With the summer now behind us, the ‘back-to-school’ season is upon the families of Sacramento! Except for parents of recent high school graduates and older, their school supplies have changed from crayons and construction paper to laptops and car keys! Especially if this is your household college student’s first trip to their university, preparing them with all the supplies, resources, and basic skills they’ll need for the coming school year is important, and that includes preparing them to drive safely.
Here are a few ways to help your teen drive safely to and from college this year:
- Pack their car up with emergency tools: glow sticks, jumper cables, a car jack, a spare tire, first aid kit, a backup phone charger, etc. Show your teen how and when to use all of these tools, so that in the event of an emergency they can really help. A few blankets, some non-perishable snacks and sealed water, and a flashlight with some batteries are all good items to store in the car as well.
- Schedule a pre-road trip check with us at Standard Auto Care, to check that your college student’s car is running cleanly, has enough fluids like wiper fluid and motor oil, and that the wiper blades, tires, and other accessories are up to par.
- Brief them not only on emergency tools, but emergency actions. Using hazard lights, slowing down carefully after a crash, pulling over where they can be clearly seen, and calling for help are all important steps to keep in mind.
- Make sure they have all of their paperwork in order, or at least somewhere in the glove box. Roadside assistance programs are a great way to ensure your teens have a safe reference, so store their contact information in the car. Plus the ownership documents, insurance, registration, owner’s manual, any parking permits they will need for campus or housing, and a checklist of what to ask about in case of an accident.
Whether they’re driving daily just a few minutes away to a local college like ARC or Sac State, or are driving to another state to stay for the year, the best thing you can do to keep your college student drivers safe is to encourage them to drive distraction and substance free, and to make sure they’re car is running just as well as they are. Before they start off on the traffic jam to college, bring their car into Standard Auto Care! We’ll make sure it’s running smoothly and safely. You can come in to see us anytime Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm, or schedule an appointment with us online or over the phone. You’ll be glad you trusted your teen’s car safety to Standard Auto Care!