Ask Mike: What Are Some Typical Mistakes Teens Make When Learning How to Parallel Park? December 09, 2018 By Kelly Cusick Parallel parking is one of the skills that teen drivers and parents worry about a lot. Mike Pehl got this question about the size of the... Must-do maintenance tips to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape this year. December 03, 2018 By Jayne Ubl A well-maintained car, just like a well-maintained body, will look better, work better, last longer … and save you money. It’s good advice to get... Tis the Season to be Cautious… December 03, 2018 By Jayne Ubl If your teen got their license over the summer, they may appreciate a refresher course on how to drive on snow/ice covered roads. For instance... Ask Mike, “Is local Driver Education better than Homeschool?” November 02, 2018 By Jayne Ubl ASK Veteran Crash Investigator & Driver Safety Instructor Mike Pehl: I am torn between signing my homeschooled teen up for the local driver... ASK Veteran Crash Investigator and Driver Safety Expert Mike Pehl… November 02, 2018 By Jayne Ubl I have heard that after the first six months a new driver can be affected by what is called the “Unlearning Curve?” As a Driver Safety expert what... Veteran Crash Investigator and Driver Safety Expert, Mike Pehl says… November 02, 2018 By Jayne Ubl As a former insurance agent I am adamant about telling my students- “The choices you make as a teenage driver have the power to change the house... A Commonsense Approach to Driver Education October 24, 2018 By Jayne Ubl Veteran Crash Investigator and Driver Safety Expert, Mike Pehl says- Driver Ed Instructors understand that memorizing the number of feet that... Ask Mike: What should you do if you are being tailgated? October 03, 2018 By Megan Johnson About a month ago, my kids and I were on our way home from dinner at a friends house. About 10 minutes into our drive home a car approached my... How To Choose A Great Teen Drivers Ed Program September 28, 2018 By Jayne Ubl Below are six tips to help you choose a great drivers ed program for your teen. Find out which driver’s ed program has an orientation program... Can Homework Put Your Teen Driver at Risk? September 18, 2018 By Megan Johnson On average, most high school students are assigned as much as 17.5 hours of homework a week. And that is for the students taking basic level... New Car Seat Guidelines Designed to Save Lives. September 11, 2018 By Megan Johnson It can be hard to keep up with the newest guidelines when it comes to car seats. When used correctly car seats can drastically decrease your... Riding in Cars with Friends September 03, 2018 By Megan Johnson As parents, your teen getting their license can be a stressful time. What’s even more stressful is allowing your teen to ride in a vehicle with... Parking lots, a school danger zone. August 16, 2018 By Megan Johnson According to the CDC, “The most common mode of travel to school is the family car. (46%)” This doesn’t always mean Mom and Dad are dropping the... Safety tips for back to school driving. August 12, 2018 By Megan Johnson Summer is quickly coming to an end, and that means the amount of drivers on the roads will drastically increase. A decent number of those drivers... How to Deal With Road Rage July 15, 2018 By Jayne Ubl It’s been said that – “The smartest fighter is the one who avoids the fight in the first place.” When it comes to “road rage” the same words... Facts of Distracted Driving July 15, 2018 By Megan Johnson Distracted driving is a big concern for all drivers on the road. But it can be even more risky for an inexperienced teen behind the wheel. Here... 3 Safe Driving Habits to Instill in Your Teen July 15, 2018 By Megan Johnson Safety is the number one concern for parents when their teen is ready to hit the open road. The good news is parents have more control over our... 4 Simple Rules for Your New Teen Driver July 15, 2018 By Megan Johnson With so many big changes that happen in the teenage years, your teen getting their license is one of the biggest. And as much as we... 4 signs that your teen is ready to drive. June 20, 2018 By Megan Johnson One of the biggest rights of passage as a teenager is getting their license and being able to drive on their own. But, while your teen is... Is your teen scared to start driving? June 20, 2018 By Megan Johnson Does the thought of driving scare your teen? If so, they are not alone. A decent percentage of teens are putting off driving until they are 18... Can your teen drive in another state with a learners permit? June 20, 2018 By Megan Johnson Summer is a great time for your teen to get some behind the wheel practice. It’s also an ideal time for families to take road trips. So put these... 10 of the most common mistakes teens make while taking their driving test. May 27, 2018 By Megan Johnson The last step when it comes to your teen getting their license is taking the DMV test. While this can be nerve-wracking for all parties involved... Six ways parents can save on their teen’s driving insurance. May 27, 2018 By Megan Johnson Last week we covered the “The 5 Most Inexpensive Cars to Insure”. So this week we thought we would keep the momentum going with six... The five most inexpensive cars to insure. May 27, 2018 By Megan Johnson If your teen is getting ready to get their license and hit the road, you not only want them in a safe vehicle but you don’t want to be... At what age can your child ride in a car without using a car seat? May 27, 2018 By Megan Johnson 9? 