Before you head out on your own, make sure you are as prepared as you can be to face all the challenges that will be encountered in the “real-world” of driving. The following checklist will help ensure that you will be as prepared as you can be.

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As a driver, you should know the following:

1. Where the registration and insurance information is located.

2. How to put gas into the vehicle.

3. How to read and understand the vehicle’s gauges.

4. Be familiar with the owner’s manual.

5. How to change a tire. Before venturing out on your own, practice changing a tire on the vehicle you will be driving. The spare tire should also be checked to ensure that it has the proper amount of air and is in operating condition.

6. How to parallel park. Forget about parking assist features and vehicle cameras; you still need to know how to parallel park on your own. The easiest way to practice this is to use two large construction cones or bicycle “safety flags” and place them along the curb at a set distance. Make it very easy at first, but with each couple of attempts, make the area smaller and smaller until the vehicle can barely fit. This simple exercise will do wonders for your driving confidence. You can even make a competition out of this with your friends.

7. All of the necessary phone numbers in case of emergency, including a towing company, insurance company, and all other appropriate emergency numbers (e.g., 911, local hospital, parents’ numbers, etc.).

8. Roadside Assistance. The best insurance policy is a membership with a roadside assistance agency such as the Automobile Association of America (AAA), OnStar, etc. The value of their service is immeasurable. From locking keys in the vehicle to flat tires and mechanical failure, they can be depended on 24 hours a day to come to your aid.

9. In the event of a minor traffic collision, the following steps should be taken:

• Remain calm. Try to speak politely, calmly, and in short, concise responses. Refrain from vulgarity or crude language. Just by simply being a teen, some people will automatically think you are at fault. Nothing should be said that could later be taken out of context or that could come back to haunt you.
• Obtain the driver’s license, registration, license plate and insurance information from the other party. Even get a phone number if possible.
• Obtain the names and phone numbers of any passengers riding in the other vehicle.
• Obtain the names and phone numbers of any other witnesses.
• If there is any concern or conflict, or if any injury has occurred, call the police immediately.
• Take photos/videos of the scene, the car, and if possible, the other car as well.

11. Have an extra cell phone. Every car should carry an old cell phone in case of emergency. You never know what might happen out on the road; you may forget your phone, and it is always best to be prepared. Most people are not aware that if you have an old cell phone that is not currently activated, by law, that phone, as long as it has power, has to be able to contact 911. So any old cell phone, even one without a current plan, can still contact 911.

12. At the very least, every vehicle should be carrying the following items:

• A cell phone
• A pen and paper;
• A small flashlight;
• A tire gauge.