Monthly Archives: August 2019

New & Teen Drivers

With kids returning to school and those of you out there with teenagers know how excited they can be to get their drivers licenses, getting their first cars, and possibly even being allowed to drive unsupervised. This can be highly stressful and fear-inducing for parents no matter how responsible your teenaged child is. Half of all teens will be involved in a car crash before graduating from high school. Parental involvement doesn't end when a child gets a license. Teen drivers who continue to practice with their parents increase their chances of avoiding a crash. Parents need to set clear boundaries and rules for teenage drivers and it is also important for parents to set a good example for their kids, by abiding by traffic laws and not texting and driving. Also, kids that take part in drivers training have better odds of avoiding fatal crashes. In California, we have a provisional licensing program for novice drivers. This licensing program is proven effective at reducing teen dr ... read more

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Bus Stop Safety

Children are the biggest joys in our lives in protecting them from danger is a fulltime job whether you are their mom, teacher, scout leader, or their bus driver. Bus drivers are skilled drivers who must also deal with keeping a busload of kids safe at one time, so keep that in mind when you are dropping your kids at the bus stop. Give your child’s bus driver the support they need by helping to teach your kids about proper bus riding etiquette. The greatest risk to your child is not riding a bus but approaching or leaving one. Before your child goes back to school or starts school for the first time, you and your child need to know traffic safety rules. Teach your child to follow these practices to make school bus transportation safer. FOR PARENTS Safety Starts at the Bus Stop Your child should arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Visit the bus stop and show your child where to wait for the bus: at least three gia ... read more

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7 Tips That Will Help You Pass Your Smog Test

Your smog test can be just as daunting as taking your SATs if you are unprepared. If you don’t pass, you can’t keep legally driving your car and the repairs can get costly. This test ensures that your vehicle is not producing more than its’ share of emissions and that it is contributing to keeping the air as clean as possible. These following tips may just help increase your chances of passing when it comes time to have a Smog Test done. Investigate That Check Engine Light This is the biggest and easiest issue to avoid; if you go into your smog test with your engine light on, it’s an immediate fail. Simply get your vehicle diagnosed and resolve the issues to get one step closer to passing. Make Sure Your Tires are Properly Inflated To The Correct Tire Pressure Most states run a dynamometer test, which forces your car to run at high speeds while staying stationary. When your tires aren’t fully inflated, your engine must ... read more

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Back to School Safety Tips

Making sure our kiddos know the importance of being safe around vehicles on the road is a big job. Whether your kids walk, bike, ride the school bus, or if you take them to school yourself; it is extremely important that they take proper safety precautions. Here are a few tips that might make having a conversation about road and vehicle safety easier. Walking to school Set clear safety rules and boundaries, and practice walking to school with your kids. Walk on the sidewalk, if one is available; when on a street with no sidewalk, walk facing the traffic. Before you cross the street, stop and look left, right and left again to see if cars are coming. If possible when crossing the street do so at street corners and if possible, in crosswalks. Do not jaywalk! Make eye contact with drivers before crossing. Make sure that they see you before stepping into the street and that they have come to a full and complete stop. Stay alert and avoid distracted walking. It is important to exp ... read more

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Back to School Safety for Your Car

Back to School Safety for Your Car

Back to school season is upon us, and all of us here at Westside Transmission & Automotive want your vehicles to be kid-safe and ready for the road. Here's a great back to school vehicle readiness checklist:Check your wipers. With winter weather approaching making sure that your windshield wipers are free of wear and tear. This will help you see clearly during inclement weather and keep all those back to school kiddos safe. Check your lights. Look at your interior and exterior lights and replace the ones that are dimming, flashing, or out. Doing this will help with nighttime visibility and making sure you can see as well as be seen. Take your ride to have an annual brake inspection done. Your brakes are a crucial safety feature. Illuminated brake lights and grinding, clicking, or screeching sounds may be trying to tell you that a professional auto mechanic needs to have a look. Checking your tires ... read more

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