Reducing your auto stress level!

Everybody knows stuff happens.  There are those days that it seems no matter what you do, everything goes wrong.   A little prevention can go a long way in keeping other things from adding to our troubles.  Here are some simple tips that may help prevent you from being in an auto accident.

Have you ever been driving along and noticed that somebody’s light is out?  No, not the one above their head, although I’ve seen that too!  I’m talking about the lights on their vehicles.  Just this morning I was behind an SUV with a paper tag flapping in the wind and a brake light out.  You’d think the dealer would check that.  All those lights on your car are important as they are the only signal to other drivers of what you are doing.  Otherwise drivers have to rely on depth perception, and we all know how well that works!

Every couple months or so, you should check your turn signals, running lights, and head lights.  To check your brake and reverse lights by yourself, simply back up to a glass front building the next time you’re out shopping (carefully, of course!) or check their reflection in the garage door when you put the car inside.  I know you know that you can change gears without having the car on, simply turn your ignition to the “on” position.  Just be sure to keep your foot on the brake and put it back into park when you’re done!

One major thing that people tend to overlook is their tires.  I know I take it for granted until I see some poor guy on the side of the road changing a flat.  But after doing some of this research, I think I’m going to break out my tire guage.  Did you know that underinflation can cause excessive sidewall flexing which increases the temperature of the tire?  On a hot summer day in Oklahoma, you’re just asking for a blowout.  Overinflation can decrease traction on the road and make the car ride rough.  Your tires are also more susceptible to damage if you hit a curb or run over objects in the road.  A temperature variance of only 10 degrees outside can cause tires to lose pressure, so it is important to check this often.

Speaking of blowouts, do you know what to do if your tire blows out?  First thing is…Don’t panic!  Your car is already off balance, so any sudden changes in movement can cause you to lose control.  Keep your hands firmly on the steering wheel (especially if the blowout is on the front), ease off the accelerator, and gently steer the car to the side of the road.  Once you are off the road, you can gently use your brakes to slow to a stop.  Then you can have your nervous breakdown and start looking for the jack. 

Got a quarter?  Another consideration is tire tread.  You know, this is the only thing between your car and the road that allows you control and if the tread is worn, you could lose that control pretty quickly.  A good way to see how much tread you have is to break out that quarter.  Place it between the treads with Washington’s head towards the tire.  If his head is always covered, you’ve got enough tread for dry and wet roads.  For snow, use a penny the same way.  If the top of the Lincoln Memorial is always covered, you should have decent grip on snowy roads.  Or at least as much traction as you can have on snow pack.  Now if your tread doesn’t reach the mark, you should probably break out the ruler.  If it measures close to 1/16 of an inch, it’s time to look for new tires. 

What’s the biggest danger if your tread is too thin?  Hydroplaning.  If you’re driving along in the rain and can’t feel the road through the steering wheel, that’s a pretty good indication that you are on a thin film of water and have lost traction.  The same rules apply, don’t panic!  Any sudden moves now are going to get you in real trouble.  Instead, keep the wheel straight and just ease pressure off the accelerator.  As your speed decreases, you should gain traction again.  Then just proceed at a much slower and safer speed in the rain.

Another important tip to follow is to engage the driver, preferably before you start the car.  We’ve all got too much going on and can be easily distracted.  Just the other day I was cruising along in my own little world wondering why traffic was stopped in the middle of the road.  Duh, I looked in my rear view and noticed the fire truck hot on my bumper, lights on and sirens blaring.  I’m sure he had choice words for me as I finally got a clue and got out of his way.  Then I felt bad thinking I was holding him up from an emergency.

 Speaking of engaging the driver and being distracted, have you ever noticed that every time somebody does something dumb in traffic, they are usually on the phone?  I personally hate talking on the phone while in the car and I have both Bluetooth and an ear piece!  But if you look around at any given time, about half of the drivers on the road are on the phone.  Whether you’re shaving, putting on mascara, eating, or talking on the phone, multi-tasking is not a wise idea while driving.  If your attention is on something else, you won’t be able to respond as quickly as if you were focused on the road.  It would really suck to drop your phone in your coffee, break the razor, stick the mascara wand in your eye, and THEN have to get your car fixed!  Take a little extra time in the morning so you can focus on getting yourself (and other drivers) to your destination in one piece.  It would certainly make the morning commute much more pleasurable!  If you just have to talk, it’s a lot cheaper to upgrade to a Bluetooth phone and ear piece than have to pay your deductible. 

So, the thought for the day?  Do a few minor checkups on your car.  Activate the driver.  Leave distractions behind.  These few simple things can help save you (and others!) the headaches of an accident.

It’s a bumper car jungle out there……be safe!