One-third of U.S. teens have car breakdown

Almost one-third of new U.S. teen drivers experience a roadside breakdown in their own vehicle by the time they are age 19, a survey of parents indicates. A survey by Harris Interactive, commissioned by Honeywell Friction Materials, maker of Bendix Brakes, indicates a lack of knowledge of auto maintenance basics among parents and teens. Although 83 percent of U.S. parents said they urge their teen drivers to keep gasoline in their vehicle, 75 percent said they urge their teens schedule regular oil changes, 56 percent said they discussed brake maintenance and 24 percent didn't know the last time a brake procedure or inspection had been done on their teen's car, the survey indicated. Shannon Lara, a senior manager for marketing communications for Honeywell Friction Materials, said the brakes of vehicles should be checked once a year or every 10,000 miles. The survey of 500 U.S. parents of teen drivers ages 15-19, conducted in August, indicated nearly 50 percent of parents said they had little or no involvement in the purchase of their teenager's vehicle, where were, on average, 8.4 years old; although teenage boys drove vehicles an average of 11.3 years old. One quarter of the vehicles were rated by parents as being in either fair or poor condition, the survey said. "Nearly two-thirds of parents report that their teens also have primary responsibility for their vehicle's maintenance -- like oil changes and brake inspections," Lara said in a statement. No margin of error was provided.