1. Bad Habits. Does mom or dad have a driving habit that drives you nuts? Well, check yourself. New drivers often pick up good and bad habits from their parents.
2. Following too closely. Is that guy tailgating you? Chances are it’s another teen driver.
3. Speeding. You may have keener hand-eye coordination and better reflexes than your parents, but inexperiences on the road makes speeding your quickest route to a crash.
4. Safety belts. If you think wearing a safety belt makes you look uncool, think again. Wouldn’t you rather be wearing a seat belt than a body cast?
5. Driving while impaired. Drinking and driving don’t ever mix. Impaired performance and inexperience makes for a deadly combination.
When teens are ready to purchase their first car, it can be easy to get caught up in image vs. safety. Often times teens want something fast, powerful and shiny, but the number one feature to look for is safety. Here are some things to remember when shopping for that first car.
Consider purchasing a late-model car. While an older car may seem bigger and safer, a newer sedan is going to have better and up-to-date safety features.
Don’t think too small or too big. While small cars are cute and save on gas, they can also be harder to see on the road and offer less crash protection. While large SUVs or trucks may be attractive, they are often less stable and more likely to roll over due to a high center of gravity.
Sports cars may be fast, but they can raise your insurance premiums.
Check the reliability and cost of ownership on any vehicle you’re considering.
Make sure to look into crash test data.
If you are buying a used car, check out the car’s history and also schedule an inspection on the car to make sure everything is in good condition.
Look for a vehicle with a warranty or purchase an extended warranty if possible.
Posted May 30th 2008 9:40 AM by Jamie Allen
Filed under: Where You Live
Tags: AAA
The more parents can be a source of information to their teen drivers, the better. Do some fact finding and help your kids know the responsibilities of the road. Here are some useful websites and what information they each offer.
www.aaa.com
AAA’s website features information on drivers education, approved driving schools, graduated licensing, car buying, car insurance, car loans, approved auto repair facilities and maintenance recordkeeping.
www.iii.org
The Insurance Information Institute offers information on automobile insurance.
www.nicb.org
The National Insurance Crime Bureau will tell you what are the most frequently stolen vehicles.
Posted May 29th 2008 4:56 PM by Jamie Allen
Filed under: Where You Live
Looking for something fun to do with your family this weekend? Each week on Where You Live, Maranda promotes four events coming up in the following week. If you’re interested in finding out more about these events, simply sign-up at the link below. Each Friday, you’ll receive an email from Maranda with all the details.
Posted May 29th 2008 4:07 PM by Jamie Allen
Filed under: Where You Live
I frequently search www.michigan.org for their e specials and the site is loaded with every place in Michigan you can imagine. We type in what type of activity we are wanting to do that weekend or holiday and find out who has the great deals and almost every time we end up visiting some place in our great State of Michigan that we have never been to and have a great time for a great price!
2008 is going to be an awesome summer out at Fifth Third Ballpark. From weekly West Michigan Whitecaps games to Gus Maker to music festivals and carnival nights….they’ve got it all. Visit www.whitecaps-baseball.com for a complete list of ballpark events.
We’d love to hear from you. Tell us what you’re looking forward to most this summer in West Michigan
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that overuse it to blame for up to half of all sports injuries in kids. That is why it is wise for kids to:
· Participate in a sport that emphasizes fun, safety, sportsmanship and learning skills.
· Join only one team per session.
· Take a break between seasons if they play multiple sports.
· Limit training in a single sport to no more than five days a week, giving kids at least one day off from any physical activity.
Words of encouragement can go a long way! In this week’s show, players from the West Michigan Whitecaps gave us the best advice they received as a child. We’d love to know what the best advice you received as a child was, and who it was from.
Congratulations to the 30,000 kids in Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon and Kalamazoo counties that participated in the Fifth Third “Feelin’ Good Mileage Club” this spring! I hope the healthy practices you’ve started will last a lifetime!
Every student that completed five miles in the Mileage Club was registered to win a new bike and helmet from Travelers Protection Assocation. Winners have just been selected! These eight winners will be awarded their prizes Friday, May 23 at Fifth Third Ballpark, prior to the West Michigan Whitecaps game:
Kent County: Ingrid Anarccon and Logan Smith
Ottawa County: Isabella Correa and Carson Mulvahill
Muskegon County: Kaitlyn Huffman and Cory Greeno
Kalamazoo County: Maddie Hinkley and Brendon Rouget
Way to go and thanks to all kids for participating in this year’s club!
“Park Parties are in full swing and they are amazing! I love seeing all the kids and families having fun together and enjoy all sorts of FREE food, free activities and free fun! See the action for yourself, we have wonderful photos from each party posted here on this site under "Park Party". Feel free to post your photos there too!”
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