Jaffarian of Haverhill Teams Up With Andover Auto School

By Beth Gandelman.

“Do you know how long a distance you’re driving if you are just texting for five seconds, or taking your eyes off the road to read a text?” Gary Jaffarian, president of Jaffarian Toyota Volvo Scion of Haverhill, asked students last week at the Andover Driving School. No one guessed it would be the entire length of a football field, or 100 yards.

He quotes a survey where 46 percent of teens admit to texting while driving, even though it is against the law. “If you’re texting, you are 25 times more likely to be in an accident,” he states. Jaffarian speaks at local driver education schools to provide an additional perspective of the importance of safe driving habits.  He is committed to giving back to the local community and speaking to young drivers is an opportunity to share information with teens that complements what the instructor, parents and police officers reinforce. Jaffarian reiterates to all classes that driving is a privilege that comes with great responsibility.  In addition to safety, Jaffarian seeks to help young drivers and consumers are informed when thinking about buying their first car.

Jaffarian emphasized many of the dangers of driving to a full class of 36 teens eager to get their drivers’ permits in the coming months. He also shared that one’s driving record may affect getting a job.

To make a point about the severe impact of crashes, Jaffarian asked the students how much a car weighs and multiply that times the speed you are driving, and even at the speed limit, to imagine the impact of a crash in a 2500-pound car traveling at 55-65 miles an hour. He finds dramatic ways to engage the students and make his points about the importance of driving safely. “You have to have respect for the vehicle and respect for the road,” Jaffarian emphasizes.

Quoting from the latest statistics from the National Highway Safety Council and other credible sources, Jaffarian discusses the importance of wearing seatbelts, so as not to be ejected from a car during a crash, whereas in the younger years, female passengers are more prone to life-threatening injuries than males of the same age.

One of the latest statistics Gary Jaffarian quotes is the increase in accidents in young drivers directly proportionate to the number of people in the car. “Don’t try to impress your friend or your girlfriend by driving fast,” he tells the teens. “With one passenger in the car, your chance of an accident doubles, with three passengers in the car, your chance of an accident quadruples. In the 16-19 age category, fatal crashes are the number one cause of death.”

Jaffarian makes the point that even if you are driving safely, you need to pay attention and drive defensively, because there may be other drivers on the road who are texting or not driving safely. “The first six months of driving poses the highest risk of a fatality for a new driver,” he states.

Then Jaffarian moves on to the math of owning a car—a math lesson that invites lots of class participation. It’s a lesson in reality for many students who are not aware of how much it costs to put a car on the road, particularly with the high cost of insurance for drivers under 25 years old. Many of the Andover Driving School students are surprised to learn, whether you’re on your parents policy or not, it’s about $2500 a year, often requiring a large deposit the first year.

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A few of the students tell him how much they’ve saved to buy their first car and how much they earn in part-time jobs, only to discover their car expenses will take all of their income. It is another opportunity for Jaffarian to remind them to “respect your vehicle, even if you get the family hand-me-down.”

Jaffarian discusses that Massachusetts has a lemon law, while New Hampshire doesn’t, and in all cases, it’s “buyer beware.” As a gift to the students, he distributes a card to bring in any pre-owned car for a free inspection by a technician at Jaffarian Toyota Volvo. “If you’re buying a pre-owned car from anyone, you deserve the opportunity to have the vehicle checked out. If they don’t give you that opportunity, walk away.”

“Use the web, do your homework, know what you’re buying,” emphasizes Jaffarian. Most students knew about CARFAX and said they’d use that free service, but Jaffarian reminds them, “even that is not 100 percent reliable.” He also encouraged them to check out dealers on dealerrater.com.

“The dealer’s reputation is important when buying your first car, no matter what the price,” he says. Jaffarian shared the story of a young woman who bought a pre-owned Volvo in N.H. for $9500 and then brought it in to Jaffarian Volvo for service, only to discover the car had been in a major collision. Given the amount of repairs necessary, the vehicle was likely not worth paying any more than $2,000. The class was wide-eyed to hear the risks associated with buying a pre-owned vehicle.

He tells the students that Massachusetts probably has the best consumer protection laws. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to get a professional inspection when you buy a pre-owned car,” he says, “and no matter where you buy, you can come see me as you now have a friend in the car business.”

Founded in 1938, Jaffarian Volvo Toyota Scion is a fourth-generation family business in Haverhill, Massachusetts and the oldest Toyota and Volvo dealership in New England. Jaffarian offers customers the convenience of one-stop shopping for a new or pre-owned vehicle, routine or emergency service, accessories and parts, and body shop work. 

Jaffarian won the 2012 and 2013 DealerRater’s Volvo Dealer of the Year in Massachusetts for outstanding service based on customer reviews. The Jaffarian team is committed to helping customers make well-informed buying decisions and take pride in delivering exceptional customer service backed by its family name. Jaffarian is a strong supporter of civic and community activities throughout the Merrimack Valley.