12? If you know your car seat safety, you know this is a trick question. Age plays no role in car seat usage. But unfortunately, many parents... 2 Must-Have, Safe Driving Tools for Teen Drivers May 16, 2018 By Megan Johnson A lot of smart phones have some pretty cool driving features. Such as the “do not disturb while driving app” that the iPhone has. However, not... The 3 rules of safe cell phone usage while driving. May 15, 2018 By Megan Johnson What is one of the biggest concerns for parents when it comes to teens and driving? Cell phone usage. According to the National Safety Council... Car Seat Safety Tips for Summer May 02, 2018 By Megan Johnson With summer fast approaching and warmer weather on the horizon, here are some car seat safety tips you will want to keep in mind! Controlling Heat... Video Demonstration: What Happens When a Trailer’s Weight is Loaded Wrong? April 18, 2018 By Kelly Cusick Sometimes you’ve got to see something, to really understand it. Take a look at this video demonstration about how to distribute weight... Are you making this ONE big car seat mistake? March 19, 2018 By Megan Johnson Mike Pehl is always advising parents to start early and never stop when it comes to teaching their kids about safe driving. As a young mother of... Behind The Wheel With ADHD February 19, 2018 By Jayne Ubl Does your son or daughter have ADHD, ADD, or another learning challenge that affects focus, attention or executive functioning? Standard driver... How to Prevent Rear End Collisions December 15, 2017 By Jayne Ubl Did you know that when you are stopped at a stop sign, red light or even sitting in traffic, you should always be able to see the back two tires... The Seven Most Common Lane Change Crashes December 10, 2017 By Jayne Ubl Below is a list of the Seven Most Common Lane Change Scenarios that account for 88% of all lane change crashes. Typical Lane Change –Two... 4 Weird Driving Habits That You Should Probably Stop Doing November 16, 2017 By Jayne Ubl Three out of four drivers on the road are busy multi-tasking while driving, and that’s not really surprising when you think about... Does Your Teen Have The Tools To Survive Winter Driving? November 12, 2017 By Jayne Ubl Winter is just around the corner and for many that means snow and ice can add to the hazards on the road. Having a well stocked emergency... A Tip From Mike April 19, 2017 By Jayne Ubl VETERAN CRASH INVESTIGATOR AND DRIVER SAFETY EXPERT MIKE PEHL SAYS- When I start teaching a new group of student drivers, I talk with them about... Carbon Monoxide – the silent killer April 11, 2017 By Jayne Ubl Most adults know that carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas emitted by cars. But the risks are more complex than many realize. DriveSafeRideSafe... Prom and Driving: 2 tips for parents to keep their teen drivers safe April 04, 2017 By Jayne Ubl Parents … Remember the Prom? We want your son or daughter to have fond memories of their own special occasion, too. But an average of 1,000... Ask Mike: If you are being tailgated, what can you do, as a defensive driver to keep yourself safe? April 04, 2017 By Jayne Ubl MIKE SAYS: Slow down and let the tailgater pass. Don’t slow drastically, just ease up on the gas and you’ll slow slightly. You could... Ask Mike: Where Do Most Traffic Crashes Occur? March 29, 2017 By Jayne Ubl . More than half of our nation’s traffic deaths occur on rural roads, even though only 1/4th of us live in rural areas. Your best protection... How will I know when my Teen is really ready to get their license? March 22, 2017 By Jayne Ubl Teaching someone to drive is more than just memorizing rules and regulations. It’s also more than just the act of driving. Sure, your teen... Ask Mike: How does a Parent help their Teen with critical thinking when it comes to driving? March 15, 2017 By Jayne Ubl Veteran Crash Investigator and Driver Safety Expert, Mike Phel says: There are many things that a parent can do to help their teen understand how... SIPDE -A FIVE Step Process to Help Crashproof New Drivers February 15, 2017 By Jayne Ubl Driving is challenging because you need to do many tasks at once. You have to control the vehicle, watch the roadway and off-road areas, read... What to Bring on your Spring Break Road Trip February 07, 2017 By Jayne Ubl {This post contains affiliate links} With Spring Break fast approaching and airline prices rising, a lot of families will choose to save some... Valentine’s Vow for those that Ride Shotgun February 07, 2017 By Jayne Ubl In January I wrote about how to keep your car tuned up and looking good as part of your New Year’s Resolution. This month, since February... Are You Road Worthy? January 11, 2017 By Jayne Ubl {This post contains affiliate links} It’s 10:00pm, you’re driving home from a friends house when all of a sudden “BOOM!”