Tag: Safety

Your Teen Driver And Their Safety

Maintenance is easy to schedule. Breakdowns are not.

What should parents look for in a car for their teen driver? Here is what the experts say.

  • Teens dream of the fancy souped-up sports car but that certainly isn’t the safe choice for young, inexperienced drivers.
  • Teen drivers, between the ages of 16 to 19 are far more likely to have a crash than any other group.
  • Teens tend to underestimate dangerous situations and they don’t always react to them appropriately.
  • It is hard for a mature, experienced driver to always make the right snap judgment call when behind the wheel to avoid an accident. Everything happens way too fast. When you are brand new at driving it gets worse.

Before you pick a car based on price or looks, think about reliability and safety first; then choose the safest car you can afford to buy. Airbags, stability control, and excellent tires are a good start. Large to mid-size cars are safer than small cars because they are heavier.

When you narrow down your choice of vehicle, check out the safety ratings on nhtsa.gov.

If you are buying a used car, please have it inspected carefully by your car care provider and let them know it is for a teen driver as they may be able to give you more insight into the safety of the vehicle. Check to make sure if the vehicle had any recalls and if they have been taken care of.

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions and we will be glad to help, or visit our website at CertifiedAutoCa.com.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

Teen Safety

African Woman Buckling Up Seatbelt To Drive Car Safely

Keeping teens safe on the road is a subject dear to my heart. I’m often asked what parents should look for in a car for their teen driver. Of course, a lot of teens dream of a fancy sports car but that certainly isn’t the safe choice for young, inexperienced drivers. Teen drivers, between the ages of 16 to 19 are far more likely to have a crash than any other group. They tend to underestimate dangerous situations and they don’t always react to them appropriately. It is hard for a mature, experienced driver to always make the right snap judgment when behind the wheel to avoid an accident. Everything happens way too fast. When you are brand new at driving it gets worse.

I always advise that before you pick a car based on price or looks think reliable and safety first, then choose the safest car you can afford to buy. Airbags, stability control, and excellent tires are a good start. Large to mid-size cars are safer than small cars because they are heavier. 16 models with the highest crash rates included 11 small cars. I know it is natural to assume that a smaller car is easier to handle and many times the teens like them because they appear sportier, however, they are not the safest choice.

You also don’t want to buy a car that has a lot of horsepower or one that has too little. Too much speed and power are, of course, dangerous but lack of power can be equally dangerous as they are too slow during lane changes. You might also share with your teen that California traffic tickets are mighty expensive these days.

When you narrow down your choice of vehicle, check out the crash test scores on Safercar.gov. If you are buying a used car, please have it inspected carefully by us at Certified Automotive Specialists and let us know it is for a teen driver as we may be able to give you more insight into the safety of the vehicle.

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions, and we will be glad to help, or visit our website at CertifiedAutoCa.com

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

V2V Technology and What It Means To You

V2V or “Vehicle to Vehicle” communication technology is a tool that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is taking steps to enable.  Cars and light trucks that can “talk” to each other will significantly cut down on accidents and hopefully prevent them completely.

The Department of Transportation began testing this program in August of 2012 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Nearly 3,000 vehicles were used in the biggest road test of V2V technology.  It seems that vehicles can communicate well with each other regardless of their manufacturer.  The test was considered a success and does work in a real-world situation.

Consumers seem pleased to embrace this new technology.  They are also happy to hear that V2V technology is only concerned for their safety and it does not involve exchanging or recording personal information or tracking vehicle movements. Much of today’s new technology seems intrusive to consumers’ privacy…especially when it can be sold to a third party.

In the next few weeks NHTSA will share its final analysis of its year-long testing with the public.  The report will include key areas of concern including the following:

  • Privacy and security
  • Estimates and costs
  • Safety benefits

The next step for NHTSA will be a regulatory plan to include:

  • Date required for V2V to be mandatory in new vehicles
  • Consistent and applicable legal requirements
  • Executive orders and guidance

With V2V technology drivers can enjoy 360-degree situational awareness enabling them to avoid crashes:

  • It can let a driver know it is safe to pass on a two-lane road in order to avoid a head-on-collision.
  • It can let a driver know it is safe to make a left turn that crosses on-coming traffic.
  • It can let drivers know it is safe to change lanes in two or more lanes of traffic all traveling the same direction.
  • It can communicate the message that yards ahead an unseen vehicle can be a threat so the drivers can avoid a crash.

The United States is the leader in the global automotive industry and this type of research and development is the reason why.  Stay tuned for more updates!

Please call us with any questions at 626-963-0814 or visit our website at www.CertifiedAutoCA.com.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!