Winter driving can be daunting for young drivers facing slick, snowy roads for the first time. Help your teen prepare with these tips from the Iowa DOT:
• Practice braking and steering in a vacant parking lot, demonstrating stopping and maneuvering on dry and slick surfaces.
• Take gradual steps as you help your teen learn to handle different weather and road conditions.
• Reinforce the importance of maintaining plenty of space between vehicles.
• Make sure the vehicle’s windows, headlights and taillights are cleared of ice and snow, and that the vehicle is in top working order.
• Carry a winter survival kit in the vehicle. For ideas, watch the Iowa DOT’s winter preparedness video on YouTube at www.youtube.com/iowadot.
• Check on road conditions at http://511ia.org, and don’t take an unnecessary trip if the weather is bad.