Safety for young drivers

By Bill Snow, Owner/Operator of Rad Air Wickliffe

Anyone who has children that drive is all too familiar with this scenario: After not driving the kids’ car for months, you take it to get gas and notice it’s making a funny noise or the “check engine” light is on. You mention this to your child and he or she replies, “That’s been going on for a while.”

This month, as families prepare to send college students back to school with a car, I’m often asked about how to make sure they’re safe. First and foremost, you want to see and be seen—that means inspecting headlights, wiper blades, turn signals and taillights. You want to be certain the systems that control the car, such as tires, steering and suspension, are all in excellent working order.

A good safety rule of thumb is to make sure the car’s registration and insurance information is in the glove box, as well as a notebook and pen to record accident information, should one occur.

Putting together a roadside emergency kit is also a good idea. It should include an orange flag, road flares, a blanket and bottled water.

For those parents who are looking to buy a used car, I recommend they protect their investment by getting a pre-purchase inspection. Our technicians go over every component of the car’s systems, and oftentimes find issues that help a would-be buyer go back to the seller to negotiate a better price.

Rad Air Complete Car Care and Tire Center is located at 29257 Anderson Road, in Wickliffe. Call 440-943-9666 or visit RadAir.com for more information.

Mention this story and save $25 on the Back to School Maintenance Special, regularly $69.95. Includes semi-synthetic oil change, tire rotation, charging system check, and full vehicle inspection. Offer good through Thursday, September 30, 2021.