As winter approaches, it’s the perfect time to talk with your teens about winter driving safety. Even if your teen has been practicing their driving skills, it might be their first winter on the road. Winter brings a new set of challenges for teen drivers, and it can be stressful. Here are some helpful reminders from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to help your teen feel more confident on the road this winter.
Key reminders for your teen drivers
Practice makes perfect
Encourage your teen to practice driving in different weather conditions under your supervision. This is a great way for them to gain confidence in challenging environments such as snow and ice. Wisconsin law requires teen drivers to have 50 hours of driving experience before they get their license. However, this is the minimum requirement. We encourage teens to get as much driving experience as possible before getting their license. Even after they have their license, continue driving with them and reviewing their progress.
Prepare the vehicle
Make sure their vehicle is ready to tackle winter. Show them how to check the battery, antifreeze, cooling system and windshield wipers and washer fluid. This will help prevent breakdowns in rough winter weather.
Check the tires
Teach your teen how to check tire pressure and tread depth. Good tires give the car better traction in snow and ice. Here is a fun tip: you can check the tread by placing a penny in the tread of the tire with the top of Lincoln’s head pointing down toward the tire. If you can see the top of his head, it is time to replace the tires. Winter tires are ideal for driving in snow and ice.
Clear snow
Teach your teen the importance of clearing all snow and ice off of their vehicle before driving. This includes the windows, front and rear lights and the roof. Snow and ice can make it difficult to see and can be dangerous for other cars on the road. It might seem obvious, but remember that your teen might not know how to properly use an ice scraper.
Slow down
Remind your teen to drive slow in poor weather conditions. Driving slowly allows for better control of the vehicle and more time to react in case of an emergency.
Do not follow vehicles closely
Talk to your teen about the importance of keeping a safe distance from vehicles in front of them. Keeping a greater distance between vehicles will give them more time to respond to changing road conditions.
Turn on headlights
Remind teens to turn on their headlights in snowy and foggy conditions. This will help them to see the road better, and it also makes their vehicle more visible to others.
Fuel up
Encourage your teens to keep their fuel tank at least half-full. It’s a simple habit that can help prevent fuel lines from freezing and provide necessary fuel in an emergency.
Graduated Driver Licensing
Take some time to review Wisconsin’s Graduated Driver Licensing Law with your teen. This law is designed to help teen drivers gain driving skills gradually and to help create safe, confident drivers.
Know the facts
Review the Children’s Wisconsin Winter Myth vs. Fact Sheet to learn about common winter driving misconceptions.
Trunk junk
This winter, the Children’s Wisconsin Teen Driving Program is launching the Trunk Junk campaign to help teens prepare their car for winter weather. Through the campaign, teen drivers are encouraged to clear out any unnecessary items in their vehicle and are educated about essential items to keep in their trunk for winter safety.
How to run Trunk Junk at home
- Encourage your teen to choose a day to clean out any “junk” from their car. You can invite friends or family to join.
- Discuss essential winter safety items to have in their car. You can use the Children’s Wisconsin Trunk Junk Postcard to help guide the conversation.
- Help them fill their trunk with safe winter driving equipment. Ideas of things to include are listed below:
- Warmth: blanket, boots, hat/gloves, warm socks
- Visibility: hazard triangle, flashlight and batteries
- Ice and snow removal: Shovel, sand/kitty litter, ice scraper
- Power: portable phone charger, jumper cables
- Other important necessities: First-aid kit, snacks and water
Let’s hit the road safely this winter!
Take the time to have these important conversations with teen drivers. It is essential for teens to have the knowledge and tools to drive safely this winter.
The Children’s Wisconsin Safety Center has a Teen Driving Program dedicated to educating teens, parents and caregivers on teen driving safety. The program focuses on reducing car crashes involving teen drivers by addressing key issues such as distracted driving, reckless driving and seat belt use. For more teen driving resources, visit the Teen Driving website or email teendriving@childrenswi.org.
