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52 weekly talking
points (A year’s worth!)
Pick one of the
following "5-Alive" discussion points to talk about with your
teen once a week, every week. By discussing one of these safe-driving topics
every week, you will reduce your teen's risk of an accident.
- Do you know how much a speeding ticket costs, in fines and increased insurance
premiums over the next 3-4 years?
- Do you know that cell phones are linked with distracted driving, which is a
leading cause of preventable crashes?
- Do you always wear your seatbelt, even on short trips? Do your passengers?
- Do you personally know anyone who has driven a car after drinking some alcohol?
- Do you know how to correct your vehicle if it slides on ice?
- How loud do you play music? How often could you hear a horn or siren with your
stereo on?
- What do you do when you approach a railroad crossing?
- Do you watch out for bicyclers and joggers in the spring and summer?
- How fast do you drive through neighborhood streets where kids might be playing?
- Did you see the article in the paper or on TV about the local crash last night?
- Do you know what to do if you encounter dense fog? What if you are unable to see the car in front of you?
- Do you tailgate? How do you know? Do you use the two-second rule?
- What time of day do you use your headlights?
- How low do you let your gas tank get? You should fill it when it gets to 1/4 a tank.
- When should you use you brights?
- Have you ever picked up a hitchhiker? Do you know anyone that has picked up a hitchhiker?
- How often do you check your oil? Do you know that your car engine can blow up if there is no oil in the
car?
- Do you always reduce your speed in construction zones?
- Do you always lock all car doors when you drive especially at night?
- Do you always check your surroundings before getting out of your car? This is especially important at night in poorly lit areas.
- What would you do if your car died? On a city street? On a highway? At night?
- Do you have jumper cables in your trunk? Do you know how to use them?
- Do you have a map of your county/city/town in your car? What will you do if you get lost?
- How fast are you supposed to drive through standing water? How deep is too deep to drive through?
- Do you know how to maneuver your car out of snow if it gets stuck?
- Do you always stop when a school bus is stopped? Are you always cautious of students walking across the
street?
- What do you do if you get into an accident? A minor fender bender or severe crash? Make sure you get the
name of the other person, his insurance company and call the police to file an
accident report.
- Do you always have your license on you and your insurance information when you drive?
- Do you know your license plate number? Do you know when your plates expire?
- Do you know that drowsy driving causes many preventable fatalities and injuries each year? Do you know
the signs of fatigue? If you are tired pull over and take a 20-minute nap.
- Do you have an ice scraper in your car? Do you always wait until your windshield is completely cleared and
defrosted before attempting to drive?
- Where is your spare key? Who will have access to it if you lock your keys in the car?
- What happens if you get a flat tire? Do you have a spare tire? Do you know where to go to fix it?
- How often do you need to change the oil in your car? Do you change it at the recommended times?
- Are your tires properly inflated to the correct pressure?
- Where are your hazard lights located? When would you use them?
- How often do you run yellow lights?
- Do you always come to a complete stop, not a rolling stop, at stop signs? Even when it seems like there
is no one around?
- Do you know that each passenger increases your risk of an accident? How many passengers do you normally
drive with?
- Do you know that driving at night is more dangerous than driving during the day? Visibility is reduced
and you need to be more cautious.
- Do you have anti-lock brakes? Do you know if you need to pump them or hold them down?
- When should you use your parking brake?
- What is your normal speed when driving through a parking lot?
- Do you always adjust your mirrors and seat if someone else has driven?
- What do you do if your car starts to go off the road? How do you prevent overcorrecting?
- Do you reduce your speed below the speed limit during dangerous weather conditions such as rain?
- Do you have a pair of sunglasses in the car for sunny days so you can see clearly?
- Are you a safe passenger? Do you tell your friends to pay attention to the road and help them watch for
traffic hazards?
- Do you always wait your turn at four-way stops? What do you do if someone takes your turn?
- Are you cautious of road rage? Are you careful not to anger others by cutting them off, etc.?
- Do you know what to do if a police car, fire truck or ambulance needs to get through? Where do you pull
over, how long do you stop?
- Who do you call if you need to get your car towed? Are you and your family members of a roadside
assistance program?
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Do not stop talking about safe driving practices with your teen, even after you have discussed all of
these. Remember to talk to your teen 5 minutes every week. Use friendly reminders of previous talking topics or things you witness or see on TV as a
guide for a new topic. Don’t worry about being redundant; worry about saving your teen’s life.
Information courtesy of Allen County, Indiana, Drive Alive Program
Click here for a printable version of the 52 Weekly Talking Points
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