(ARA) – Windows down, music turned up, friends giggling in the back seat, freedom … it’s the moment all teenagers dream of – getting their drivers license.

Teen drivers are often euphoric with this new sense of independence. After all, getting a drivers license is a big rite of passage. Teens are inundated, and rightfully so, with statistics and horrific stories that point to the dangers of driving while intoxicated. However, new research shows that distracted driving is among the leading causes of auto accidents, and the problem is getting worse.

“Although laws have been put into place in the spirit of eliminating dangerous distractions for drivers, it’s critical that parents, teachers and influencers at large talk to teenagers about the dangers of driving distracted,” says Duke Daugherty, vice president of auto at Fireman’s Fund Insurance. “It seems harmless to take your eyes off the road for a few seconds to send a text, or change the station, but those few seconds could cost the loss of lives, and a lifetime of angst.”

Research complied by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that distracted driving caused 6,000 deaths and 500,000 injuries in 2008. And data shows that these numbers are continuing to grow. Research also shows that teen drivers are four times more likely to be involved in a distracted-related collision than any other age group.

In general, three types of distractions are most dangerous for teenagers on the road. These distractions can be visual (actions that require drivers to take their eyes off the road), manual (actions that require taking hands off the steering wheel) or cognitive (actions that require drivers to take their minds off what they’re doing).

Local agencies, police departments and focus groups have put into place programs intended to inform teenagers of the dangers of distracted driving, but it’s crucial for parents and schools to keep the dialogue going so teenagers understand the urgency of the problem.

“Encourage your teenagers to be completely alert and fully focused on the road and their surroundings while driving,” says Daugherty. “Parents need to model good behavior in front of their kids by not texting or making calls that distract from driving. If we all take steps to show how important this is, we will see a drop in the behavior by teens.”

Discuss and stress the following driving guidelines:

* Keep both hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road (use mirrors).

* Avoid cell phone use – Cell phones are the number one distraction for teenager drivers. Cell phone use falls under the categories of visual, manual and cognitive distractions. Mobile technology has made texting, surfing the Internet and social networking all too easy.

* Encourage teenagers to avoid using their phones, for anything at all, until they are safely pulled off the road and parked. Devices are available to disable cell phone use in autos.

Drivers younger than age 20 represent the highest proportion of distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes, according to the National Automotive Sampling System (NASS). Reiterate to your teenagers that making a phone call, using the Internet or sending a text message is never more important than somebody’s life. If they are driving with friends who participate in cell phone use while driving, encourage them to be bold and speak up.

Teenagers should also refrain from the following activities while driving, according to the US Department of Transportation:

* Eating and drinking

* Having lengthy or involved discussions with passengers

* Grooming

* Reading (including maps)

* Using a PDA or navigation system

* Watching a video

* Changing the radio station, CD or MP3 player

It only takes one simple distraction to cause a potentially fatal car accident. Remind your teenagers to avoid participating in distracted driving activities, and to be advocates for their own safety and their peers as well.

After you call Stargone Windshield Repair at 951.789.1182 to make an appointment for us to come to your location to repair your vehicle’s windshield, there are a few simple things you can do to get the best possible results.

I know, you thought that once you called us, it was all in our hands to give you a great repair. For the most part, that’s true. Calling Stargone Windshield Repair is by far your best decision of the day!

But you can help yourself even more by following these simple steps:

1. Do NOT get the windshield wet before we get there. This means

a. DO NOT wash the vehicle
b. DO NOT clean the windshield
c. DO park the car in the garage overnight if possible, if our appointment is scheduled for another day. If you cannot park the car in a garage, put some tape over the damaged area to keep moisture out.
d. DO NOT drive in the rain.

2. Keep the vehicle in the shade if possible. There have been several times that we have arrived at a client’s location only to find that the heat of the day has caused the damage to spread beyond what is repairable.

3. Roll the side windows down just slightly, to help keep the heat and pressure from building up inside the cab.

By following these few simple steps, you’ll be doing your part to help insure the best possible windshield repair on your car or truck.

Now you can relax!

]]> http://www.stargone.com/safety-tips/three-easy-steps-you-can-do-to-get-the-best-possible-windshield-repair/feed/ 0 http://www.stargone.com/safety-tips/the-heat-is-on/ http://www.stargone.com/safety-tips/the-heat-is-on/#comments Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:48:09 +0000 Steve http://www.stargone.com/?p=5 [...]]]>

We’ve already had some near 100 degree days here in the Inland Empire, which means NOW is the time to repair that star in your windshield.

Why?

Because big temperature variations in the glass are one of the leading causes of that damage spreading. And once the damage spreads, you’ll be looking for someone to replace your windshield, not repair it.

So what can you do until we come out to repair your windshield for you? Here are some tips that MIGHT postpone the damage from spreading:

1. Whenever possible, keep the vehicle in the shade. Direct sunlight can quickly heat that windshield to nearly 200 degrees!

2. Roll the side windows down ever-so-slightly. This will help to keep the temperature equalized between outside temperature and inside temperature. In a sealed car, the inside temperature rises VERY quickly, which also increases the pressure. That pressure, combined with the extremely high temperature of the windshield, can cause that small chip to become a very long, unrepairable crack.

3. Never, never, never put your car through a car wash with an unrepaired chip in your windshield, ESPECIALLY on a hot day! The cold water will almost certainly cause the damage to spread.

As a matter of fact, don’t worry about cleaning the windshield before we get there to repair it for you. When we’ve completed the repair, we will clean it for you.

If you do these things you will have a better chance of keeping the damage from spreading before we get to your location to repair your windshield. However, these tips will probably not stop it forever.

The safest thing is for you to call us right now to make the appointment. As always, we will come to your location and give you the professional service we have been providing for the past twenty years.

Call today. (951)708-1849. Tell us you saw this article and we’ll give you a 10% discount.