Buckle up! Hankook's Tips for Teen Drivers During National Teen Driver Safety Week

National Teen Driver Safety Week (now through Oct. 26.) spotlights safety for teen drivers from navigating traffic to how to handle tire mishaps. Hankook's latest Gauge Index found that 39% of parents are hopeful but anxious about their teen driving locally, increasing to nearly half (45%) of parents who are concerned and worried about their teenager driving long distances. Here are a few considerations from Hankook Tire to keep teens safe and prepared on the road:

Puncture proofing

Running over a sharp object can damage tires and cause difficulties controlling and handling your car, and nearly a third (29%) of all drivers have experienced a puncture or leak in their tires, according to the Gauge. Of those, 32% were caused by nails. Preparing teenagers for these scenarios means explaining the different kinds of tires they can put on their car, and that choosing a set that are specifically engineered with special sealants, like Sealguard Technology, can make it easier to manage unavoidable road hazards.

Runflat tires

Over a quarter (28%) of drivers who have experienced a flat tire decide to fix it themselves, but whether it be in a neighborhood or the breakdown lane of a highway, stopping and getting out of your car to fix a flat is dangerous and can be especially difficult for newer drivers. If they do experience a flat tire or need to make an emergency stop, it's important to teach teenagers about finding a safe location to pull over, activating their hazard lights, and always being aware of oncoming traffic.

Gripping for winter weather

Among all drivers, 25% say driving in winter weather conditions is the most challenging situation to encounter, and over half (51%) say that inclement weather is the main cause for delaying their travel, if they even decide to drive at all. The survey also showed that a majority of people don't carry tire chains or traction aids in these situations - forcing drivers to rely on the technology of their tires. While explaining the different kinds of tires for your teen's car, you can make sure they know what features to look out for when buying an entire new set of tires - for example, winter tires that have been specifically tested for snowy conditions with have a Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMS) symbol, while tires with an ice-grip symbol prove that they were specifically tested on icey roads.