A teen who can parallel park can still ignore a glowing oil can until the engine is expensive. Dashboard warning lights are not decorations.

Red usually means stop soon or now: oil pressure, temperature, brake system. Yellow or amber means get it checked — check engine, tire pressure, ABS, traction. A tire-pressure light in Texas heat often means a slow leak or a hot afternoon, not a suggestion to “add air later.”

Know where the hood latch is before you need it. Know how to read the owner’s manual page for the oil type. If the temperature gauge climbs on Loop 1604 in August, exit, park, and let it cool. Do not pop the cap on a hot radiator.

Parents should sit in the driveway and point to every light once. Rhodes Driving Schools instructors can do the same in the training car at the start of a lesson so “what does that mean?” is answered before the freeway.

A well-maintained car is part of defensive driving. Lights you understand keep a practice hour from turning into a tow. Ask about this during private driving lessons at Helotes, Ellison, Eckhert, Culebra, or Castroville.