EIGHT TIPS “RAIN DOWN” ON CAREFUL DRIVERS

The return of warmer weather means rain instead of snow for most of the country, which can be heavy in some regions. The saying ‘April showers bring May flowers’ can be a subtle warning for drivers as well. Here are eight tips for getting the car ready for rain and driving under such conditions:

1. Be prepared. You can check your wiper blades – replace them if they feel “pitted” or rough to the touch. Ice or small pebbles on the windshield may have damaged them during the winter. Jiffy Lube service centers can check tires and windshield wiper blades along with fluid levels as part of overall preventive maintenance.
2. Flash your headlights – both low and high beams – before heading out to see if all of the bulbs are working.
3. Slow down. Driving a little slower on wet surfaces is always a good idea.
4. Try to maintain at least two car lengths behind the car in front of you.
5. On major turnpikes and highways, try to use the center lane as water collects in the outer lanes.
6. Use headlights and windshield defrosters to make sure you can see what’s ahead and behind you as clearly as possible.
7. Check the breaks by tapping them lightly.
8. Have the car checked after you drive in heavy rain or if the car was parked in the street during flood conditions. Water breaks down important vehicle lubrication fluids. Vehicles that have been exposed to water levels may lack lubrication protection, which could lead to breakdowns and expensive repairs. The seals that protect many vital mechanisms and electronics are not designed to withstand any more than brief exposure to water. Plus, minor damage from water may worsen if not treated and can become more expensive repairs later.

10 REASONS WHY SPRING CLEANING SHOULD INCLUDE YOUR CAR

Spring brings the need for cleaning and other improvements around the house, the yard and the wardrobe. Attention should also be devoted to your car and it should include a lot more than cleaning the exterior and interior. One needs to recognize the harsh conditions your prized vehicle went through this past winter. Here are 10 steps you can take to get it back in shape!

1. As folks invariably take shorter errands during the winter, the engine rarely reaches its proper operating temperature. This can contribute to a drain on the battery and electrical system and reduce the longevity of spark plugs. So, check the plugs and the battery.
2. Cold weather and short-trip driving are two criteria that constitute severe driving. Most manufacturers recommend that drivers in this category should change the oil every 3,000 miles. The winter is especially taxing on the engine. A lot of wear and tear takes place by turning the ignition on during the cold months. Gas can stick on cylinder walls, and when released upon starting, creates more than the optimum amount to its mixture with oil. Cold starts also melt the condensation that forms inside of the engine during the winter and can contaminate the oil. An oil change as part of an overall vehicle maintenance service will help put “spring” back into your prized possession. Jiffy Lube can check and change all vital fluids based on manufacturers’ recommendations.
3. Make sure all hoses and belts are checked after the tough winter.
4. Check the treads of tires for small stones that thawed ice may have left behind.
5. Water will have seeped into various joints and hinges of the hood, trunk top and all doors during the winter; wipe clean and lubricate all of these points.
6. When you give the exterior of the car a good wash, don’t forget to spray underneath. Salt and mud will have accumulated in the undercarriage of the vehicle and should be flushed away.
7. Make sure to check that the windshield wiper blades are in good shape; you may have inadvertently damaged them while scraping away ice during the winter.
8. If you had a roadside emergency during the winter, you may have used the flashlight, flares, extra wiper fluid or other materials. Take inventory to make sure everything is in good working order or replacements are made.
9. Vacuuming the interior and removing trash and any unnecessary objects that accumulated over the winter not only improves the appearance but also reduces weight, which increases engine efficiency.
10. Speaking of efficiency, following all of these tips can lead to less gas consumption, so you spend a little more on enjoying the onset of Spring!

BUCKLE UP BABY

Pregnancy and Seat Belts
During pregnancy, the position of your seat belt is more important than ever. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), lap belts, as well as the lap portion of a lap-shoulder belt combination, should be placed low across the hips and over the upper thighs. They must lie snugly over the pelvis, one of the stronger bones of the body. Never place the belt over the abdomen. Adjust the shoulder belt for a snug fit. If it cuts across your neck, reposition your car seat for a better fit.

Taking these simple precautions may feel a little uncomfortable or unusual at first, but you should be able to get used to them quickly.

Child Restraint Safety
Many states have laws requiring the use of seat belts and child safety seats. Here are some statistics from NHTSA regarding the importance of using proper child restraints whenever you travel:

• Automobile crashes are the leading cause of death for children aged four to 14.
• Every day in 2001, six children 0-14 years old were killed and 732 more were injured in automobile crashes in the U.S.
• Proper lap and shoulder safety belt use reduces the risk of fatal injury to front seat occupants of passenger cars (ages five years and older) by 45 percent. Fatal injury risk is reduced by 60 percent for front-seat occupants of light trucks.
• Proper child safety seat use reduces fatality risk for infants (less than one year old) by 71 percent and toddlers (1-4 years old) by 54 percent in passenger cars. Reductions for infants and toddlers in light trucks are 58 percent and 59 percent, respectively.

More information on the proper use of child safety restraints is available at: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/.

Air Bags
NHTSA reports physicians do not recommend turning off air bags for pregnant passengers or drivers. There is only a serious risk if you are very close to the air bag cover (within 2-3 inches) when the air bag deploys.

In 1998, the Transportation Equity Act was passed to allow repair shops and dealers to install air bag "on-off" switches under special circumstances. NHTSA identified these situations as follows:

• Drivers and passengers who have been advised by physicians that an air bag poses a special risk to them.
• Drivers and passengers who cannot position themselves to properly operate the vehicle with the center of their breastbone at least 10 inches back from the center of the driver air bag cover. (At progressively shorter distances, the chances of being saved by an air bag decreases and the chance of being injured by it increases).
• Those who must travel with infants or children under 12 years of age in the front seat because the vehicle has no rear seat, the rear seat is too small to accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, more children must be transported than can be accommodated by the rear seat, or because it is necessary to constantly monitor the child's medical condition.

Infants should never ride in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger-side air bag. If children between one and 12 years old must sit in the front seat, ensure they use seat belts and/or child restraints appropriate for their size or weight. Also, move their seat as far back as possible.

Since children can put themselves in danger by leaning forward or slipping out of their shoulder belts, you may wish to get a switch to turn off the air bag. Keep in mind, dealers and repair shops cannot perform this work without written authorization from the NHTSA.

You can visit www.nhtsa.org for more information.