Author Archives: Deena Liska

Teen driving safety tips for winter

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As usually happens this time of year in Wisconsin, the snow has arrived and more is on its way. The forecast of snow is a good opportunity to remind your teen driver about safe winter driving habits. Here are some starters:

  • Check the current road conditions before you leave.
  • Review how to operate the wipers, headlights, and defroster.
  • Before driving, clear snow and ice from all windows, the headlights, tail lights, and mirrors too.
  • Drive slowly and give plenty of time to slow down, come to a stop, change lanes, or turn.
  • Look farther ahead in traffic than you normally do.
  • Be aware that it may be more slippery on bridges and freeway ramps or from drifting snow.
  • Don’t use the cruise control. Tapping the break to turn it off can cause you to lose control of the vehicle.
  • Braking correctly in snowy conditions is different. It takes more time and distance to stop in slippery conditions, and larger vehicles need more stopping distance than smaller ones. Vehicles with 4-wheel drive may have better traction getting started but still need a longer distance to stop. If your car has anti-lock brakes do not pump the brakes to stop; instead keep braking steadily and steer out of the situation.

The DOT website has more information about driving in winter weather conditions: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/motorist/winterdriving/driving-tips.htm. For more information about keeping your teen driver safe, go to www.bluekids.org/cruisecontrol. To read more about motor vehicle safety, click here and remember to drive safely!

-Deena Liska, motor vehicle safety educator, Children’s Health Education Center



Give your teen driver the keys to success

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Many crashes that involve teens have common factors. Wisconsin’s Graduated Drivers Licensing law aims to help reduce the factors associated with teen driving crashes, but research shows that talking with a parent can have far more impact on changing a teen’s behavior.

As parents, we can do a lot to make our kids safer drivers. First, don’t wait until your teen turns 15 1/2? to start talking about safe driving. Many teens are front seat passengers long before they are driving. Take advantage of this time to point out safe and unsafe driving that you see on the road.

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Don’t leave your child’s safety to luck

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You may have heard the statistic that 9 out of 10 car seats are not being used correctly. We see the same statistics with families we serve at our Booster and Car Seat Clinic. That means only 1 in 10 is being used correctly – is yours the one?

Most of the mistakes we see in the clinic fall into one of three categories:

  • A problem with the car seat.
  • How the child fits in the seat.
  • How the seat fits in the vehicle.

Problems with the seat

Wrong seat for the child. Your child’s age, weight and height are key factors when choosing the right seat. Some seats can be used for more than one stage of your child’s growth. Make sure to read and follow the car seat manufacturer’s guidelines carefully and monitor your child’s growth.

Too old or recalled. From the minute it rolls off the production line, a car seat ages. After six years the plastic and webbing have decomposed enough that the seat could fail in a crash. To see if your child’s car seat has been recalled, contact the manufacturer at the phone number or Web site listed on the car seat’s label. No label? Don’t use the seat.

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Cruise control

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Children’s Health Education Center has long been known for its health and safety programs for children, parents, caregivers and teachers. But did you know that CHEC also has been a leader in child passenger safety? We support many motor vehicle safety programs and partnerships, including one with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Last year, 589 people were killed on Wisconsin roads. Incredibly, that’s the fewest number of traffic deaths since 1944 and 20 percent lower than 2007, according to WIDOT.

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