A Car Checkup for Winter

If you’re like many of us, you don’t think about preparing for winter until the first major snowstorm. Let’s do it differently this year. Let’s plan ahead.

Priority one: Get a warm coat, boots, gloves, hat.

Priority two: Winterize your car! Let’s review some key steps:

Where Children Go

The school year is well underway. Children are going to bus stops. They are getting on buses, getting off buses, running home, crossing streets … sometimes carefully with mom or dad nearby … sometimes thoughtlessly. What’s a driver to do?

Let’s review a few safe driving tips to help ensure that our children are safe on the road to school or the playground:

1. Be patient. Give yourself plenty of time to get to work, especially in areas where you know there is a school bus route, because, where there are school buses, there are children.

Rules of the road on Halloween!

The increased foot traffic on Halloween also increases the potential for car-related accidents. Drivers are distracted by the ghosts, witches and ballerinas walking along the streets. Parents who are driving their children are watching their own children and may not notice others crossing in front of them. Everyone is preoccupied. Some simply may not pay as much attention to the rules of the road – whether they are pedestrians or drivers.

1. With all the stop and go traffic in neighborhoods, drivers sometimes take the risk of using cell phones, texting, taking a quick photo of the scariest outfit on the block. Follow the law. Keep your cell phone in your pocket. If you want to take that picture, park the car and don’t start driving again until you are done.

A Canadian Getaway

But can you get back into the US without a passport?

Let’s take a Canadian getaway! It’s actually quite drivable from Central New York. So what’s your problem? Ah, yes! It’s a foreign country … and you’d like to be admitted back into the US. However, you don’t have a passport. That could take months to get.

But wait, there’s another option, an enhanced driver license (EDL).

Common Sense Rules of Road (2)

Do you use common sense when driving? Try it. It could save your life.

Stay with the speed of traffic – not too fast, not too slow.

If someone is tailgating you, move aside so that he can pass you.

Don’t text and drive.

Don’t talk on your cell phone.

Common Sense Rules of Road (1)

Courtesy on the road makes sense and can save a life. There are dozens of written and unwritten rules of the road that can make the difference between making a trip pleasant or frustrating.

Let’s review a few of them:

When passing a truck, the driver will often flash his lights. He’s letting you know that you have enough room to go ahead of him. Do the same when a truck passes you.

Taking Care of Your Car: Auto Maintenance Mistakes

Today’s cars can practically drive themselves. Wouldn’t it be helpful if they could take themselves to the mechanic when necessary? Fortunately, many cars have self-diagnosis reports and warning lights that give maintenance alerts. Foolishly, however, some of us disregard the warning and delay the visit to the mechanic, hoping to save money or time.

The reality is that you’ll have a safer ride and actually reduce costs if you pay attention to the warnings and address the problem immediately.

Here is some advice on how you can avoid auto maintenance mistakes: