Parents of teen drivers should consider a driving contract

Click here for more information about driving contracts. The END (End Needless Death) parent-teen contract includes the basics of teen driving safety:

1. Alcohol and/or Other Drugs
2. Safety Belt Use
3. Passenger Restrictions (For under - 18 drivers)
4. Curfew (For under 18 drivers)
5. Vehicle Equipment - Do routine checking tires for tread wear and proper inflation. Include reminders about wipers, oil, gas, auto maintenance, brake repairs, transmission repairs, tune ups, and car washing, both inside and out.

Knowledge of tire safety can help prevent accidents

• Learn the right pressure for your tires and keep them inflated to the recommended pressure
• Carrying heavy loads can strain on your tires- Don’t exceed recommended weight limits
• Roads are never as well-maintained and safe as we wish they were. Look for potholes. Bouncing in and out of a pothole can damage tires. Parking lots and poorly maintained side streets can cause tire damage.
• Scraping your tires on a curb or hitting a curb can hurt the tires on your vehicle.
• Replacing just one tire can cause an imbalance in the vehicle’s driving behavior. If you have to replace just one tire, make sure it is the same size as the other three.
• Check the tire tread and replace tires before the tread is worn down to dangerous limits. Until recently, safety experts advised drivers to place a penny in the tread with Lincoln's head upside down and visible. If the top of Lincoln's head was showing, the experts said to get new tires. More recently, they have recommended using a quarter and Washington’s head instead. Click here for some photos that will help you see how much of the coin should be showing.

Click here for suggested books about driving skills and attitudes.