Teaching Kids to Drive – What they don’t learn at a Driving School

Indicating before changing lanes, checking blind spots and nailing a three-point turn are all requirements to obtain a driver’s licence. While it’s great to outsource the practical lessons to teach your kids how to drive (because, let’s face it, teenagers are not known for taking instructions well from their parents) there are some lessons that just aren’t taught by a trainer but are essential for driving in the real world.

As part of their driving training, be sure to teach your kids the following:

• How to change a tyre (or at least have the roadside assistance number on speed dial!). Changing a tyre in a remote area may be quicker than waiting for roadside assistance to show up.
• Keep a toolbox of essentials in the boot of the car, not only for car difficulties, but also for general safety. A torch, old rag, first aid kit, old blanket, jumper leads and some disposable gloves are a great start.
• Keep a spare mobile phone charger in their car in case of emergencies.
• How to check tyre pressure and refill air.
• How to refill petrol and the grade of petrol that is suited to their car.
• Help them to think about what they would do if they broke down in heavy traffic or in an isolated area. Imagining such a scenario in advance and having a rough idea of what to do will help keep them calm if they find themselves in this situation.
• Reinforce the importance of not using their mobile phone in the car without a hands-free kit.
• General maintenance of their car such as:
• Checking fluid levels
• Changing wiper blades
• Keeping the car manual in the glove box or boot for easy reference if needed
• Ensuring they have the car regularly serviced
• Check the condition of the spare tyre in the boot

Giving your kids a great start to their driving career with these tips will also help you rest easy knowing that they’re safe and well prepared.

Safety update: Stranded and Alone - How to keep safe and get help fast

Imagine this scenario: One night you’re driving home from netball training and the kids are fighting in the back seat of the car. There are two ways you can drive home: the long way in a well populated area, or the short way which is along an isolated road without lighting.

Exhausted, cold and hungry you decide to go the short way – something you never usually do at night – in an effort to get everyone home quickly. As you are halfway along the dark, remote road you hear a thud, a clunk and realise that one of the tyres on the car has gone flat. Great! Just what you needed!

Here are some tips to help you keep calm, safe and get help as quickly as possible:

• Although this may be obvious, avoid travelling on isolated roads at night if possible. Breaking down in a well-populated area is not nearly as bad. If you are low on petrol or have had car trouble in the past, always choose a well-populated route.

• Ensure your mobile phone is always charged and have a back-up charger in the car for emergencies.

• If you do find yourself stranded, try and keep calm so your children don’t start to get anxious. They can easily pick up on signs of panic and you don’t need them to be freaking out in addition to having to solve car troubles!

• If you know someone who is nearby, call them first to come and pick you up. You can always deal with the car later by calling roadside assistance or attending to it the next day.

• Stay in the car and use a blanket to keep yourself and the kids warm till help arrives.

• If a passing motorist offers help, it’s best not to get out of the car to talk to them, just to be safe. Instead, tell them that you are fine and have help coming right away. Keep your mobile phone in your hand and call the police if you feel unsafe.

Although it’s not pleasant to think about the possibility of being in this situation, a little thought and planning can be the difference between a smooth ride home and a stressful emergency.

Now open in Sorell

Today we've opened our 9th service centre, in the southern Tasmanian town of Sorell. We'll be providing all our usual car servicing and repairs as well as carrying on the tyre business of the location's previous owner - South East Tyres.

The service centre will also stock a large range of automotive and marine batteries at Battery Shop.

Opening hours are 8am-5.30pm Monday to Friday.

We look forward to welcoming you there.

Keep an eye on the outside too

We all do our best to look after our car by bringing it in for a regular service, but how much care do we take over its exterior?

Keeping your car looking good on the outside isn’t just about looking good! It will save you money on repairs if you take regular care and also help with the re-sale price when the time comes to say goodbye.

First let’s look at the paint. There are basically two primary types of car paint – water-based and solvent-based paints. Both use a liquid that holds the pigment in suspension so it can be sprayed, and once dry the two types of paints compare favourably. But whichever paint your car has, you’ll need to make some effort to look after it.

Even if you keep your car inside a garage overnight, it’s still out there in the elements most days.  The sun’s UV rays will have some effect on paint, and worse still can also affect the inside of your car by fading upholstery and the dashboard.  We recommend putting a reflective screen inside your windscreen. But added to that the gravel and stones that flick up off the road, sap from trees that you might park under and at the very worst bird droppings, will all leave marks on the paint if not cleaned away.

The birds took a liking to this Mini Cooper!

Some people like to wash their car every Sunday. Others say that a once a month hose down with some car shampoo is ideal and others swear by a wash and wax every 6 months.  Whichever your choice may be will probably depend on how dirty your car gets, but we’d recommend that you pay it some attention and make sure that dirt and debris don’t stay on its surface too long.

Waxing the paintwork after a wash will help you protect the car for longer, and the nicer your car looks the more likely you are to look after it.  An extra coat of wax on the bonnet to cope with the added heat there is recommended.

It’s also a good idea to touch up paintwork as soon as you see any nicks in it, so that the rust doesn’t set in. Or if it’s a larger dent have it seen to sooner rather than later.

This dent should have been attended to a long time ago. Look at the rust!

So love your car. If you leave us to look after the mechanical parts and you look its exterior you’ll be rewarded with a vehicle that’s a pleasure to drive and you won’t mind being seen in!