You’ve just bought a new car – or a “new to you” car – congratulations! There’s nothing quite like that new car smell or the feeling you get when you drive that shiny vehicle off the sales lot. However, before you go driving into the sunset in your new ride, it’s important that you take some time to learn all the ins and outs of the car. Becoming familiar with all the features not only helps you feel more comfortable when you get behind the wheel, but it also enhances your safety – and the safety of others on the road with you.
New Vehicle Orientation – Why Learn about Your Car’s Features?
Searching for and buying the perfect new car is often a process that takes weeks or even months for some individuals. After test driving several options, picking out the model you want and negotiating the sales price, it’s time to seal the deal and take your new car home. But don’t forget about another essential step: learning about the features you may not have had in your previous automobile.
Today’s vehicles are equipped with a variety of safety features, stereo and navigation options, braking systems and traction control, and so much more. The dealership may have spent a few minutes walking you through all those buttons and lights on the dashboard, but do you really understand how all the systems function?
Being able to react quickly to any situation is key to safe driving. This means understanding how to adapt to changing weather or road conditions in a moment’s notice, as these conditions can significantly impact the ability drive safely. As soon as you get in the car, you should know the basics such as how to turn on the headlights and windshield wipers, as well as how the instrumentation panel works and how to properly adjust your seats and mirrors.
Do you understand how the backup cameras and sensors work to alert you of objects in your path? Can you easily set your adaptive cruise control for a longer road trip? Do you even know what safety systems, such as blind spot detection and/or lane departure warning, are installed on your car? If the answer to any of these questions is no, it’s vital that you take the time to learn everything about them.
Drive Team’s New Vehicle Orientation Program
Drive Team recently announced our New Vehicle Orientation Program, designed to make every driver on the road more knowledgeable and confident in their skills. This four-hour course features both classroom sessions and real-life driving experiences where you’ll learn what you need to know from everything about your vehicle’s safety systems to the cameras, mirror adjustments, traction control and so much more. Contact us today to get started.
I’ve posted comments on this subject, before.
There are too many drivers who are dependent on automatic driving assists to correct their poor driving habits.
This type of program should be mandated to all new purchases to ensure the driver knows their new vehicle’s features and their limitations in all driving conditions.