Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. The Chevrolet Equinox was on loan as part of media coverage.
Summers are the best times for road trips. I’ve been making summer road trips for as long as I can remember. I specifically remember when I was a teenager and began driving my family across Texas during the summers. We would drive from the West Texas Plains, through the Texas Hill Country, and on to San Antonio. Those trips are some of my favorite driving memories and I’ve loved driving ever since.
What I didn’t know then that I know now is that the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the 100 Deadliest Days. During this time period, the average number of deadly teen driver crashes climbs 15 percent compared to the rest of the year. According to AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, new teen drivers ages 16-17 years old are three times as likely as adults to be involved in a deadly crash. When I started out as a teen driver, mobile phones weren’t there as distractions but that didn’t mean there weren’t any. My parents always warned me to stay alert, keep the music low, and to follow the speed limit.
Safety Tips for Families and Teen Drivers
Our friends at Chevrolet have a few safety tips for families to help bring peace of mind during the 100 Deadliest Days on the road.
1. Create awareness: Take the time to sit down with your loved ones and make sure they’re aware that car tragedies peak during the summer. Knowledge is key, so be sure the whole family knows the statistics and takes the time to get to know their rides, maintenance needs and in-vehicle technology.
2. Remember the basics: While newer vehicles offer advanced safety technologies, recent research from NHTSA shows that deaths resulting from speeding and lack of seatbelt use are on the rise. Just these two incredibly simple things – observing speed limits and always making sure everyone is wearing a seat belt – will help you and your family stay safe.
3. Remind your family to speak up: Encourage your children to speak up if they are in a situation where safe driving practices are not being demonstrated. Summer often means your kids will be in the car with friends and family without you. No matter what age your children are, they must know it’s OK to remove themselves from dangerous driving situations.
4. Put your phone away: We know it can be tempting to pick up your mobile device while in your vehicle, but don’t do it. Make use of your vehicle’s available connectivity features like Bluetooth and hands-free calling and keep your eyes on the road. And remember your kids are watching everything you do, so modeling good behavior helps them develop good driving behaviors, too.
5. Take advantage of all the tech available: Having a teen driver today can be extremely stressful, but thanks to some of the latest technology, it’s also filled with less uncertainty than it used to be. Vehicles today have the ability to provide a report card of your driving’s behaviors and send text alerts when your teen’s vehicle has gone outside of a pre-determined area. Vehicles also have features to help remind parents that they may have left something in the back seat. Making sure you’re aware of everything your car can do to help you keep your family safe is key.
Our Summer Road Trip in the Chevy Equinox
With my own little familia today, I still love driving across Texas. We recently took our first road trip of the summer just before these 100 Deadliest Days. Thanks to our friends at Chevrolet, we drove the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox from San Antonio to Houston. Watch the video for a review.
The Safety Features from Chevrolet give us peace of mind that drivers and passengers have a better chance of arriving to their destinations safely.
“Teen Driver” Technology
This innovative technology works like a digital report for parents. It allows parents to monitor young drivers and provides a safety report including: the speed, if they fastened their seat belt, sets speed limits and even controls the volume of the stereo. This report can serve as a way to initiate the safety conversation with adolescent children.
Rear Seat Reminder
For almost 20 years and in more than in any other state, children in Texas have died inside vehicles that reach extreme temperatures. The new technology “Rear Seat Reminder” reminds the driver when something is left in the rear seats, whether it’s children, pets or other important things.
Active Safety Features and Advanced Cameras
This technology brings parents a peace of mind knowing that they, as well as their children, have the technology that guides them. These safety features warn the driver of all possible hazards around them, such as the Surround Vision Camera where the driver has a 360 degree view of the entire perimeter of the vehicle. It also includes lane departure warning, frontal collision warning and sensors that indicate the distance between the car in front.
Happy Summer and be safe on the roads, Queridos!
