Getting Your Teen Their First Car: A How-To

Make sure you're setting them up for safety right from the start.

1. Choose the Right Car                             

Let's face it, if you left the decision up to your teen, you would probably end up with either a huge SUV or a suped up sports car, neither of which is particularly safe for a young, new driver. However, there are plenty of options out there to make both you and your teen happy. And with the right research, you can find a car that is not only fun to drive, but also safe and reliable, too.

Choosing a midsize car is the best way to go, according to The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety and the Insurance Information Institute. Depending on your budget, you can opt for either a new or used model - just make sure the car is in good condition with updated safety features like airbags and electronic stability control. Also, you'll want to check out crash test and safety ratings before making your final purchase.

Fuel efficiency is another important factor to consider, especially in today's economy. Unless you're willing to cover the cost of filling your son or daughter's tank each week, buying your teen a gas guzzler is probably not a good idea.

2. Get the Best Auto Insurance Rate

The truth is that no matter what car you choose, insuring your teen driver will increase your auto insurance rates. But there are some things that you can do to make these costs as manageable as possible. In fact, another great reason to opt for safety first at the car dealership is that it can help keep your auto insurance premiums down. Because safer cars tend to have a lower accident risk, they are usually less expensive to insure.

Another way to get the best auto insurance rates possible is to scope out potential discounts. If your teen is a full-time student, for instance, he or she may be eligible for a good student discount. Researching your options beforehand will help you to make an informed decision when trying to find the right car for your teen.

3. Set Boundaries

Choosing a good car and purchasing the right auto insurance are only the first steps in keeping your teen safe on the road. Talking with your teen about safe driving and setting clear rules and guidelines are also important. To ensure that your teen stays safe behind the wheel, you can:

• Limit the number of passengers your teen can have in his or her car at any one time;
• Establish a "no cell phone" policy to ensure that your teen does not text or call while driving;
• Discuss what to do in cases of emergency, including accidents and adverse weather conditions.

Resource:  Allstate Insurance

Ninth Annual Lexus Eco Challenge Kicks off With a Chance to Win $500,000 in Grants and Scholarships

Loving Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Reaps Big Rewards – Ninth Annual Lexus Eco Challenge Kicks off With a Chance to Win $500,000 in Grants and Scholarships

• Middle and High School Students Eligible
• Students Learn About Environment, Teamwork and Community Empowerment

2014 - 2015 Lexus Eco Challenge - Grand Prize Middel School Winner - S.T.A.X. P.S. #28 Christa McAuliffe in Jersey City, N.J.

August 17, 2015

TORRANCE, Calif., Aug. 17, 2015 –Students with a passion for science, technology, engineering and math are a breath of fresh air!  And the Lexus Eco Challenge is an excellent opportunity for middle and high school students across the U.S. to help clean the air, water, and land in their neighborhoods and beyond. 

Through the Lexus Eco Challenge, students will learn about the environment, team work and how they can take steps to make their communities better. More than 27,000 middle and high school students have earned over $5 million for themselves, their teachers, and their schools through the Lexus Eco Challenge. 

“All of my students participate in the Eco Challenge, and I am continually impressed at how their leadership, teamwork, research, and communication skills develop during the process,” said Ashlie Arkwright, eighth grade teacher at SCAPA Bluegrass, Lexington, Ky. and teacher advisor for 2014-2015 Lexus Eco Challenge first place middle school team “No Heat Ninjas.”

The program is now open for registration and students are invited to participate for a chance to win part of $500,000 in grants and scholarships. Lexus and Scholastic, the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and leading provider of print and digital instructional materials for pre-K–12 grade, have joined together to create the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) educational program.

In its ninth year, the Lexus Eco Challenge is an educational program and contest for teens across the U.S. in grades 6-12 that inspires and empowers young people to learn about the environment and take action to improve it.  

Teams of students can enter both of the first two challenges, which are focused on Land & Water and Air & Climate. This year, the Land & Water Challenge will run first, Aug. 17-Oct. 16, followed by the Air & Climate Challenge, Oct. 17-Dec. 11. Winners from each challenge are then invited to go on to participate in the Final Challenge, Jan. 11 to Feb. 19, 2016 with a top prize of $30,000 for both the winning middle and high school teams.

The Challenge Elements

1. The Lexus Eco Challenge also includes supplemental educational materials created and distributed by Scholastic that support Common Core skills and encourage teachers to integrate creative lesson plans about the environment into their classrooms. For each challenge, the website (www.scholastic.com/lexus) has lesson plans and teacher instructions, including questions to help guide a discussion about the current challenge topic, facts about the topic and guidelines for a specific classroom project.
2. Competition to reward environmental action helps young people apply what they’ve learned in class through the program and empowers them to make improvements in their community by participating in the eco-focused team challenges.

The Challenge Rewards
The Lexus Eco Challenge registration is open now for the Land & Water Challenge and will conclude on Oct. 16, 2015. Middle and high school teams, comprised of five to ten students and one to two teacher advisor(s), are invited to define an environmental issue that is important to them, develop an action plan to address the issue, implement the plan, and report on the results. The first-place and grand-prize-winning teams will be announced in November 2015 for the Land & Water Challenge, while Air & Climate Challenge winners will be announced in January 2016.

Each of the challenges will have 16 winning teams – eight middle school and eight high school teams. The winning teams will each receive a total of $10,000 in scholarships and grants to be shared among the students, teacher and school. In addition, the winning action plans will be featured on a special webpage to inspire other students to take action in their communities.

The winning teams from the first two challenges will be invited to participate in the Final Challenge.  Teams will be asked to reach beyond the local community and inspire environmental action around the world through innovative ideas that are communicated to a wide audience.

