be car safe
It has been found that kids who have received car safety education from parents were less likely to be injured or killed in an accident.
Teens are also more likely to be injured in car accidents than any other age group. In fact, car accidents are the number one cause of death for American teenagers. This is why it is imperative to install good driving practices in your kids long before they even are old enough to sit behind the wheel.
The best thing you can do to teach your kids to be safer on the roads is to be a good role model for them by you yourself driving in a safe manner. This is because your kids will learn from watching their parents drive and seeing you drive dangerously will allow them to believe that this is acceptable.
How many car accidents are teenagers in each year
It’s no secret that car accidents are a leading cause of death for teenagers in America. Every year, more than 2,500 teenagers die in car accidents. That’s about seven teens every day.
Here are some stats from the CDC to help illustrate this point:
- In 2019, the motor vehicle death rate for male drivers aged 16–19 was over two times higher than the death rate for female drivers of the same age.
- The presence of teen or young adult passengers increases the crash risk of unsupervised teen drivers. This risk increases with each additional teen or young adult passenger.
- Crash risk is particularly high during the first months of licensure. Data from the 2016–2017 National Household Travel Survey indicate that the crash rate per mile driven is about 1.5 times as high
- for 16-year-old drivers as it is for 18–19-year-old drivers.
The good news is that there are things parents can do to help reduce the risk of their children being involved in car accidents. One of the most important is to start talking to them about car safety as early as possible.
Speeding
It may seem obvious but teaching your kids to understand and respect the speed limits is one of the best things you can do for their safety. In 2019, over 20% of all young driver fatalities were caused by them speeding.
It’s a cliche but speed limits will save lives... that life could be your child’s.
Familiarize your child with the car systems
When your teen starts driving, it’s important to familiarize them with all the car systems. This includes the horn, brakes, gas pedal, and steering wheel. You should also go over how to use the seat belt and airbag.
It’s a good idea to have them sit in the car and practice using these systems. You can even take them for a drive so they can see how everything works.
Set a good example
One of the best ways to ensure your kids are safe when driving is to set a good example for them. This means following the rules of the road and always wearing your seatbelt. It also means driving safely and not Distracted Driving.
Distracted Driving is when you’re not paying attention to the road because you’re focusing on something else. This can include things like using your cellphone, eating, or texting.
It’s important to set a good example for your kids and show them that it’s important to focus on the road while driving. This will help them stay safe when they drive on their own.
Teach your kids defensive driving
Defensive driving is a technique that drivers can use to avoid car accidents. It involves being aware of your surroundings and taking precautions to avoid dangerous situations.
Some of the things you can do to practice defensive driving include:
– always wearing your seatbelt
– being aware of your surroundings
– obeying the speed limit
– not drinking and driving
– avoiding distractions while driving
How to take care of an idle car
The responsibility to practice car safety doesn’t just end once the car is parked. It’s important that your kids understand how to look after their car even when they aren’t physically in it.
They need to ensure the doors are locked when the car is idle to prevent theft of the car itself and anything left in the car (it also goes without saying that you should leave the keys in the car when you leave).
Don’t leave expensive items like laptops or credit cards in a parked car if the car is being left in a public place like a mall parking lot.
Where possible, park in well lit streets or, even better, in a garage to avoid damage like tire slashing.
Teach your kids about the laws of the road
It is important to teach your children about the laws of the road. It’s easier when you’re driving with them as you can always provide guidance and act as a safety net.
However, once they are driving on their own, everything changes. They no longer have you to fall back on and can only rely on themselves. That’s why it’s so important to drill the rules and laws of the roads into their heads quickly.
There’s simply no time to look up when you can overtake in a given situation. You just have to know.
You can start by discussing the basics, such as following traffic signals and staying in their lane as you drive with them. Test them frequently and make sure they understand the correct response in different situations.
You should also quiz them in real time, by asking questions directly related to the road ahead.
Teach your kids how to manoeuvre the right of way
When you’re driving, it’s important to know who has the right of way. This can be confusing, especially when there are multiple cars on the road.
Here are a few things to remember:
– The car on the right always has the right of way
– If both cars are going the same way, the car on the left has the right of way
– If a car is turning, the car that is turning has the right of way
– At intersections, the car that is already in the intersection has the right of way
It’s really important to help them understand that sometimes the right of way can be confusing. And if they are ever in a situation when the right of way isn’t clear, it’s best not to rush or be aggressive. Waiting an extra couple of seconds won’t hurt anyone.
Running into car problems
We may not want to think about it but eventually your kids will run into car trouble in one way or another. But rather than panic at this prospect, let’s just ensure that your kids are prepared.
What your kids should do if they run out of gas
If a teenager runs out of gas, they should pull over to the side of the road and call for help. They should never try to walk to a nearby gas station, as this can be dangerous.
Make sure to let your kids understand that when it comes to road problems, it’s always safe to call you. Whether you’re at work or asleep at 2 AM, your kids need to know that they can call you if they run into car problems and not take unnecessary risks.
Teach your kids how to jump start a car
It’s easy to panic if your car dies. That’s why jump starting a car is an important life skill for your kids to learn.
