Richmond Street Automotive pushes teen driver safety tips ahead of National Teen Driver Safety Week

Richmond Street Automotive is urging Appleton-area families to pair safe-driving talks with basic vehicle checks ahead of National Teen Driver Safety Week, Oct. 18-24. The shop points to state crash data and national risk factors as a reminder that teen-driver safety depends on both behavior and vehicle readiness.

Why it matters: - Teen drivers face a high-risk stretch on the road, and families can help reduce that risk with clear rules and simple maintenance habits. - The Wisconsin Department of Transportation reported 18,823 crashes involving teen drivers in the state in 2024. - Seventy people were killed in those crashes. - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration identifies speeding, distraction, impaired driving, not wearing a seat belt, extra passengers and drowsy driving as major risks for young drivers.

What happened: - Richmond Street Automotive is encouraging Appleton-area families to use National Teen Driver Safety Week, Oct. 18-24, as a prompt to talk about safe driving and basic vehicle checks. - Brent Vanden Heuvel, owner of Richmond Street Automotive, said new drivers need more than road-test skills. - Vanden Heuvel said regular conversations about distractions, speed, seat belts and how a vehicle should feel on the road can help teenagers become more attentive drivers.

The details: - Richmond Street Automotive recommends that families set clear driving rules, including seat belt use on every trip, keeping phones out of reach, obeying speed limits, limiting distracting passengers and never driving after alcohol or drug use or while drowsy. - Parents and guardians can reinforce those expectations by modeling the same behavior. - The shop advises families to check tires together and show a new driver how to find the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure on the driver-side door label or in the owner’s manual. - NHTSA recommends checking tires when cold at least once a month, and a tire-pressure warning light is not a substitute for routine checks. - Richmond Street Automotive recommends reviewing visibility and braking by demonstrating how to check exterior lights and windshield wipers. - Drivers should report changes in braking feel, steering or handling rather than ignore them. - A qualified technician can evaluate concerns that arise during a drive. - The shop advises families to explain dashboard warning symbols using the owner’s manual and to distinguish routine reminders from alerts that need prompt attention. - If a serious warning or unsafe change in vehicle behavior occurs while driving, the driver should pull over when safe and seek guidance before continuing. - Richmond Street Automotive also recommends making a help plan so the new driver knows how to contact a parent or guardian and roadside assistance, where to find registration and insurance information, and what to do after stopping for a breakdown or mechanical concern. - The shop says vehicle maintenance cannot replace attentive driving or experience behind the wheel. - Richmond Street Automotive says understanding a vehicle’s condition can help new drivers recognize concerns and ask for help sooner. - The shop provides brake inspections and repair, tire and alignment service, battery testing and other maintenance for Appleton-area drivers. - Richmond Street Automotive uses digital vehicle inspections to explain findings and recommendations.

Between the lines: - The message is broader than a seasonal safety reminder: the shop is framing teen-driver safety as a year-round mix of judgment, communication and basic car literacy. - That approach reflects a practical gap for new drivers, who may know how to operate a car but not how to interpret warning signs or respond to mechanical issues.

What's next: - Richmond Street Automotive is encouraging families to revisit both driving rules and vehicle condition throughout the year. - More information about the shop is available here. - Richmond Street Automotive is located at 1731 N. Richmond St. in Appleton, Wisconsin, and serves Appleton and nearby communities.