... New Year, New Must-Have Car Accessories January 04, 2017 By Jayne Ubl {This post contains affiliate links} Can you believe it’s already 2017? The number one New Year’s resolution is always self... Add Regular Car Maintenance and Tune Ups to Your New Year Resolutions! January 01, 2017 By Jayne Ubl A well-maintained car, just like a well-maintained body, will look better, work better, last longer … and save you money. It’s... Getting Lucky on the Freeway October 25, 2016 By Kelly Cusick It’s March, the season of St. Patrick’s Day, Leprechauns and four leaf clovers. That’s the inspiration for this blog post about... How to Avoid a Fender Bender in the High School Parking Lot October 25, 2016 By Kelly Cusick Did you know 1 in 5 crashes happen in a parking lot? That means there’s a pretty good chance your car, or the car you borrowed from your parents... Melting Snow … and a Hazard of Springtime Driving October 25, 2016 By Kelly Cusick Does this look like a dangerous driving day to you? We all know winter driving is extra risky. But what about a hopeful day in March, when the sun... What do I do if I see a drunk driver on the road? October 17, 2016 By Kelly Cusick What should I do if I witness drunk driving? Unfortunately, drunk drivers travel our roads every day and every night. The New Year‘s Eve Holiday... Up is not Down October 17, 2016 By Kelly Cusick I learned a very interesting fact the other day, and it has life-and-death implications for all of us who drive. Up is Not Down Most people... Rings, No Belts and Too Many Buds: A Costly Combo October 17, 2016 By Kelly Cusick As your teen prepares to hit the books and head to high school, it might be a good idea to check their accessories. However, we’re not talking... Five things to do before heading out on a road trip October 17, 2016 By Jayne Ubl As a seasoned traveler, both as a mom towing kids to hockey tournaments and now a snowbird that travels regularly from Minnesota to Florida, I... Driver Eduction Programs are a waste of time and money October 17, 2016 By Jayne Ubl IT’S TRUE! If you choose the wrong driver ed program – IT’LL COST YOU TIME AND MONEY WITH LITTLE OR NO RESULTS Many parents... Teen Driving Lessons – Minnesota Women’s Press shares the story of my sons’ two car crashes October 17, 2016 By Jayne Ubl This month’s issue of the Minnesota Women’s Press is all about “Markers and Milestones.” Since learning to drive is a... The Value of Taking a Driver Education Course October 17, 2016 By Jayne Ubl More and more people are waiting until they are 18 years old to get their driver license. One of the biggest reasons for this is that once you... Driver Education: 6 Things Every Smart Parent Needs to Know October 17, 2016 By Jayne Ubl As a mom who had BOTH sons total cars within six weeks of each other, I’m here to tell you that sometimes, we don’t know … what we don’t know!... My Granddaughter Isn’t Practice Driving Yet October 13, 2016 By Mike Pehl Dear Mike: I am curious about Minnesota’s Driver Education requirements. I live in Wisconsin but have a granddaughter in the Minneapolis... What Kind of Car Should We Buy for Our Teen? October 13, 2016 By Mike Pehl Dear Mike: My daughter will be getting her license soon and we’re getting ready to buy a car for her. Do you have any advice for us?... How Can I Prepare My Younger Kids for Driver’s Ed? October 13, 2016 By Mike Pehl Dear Mike: We’re still a few years away from driver’s ed, but I’m already worrying about it. Is there anything I can do now to... When Should My Kid Start Learning to Drive? October 13, 2016 By Mike Pehl Dear Mike: I’m wondering when my kid should start learning to drive. Some parents are telling me to start early. Others are saying to wait!... Advice about Road Rage October 13, 2016 By Mike Pehl Road Rage incidents are not that rare these days! Mike Pehl has advice for anybody who finds themselves in a frightening situation like the one... What You Don’t Know … Can Hurt Your Teen! October 13, 2016 By Kelly Cusick Ask any parent about their teen starting to drive and you’ll get some very entertaining reactions: grimaces, cringing and worried sighs. Everyone... Distracted Driving: Surviving the new “drunk driver” October 13, 2016 By Kelly Cusick Distracted driving is a huge concern for everyone on the roads right now … and especially for parents! That’s why our... Five Ways to Reduce Your Risk When Driving October 13, 2016 By Kelly Cusick Many factors contribute to the degree of risk when you drive. Some are obvious, such as bad weather and poor roads. However, there are five less... Top 4 teen crashes and How to Avoid Them October 13, 2016 By Kelly Cusick Most car crashes are preventable. That’s true for all drivers. It’s ESPECIALLY true for teenage drivers. Mike Pehl explains... Behind the Wheel – How your teen can get the most out of those six hours of training. October 13, 2016 By Jayne Ubl Professional Behind the Wheel instruction costs hundreds of dollars for just six hours of instruction. That’s a lot of money per hour for...