There are a few things you’ll need to jump start a car:
– car battery
– jumper cables
– another car with a working battery
– someone to help you
Here are the steps to jump start a car:
1. Make sure both cars are turned off and parked close to each other.
2. Connect the jumper cables to both batteries, making sure the red clamps are on the positive terminals and the black clamps are on the negative terminals.
3. Start the car with a good battery and let it run for a few minutes.
4. Start the car with the bad battery and let it run for a few minutes.
5. Disconnect the jumper cables, making sure not to cross them.
It’s important to know how to jump start a car in case of an emergency. Teach your kids these steps so they’ll be prepared if they ever find themselves in this situation.
What should they do if they get into an accident
If your kids are in a car accident, it’s important to stay calm and take action. Here are the steps they should follow:
1. Check for injuries and provide aid if necessary.
2. Call 911 or the police department.
3. Exchange information with the other driver, including name, address, phone number, insurance company, and car registration number.
4. File a report with the police department.
5. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
6. Get medical attention if necessary.
Teach your kids how to speak to police
The idea of being pulled over by the police can be scary enough as an adult, but this fear is compounded even more if you’re a young driver. Whether or not they feel they’ve done something wrong, it’s natural to feel nervous and scared.
When they are pulled over by the police (and it’s bound to happen eventually), it’s important to stay calm and follow their instructions. Here are a few things to remember:
– Always be polite and respectful.
– Do not argue with the officer.
– Cooperate with all orders.
– Do not make sudden movements.
– Keep your hands visible at all times.
– Do not reach for anything in your car, unless instructed to do so by the officer.
If your kids tend to be aggressive then it’s really important to take time out and help them understand this. Failure to speak to the police correctly could lead your kids to getting in more trouble… or worse.
Teach your kids how to maintain their car
It’s easy to take tires for granted but failing to teach your kids about how to maintain their tires is a disaster waiting to happen.
How to change a tire
Getting a flat will happen sooner or later. That’s why it’s always important that they learn how to change a tire since you never know where you’ll break down.
1. Park your car on a level surface and set the parking brake.
2. Loosen the lug nuts on the flat tire using a wrench.
3. Jack up the car and place the jack stand under the car frame.
4. Remove the lug nuts and take off the flat tire.
5. Place the new tire on the car and replace the lug nuts, tightening them in a crisscross pattern.
6. Lower the car and remove the jack stand.
7. Tighten the lug nuts again
Tire rotations
Tire rotations are an important part of car maintenance. They help to ensure that your tires wear evenly and prolong their life. Here’s how to perform a tire rotation:
1. Park your car on a level surface and set the parking brake.
2. Loosen the lug nuts on all four tires using a wrench.
3. Remove the wheels and take the tires off of the car.
4. Place the first tire in front of the second one and put them both back on the car.
5. Tighten the lug nuts on both tires using a wrench, making sure to tighten them in a crisscross pattern.
6. Repeat this process for the other tires.
Check tire pressure
It’s important to check your car’s tire pressure on a regular basis. Failing to do so can lead to a number of problems, including uneven tread wear and a blowout.
Here’s how to check your car’s tire pressure:
1. Find the car’s owner’s manual and locate the section on tires.
2. Read the recommended cold tire inflation pressure for your car’s tires.
3. Use a gauge to measure the current tire pressure.
4. Compare the current pressure to the recommended pressure from the owner’s manual.
5. If the pressure is lower than the recommended pressure, use a pump to add air to the tires until they reach the correct level.
6. Repeat this process for all four tires.
It’s also important to keep in mind that the pressure of your car’s tires will increase as they heat up, so you’ll need to adjust the pressure accordingly.
How to change a cars battery
A car battery dies sooner or later and when it does, you’re going to have to replace it. Here’s how to do that:
– Make sure car is turned off and cooled down before attempting a battery change.
– Loosen the nuts on the cables going into your car’s battery with a wrench, but don’t take them completely off just yet.
– Detach both cables from the terminals of your car battery.
– Lift the old battery out of your car and set it down somewhere safe.
– Insert the new battery into your car, making sure that the terminals are lined up correctly.
– Attach both cables to the terminals of your car battery, being careful not to touch the metal part of the cable with your hands.
– Once the battery is secure, tighten the nuts on each cable with a wrench.
Change car oil
Changing the oil in your car is an important task that should be done regularly to keep their car running smoothly. Here’s how to do it:
1. Park your car on a level surface and set the parking brake.
2. Open the hood of your car and locate the oil dipstick.
3. Remove the dipstick and wipe it with a clean cloth.
4. Reinsert the dipstick and remove it again.
5. Check the oil level on the dipstick. The oil should be between the minimum and maximum marks.
6. If the oil level is low, add oil to your car using a funnel.
7. Close the hood of your car and start it up. Let the car run for a few minutes to circulate the oil.
What to do next
It can be scary thinking about your kids off driving on their own. The anxiety of hoping they do the right things and stay safe is completely natural and is part of your parental instincts.
As long as you put in the effort to teach your kids how to stay safe when in their car and on the road, you’ll be able to relax a little bit and let them enjoy themselves.
We hope you enjoyed this article and found it informative. If you have any questions then please leave a comment below or get in touch via email or through social media and we will read and respond to every comment, email or question. Thanks for reading!