From the Final Challenge entries, eight first-place teams and two grand-prize-winning teams will be selected. Each of the eight first-place teams will receive a total of $15,000 in grants and scholarships, and the two grand-prize-winning teams will each receive $30,000. The money will be shared by the students, their teacher advisors and their schools.

Teachers are encouraged to visit http://www.scholastic.com/lexus to learn how they can take part and to review the Official Rules. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited.

Lexus’ Environmental Efforts
Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader with six low-emission hybrid vehicles available. When Lexus began selling hybrids in 2005, it helped advance the concept of sustainability without sacrifice.  The Lexus Eco Challenge is part of The Lexus Pursuit of Potential, a philanthropic initiative that generates up to $3 million in donations each year for organizations that help build, shape and improve children’s lives.

Let’s Play: The Big Game Commercial Featuring A Remote Control Lexus RC

In past seasons “Project
Runway” has given a LEXUS vehicle as one of the prizes to the winning designer…this
year it is the LEXUS RC350! 

Project Runway Season 14

Lifetime’s Emmy nominated "Project Runway" (#ProjectRunway) returns as sixteen new hopefuls compete for fashion glory, starting Thursday, August 6, at 9pm ET/PT. With New York as their canvas for inspiration, the fashion adventure of their lives will only last as long as they continue to impress judges Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia and Zac Posen and mentorTim Gunn. But no decision is ever final as Tim will once again have an opportunity to “save” one designer from being eliminated.

The winner of "Project Runway" will receive $100,000 to launch his or her business and a Celebrity Cruises® modern luxury vacation for two to almost anywhere in the world. Sally Beauty will supply a year’s worth of products and the opportunity to consult with Sally Beauty to create a limited edition “FingerPaints” nail color collection. Travel and hotel accommodations to inspiring destinations around the world will be provided by Best Western International and from Mary Kay, the winner will receive an entire year’s worth of beauty products for their fashion shows and professional makeup artist services for their debut show. The winner also receives a 2015 Lexus RC 350 and a complete sewing and crafting studio from Brother Sewing and Embroidery. The winning designer and model will also receive a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine.


Guest judges this season include:

• Bella Thorne ("Scream")

• Kiernan Shipka ("Mad Men")

• Tracee Ellis Ross ("Black-ish")

• Paula Patton ("About Last Night")

• Ashley Tisdale ("Clippe"d)

• Shiri Appleby and Constance Zimmer ("UnREAL")

• Singer/songwriter Ciara

• Singer and "America’s Got Talent" judge Mel B

• Supermodel Coco Rocha

• Fashion designer Lisa Perry

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model and host of Lifetime’s "Project Runway Junior," Hannah Davis


The winner of "Project Runway" will receive $100,000 to launch his or her business and a Celebrity Cruises® modern luxury vacation for two to almost anywhere in the world. Sally Beauty will supply a year’s worth of products and the opportunity to consult with Sally Beauty to create a limited edition “FingerPaints” nail color collection. Travel and hotel accommodations to inspiring destinations around the world will be provided by Best Western International and from Mary Kay, the winner will receive an entire year’s worth of beauty products for their fashion shows and professional makeup artist services for their debut show. The winner also receives a 2015 Lexus RC 350 and a complete sewing and crafting studio from Brother Sewing and Embroidery. The winning designer and model will also receive a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine.

Regular Car Checks Recommended During High Summer Temperatures

Staying on top of your car's systems during the height of summer can help ensure a comfortable and safe ride.

Summer can be tough on cars, especially during high temperatures when heat can destroy batteries and stress the cooling system and tires. As a precaution, these vehicle components should be checked periodically during summer to help avoid breakdowns and car problems, according to the Car Care Council.

Excessive heat and overcharging shorten the life of a battery. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, which then damages the internal structure of the battery. A malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage regulator, allows too high a charging rate, which will eventually destroy a battery.

To get the most life out of a battery, the council recommends having the electrical system checked to make sure it is charging at the correct rate. If your car's battery is the type that needs to be topped off, check it often, especially in hot weather and add distilled water if necessary. Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt can become a conductor, which drains battery power. If corrosion accumulates on battery terminals, it becomes an insulator and inhibits the current flow.

The cooling system also works harder during hot temperatures to prevent overheating of the engine. To keep the cooling system working effectively, the coolant and distilled water mixture for a vehicle's radiator should be 50:50. As a reminder, never open a hot radiator cap when checking the coolant level in the reservoir.

As a rule of thumb, the coolant should be changed annually on most vehicles. This will keep the cooling system fresh and clean inside, which helps prevent corrosion and assures that the coolant has the proper boiling point and protection. A pressure test, thermostat test, a cooling fan test and a visual inspection for leaks and corrosion should also be done annually. Hoses and drive belts should be checked for cracks, bulges or frayed edges.

The radiator should be kept clean by periodically using a garden hose and a soft brush to carefully remove bugs, dirt and debris.

Tires also need special care in warmer weather as high temperatures put added stress on them. To maximize tire life and safety, check the tire condition and inflation pressure monthly, and have the tires rotated every 6,000 miles. Summer heat will cause the pressure within a tire to rise, therefore, it's important to check the pressure when tires are cold. The owner's manual includes the recommended air pressure for your vehicle's tires.

"It takes very little time and money to make sure your car runs properly during summer, and although breakdowns happen, they can definitely be minimized by taking a few extra preventive maintenance steps," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.

The council reminds motorists that the vehicle's exterior also can be damaged by sunlight, UV radiation, acid rain, salt, dirt and air pollution. To protect the paint and finish, vehicles should be washed weekly and waxed every six months.

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the "Be Car Care Aware" consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For a copy of the council's Car Care Guide or for more information, visithttp://www.carcare.org/.

Source: Car Care Council