Archive for January, 2012

Safety First When Changing a Tire on a Busy Street

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

Driving on a flat tire can ruin the tire and the rim. Therefore, if you can safely pull to the side of the road when a tire is going flat, do it! Sometimes you may not be lucky enough to realize that a tire is losing air. Remember, as you try to stop, your safety is more important than a tire or a rim; they can be replaced.

If you have a blow out while driving on a busy street, first thing is to stay calm.  Next, turn on your hazard lights and slow down gradually while watching traffic.  Carefully steer the car around the other drivers to the side of the road or the exit.  If it’s possible pull into a parking lot or somewhere with very little traffic. If you have to pull over on a busy street and the flat tire is on the driver’s side of the car, use extra caution.  If you can’t pull over far enough to safely change the tire, call for road assistance.

Safety Tips:
If you have to change a tire on a busy road, the most important thing to remember is to exercise caution while you are doing so.

  1. The first step is to make sure that your vehicle is as far off onto the side of the road as possible. You want to make sure that there is a lot of room between your vehicle and the cars driving past you on the road.
  2. Next, parking on level, solid ground is essential for a quick change on a busy street.  If you can’t get to a safe area, call for help.
  3. Turn off your engine and turn on your hazard lights .
  4. Make sure that the car is in park (if it’s a manual transmission put it in first gear or reverse) and that the emergency brake is on before you get out of the car.
  5. Put your keys in your pocket (so you don’t misplace them) and get out of the car on the non-traffic side of the road. If you have flares, set them at the front and rear of your vehicle.
  6. Next, you will need something to block the tires. Use bricks, wooden blocks, or look for something that is very sturdy in your trunk that will keep the car from rolling when you jack it up.  Block both rear tires if you are changing a front tire, and both front tires if you are changing one in the rear.
  7. You should never begin the process of changing a tire if you feel that you will not be safe. If you think your car is too close to oncoming traffic, then you should stop the process and call for help.

Driving a car safely is a big responsibility.  When problems come up, you can reduce your risk of being in a car accident if you stay calm and be careful of other drivers.

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Automobile Safety Recall Update

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Car manufacturers claim that every detail on their vehicles are just right. However, with the thousands of parts and suppliers, sometimes things are not perfect.  This is why smart drivers watch for reports from organizations that test and report on consumer products, like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Consumer Reports.

In the past few weeks, Consumer Reports News reported that NHTSA issued recall notices for several vehicles.  These recalls included two General Motors cargo vans, the GMC Savana and the Chevrolet Express, both of which were recalled for faulty air bags.

NHTSA announced that these defective air bags were found in approximately 1,798 vans that were made from June through October. Both the 2012 GMC Savana and Chevrolet Express vans are full size cargo vans equipped with dual stage air bags, which may not inflate properly in severe front end collisions. NHTSA stated that the recalled vans violate the federal safety standards for protection of drivers and passengers.

GM will immediately notify owners of the recalled vehicles and instruct them to take their vans to dealers for free replacement of the air bags. If this affects you or someone you know, you can get more information by calling GMC at 800-462-8782 or Chevrolet at 800-222-1020.

Chrysler Motor Corporation also has two cars affected by recalls this month. NHTSA issued a recall for the compact 2012 Fiat 500 and the midsize SUV 2012 Dodge Journey.  The recall includes a combined total of approximately 500 of these two vehicles.

Both vehicles have a possibility of the loss of braking power, increasing the chances of auto accidents. They may have contaminated hydraulic brake fluid which can deteriorate the brake seals.

Chrysler began notifying owners of these models in December. Owners will be instructed to bring their vehicles into a local dealership where the bad brake fluid and all of the brake components that have come into contact with it will be replaced for free.

You can contact Chrysler’s toll-free customer support line at 800-853-1403.

For more information on these and other product safety issues, visit the NHTSA website www.SaferCar.com.  For daily updates on consumer product news, visit Consumer Reports website www.consumerreports.org.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, due to a defective product or a negligent driver, visit http://www.callsam.com/michigan-personal-injury-cases/bad-accidents/car-accidents

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Full Service for Your Car

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

A long time ago, there were no self service gas stations, only Service Stations.  These were full service all the time.  The driver would pull in, park next to the appropriate pump, and turn off the car.  An attendant would come to the window, ask you which grade of gas you needed and how much you would like, and then fill your tank.  You never left your car!  Doesn’t this sound great on a rainy day?

Service station attendants did so much more than pump gas; they helped take care of our cars.  While the gas was filling the tank, the attendant would wash all the windows and side view mirrors, check the oil and other fluids, and check the tire pressure and treadwear.  Now that most full service stations in the U.S. have been converted to self-serve gas stations, these services are no longer easily available.

While most of us know how to pump our own gas,  we also need to learn how to maintain our cars as well as the full service attendant. Routine maintenance is good for your car and it’s an important step in preventing car accidents, so follow these steps when you stop for gas:.

  • Wash the windows every time you fill up!  Anything on the windows will block your vision, whether it is dirt, debris, dead bugs, ice, or anything else. Keeping windows clean is an easy way to prevent an auto accident.
  • Check the fluids every other time you fill up. This includes checking the oil level and windshield wiper fluid.  If you’re not sure how to do this, have your mechanic teach you. It’s easy and a simple safety rule.
  • Check your tires once a month. Tire pressure and treadwear are important factors in gas mileage and traction.  Ensure that your tires are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommendation and that treadwear is never less than a 16th of an inch. Tires should be checked by a professional and rotated each time you have your car in for service or an oil change.

Make these things a habit at the pump and help keep yourself, your passengers, and other drivers safe from easily avoidable accidents.

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