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Tips for National Teen Driver Safety Week

In honor of National Teen Driver Safety Week, Joanie Martin and Pam Shadel Fischer joined GDL to share their tips for parents.

SAINT PETERSBURG, Fla. — A new survey finds driver education disruptions are adding an extra layer of parents! Since many drivers ed offerings are on hold due to the pandemic, parents are having to step up as driving teacher. So, in honor of National Teen Driver Safety Week, Joanie Martin and Pam Shadel Fischer joined GDL to share their tips for parents.

Tips include: 

  • Start with the DMV. Each state DMV website outlines the steps a teen must complete to obtain a driver’s license.
  • Teach tire safety before getting behind the wheel. Car maintenance is just as important as learning the rules of the road! More than half (52%) of parents have not taught their teen how to check tire tread depth, and 35% have not addressed checking air pressure. Both can contribute to a collision of left unchecked.
  • Hand replacement has shifted. 10 and 2 has been replaced with 9 and 3 (due to airbags) and some even subscribe to 8 and 4.
  • Busy days can turn into practice opportunities. One easy way to work in more practice driving is to use the family’s daily errands and trips in the car as time to get experience.
  • Create ground rules with your teen. A parent/teen driving agreement (PTDA) can spell out the rules for your teen and corresponding consequences if violated. Put it somewhere it is always visible, like the refrigerator.

Tune into “Great Day Live” weekdays from 9 to 10 a.m. on WTSP-TV.

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Whether it’s people making a difference, talented artists and musicians, delicious food, fun activities to do and make with the family, lovable animals, entertaining events and big names coming to town, we’ve got you covered. We hope to bring you a wealth of information to live your best life and start your morning right!

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About Kendall: 

Kendall Kirkham joined “Great Day Live” in November 2017 from Memphis, Tennessee, where she served as morning co-anchor for WMC Action News 5. Prior to her stint in Memphis, Kendall served as co-host of "Tulsa Live" at KOKI in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Kendall also worked at KETK in Tyler, Texas, The Dallas Morning News and started her career as an intern for “The Ellen Show” and E! Entertainment.

Kendall has interviewed countless celebrities and notable figures, from Bob Woodward to Arsenio Hall, John Travolta and Paula Deen. She’s hit 9 Gs with the U.S. Airforce Thunderbirds, raised money for various charities in three local “Dancing with the Stars” competitions, and even played a gangster on stage for a traveling Broadway show. Kendall is most proud of her work with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. She continues to support the hospital in various capacities today.

Kendall is a proud Texas native. She grew up in the Fort Worth area and graduated from Texas Christian University with a degree in Radio/TV/Film.

Kendall is thrilled to join the “Great Day Live” team and is having a ball highlighting this thriving community. She hopes to bring a smile to viewers at home every single day. In her spare time, Kendall enjoys exploring the countless sights, sounds and eats of Tampa Bay with her husband Jason and son Knox.

About Java: 

Java Ingram is a New Orleans native/Texan and is excited to call Florida home! Prior to joining the “Great Day Live” team, Java served as host of a lifestyle-entertainment show in Birmingham, Alabama. She also woke up dark and early, weekday mornings to help drivers make it to their destinations safely as a traffic anchor.

Java started her on-air broadcast career in the birthplace of Elvis Presley, Tupelo, Mississippi. In Tupelo, she served as morning news anchor, producer and reporter.

Javanté is an award-winning journalist, having been recognized by the Associated Press for Best Anchor, Best Reporter and Best Franchise Reporting, just to name a few.

When she's not working, Java is very passionate about giving back to the community, having served on the corporate boards for The Boys and Girls Club of North Mississippi, The Civic Ballet Company, The Doniphan Dance Project and the Leadership Council for the Boys and Girls Club of Central Alabama. She has volunteered also with a number of civic organizations.

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