Safety
It’s Your Turn (Using Turn Signals)
Distracted driving causes a lot of motor vehicle accidents. Well, according to one study, twice as many are caused by people not using their turn signals. Drivers have a lot of excuses for not signaling. About a quarter of drivers in one survey said they were just too lazy to do it. Others think they…
Read MoreGuide To Safe Vehicle Towing
Let’s talk about towing safety. Too often drivers just slap a trailer on the hitch and take off. But there are safety considerations to protect your tow vehicle, comply with Illinois laws and limit your liability. Know your tow vehicle. Your options will affect the tow rating, so you need to carefully read the towing…
Read MoreWheel Squeal (What Causes Squealing While Steering)
When teenagers squeal at a concert, it’s usually a sound of joy. When your vehicle squeals when you are turning, it could be a sign of something dangerous. When engineers designed your vehicle’s steering system, they intended it to work smoothly and silently. So, you know when you get a warning sign like a squeal…
Read MoreDistracted Driving
When asked, most people think they are good at multi-tasking. Scientific studies, however, reveal that only around 2% of the population can truly demonstrate the capacity to effectively multi-task. For the rest of us who are not so biologically wired, no amount of practice can increase our effectiveness at multi-tasking. Turns out, multi-tasking is almost…
Read MoreSigns You May Need A Brake Job
What are the signs that you may need a brake job? Signs of brake problems often fall into one of two categories: making noise or a pulsation in the brake pedal. Let’s start with the noise. Most brake pads have an audible brake wear indicator. This is a small piece of metal that rubs on…
Read MoreTrip Inspection
A lot of drivers wonder about how to prepare their vehicle for a trip. That’s a big deal. You could be driving through mountains and deserts in some pretty lonely areas so you may be anxious to know that the car is up to the task and won’t leave you stranded. Drivers really do need…
Read MoreTire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
All new cars and light trucks since 2008 have come equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system, or ‘TPMS’. The TPMS system detects when a tire becomes under-inflated and lights up a warning light on the dash. So what’s the big deal for drivers? Well, underinflated tires can be a real safety concern. First of all, they don’t handle properly…
Read MoreMirror, Mirror (Door Mirror Problems)
You’ve probably seen them lying around at the side of the road: someone’s outside rearview mirror that’s been knocked off by a driver’s not-so-perfect driving. And you realize the person who owns that vehicle now has lost an important safety feature. Having functional mirrors enhances your safety and that of drivers around you. You probably…
Read MoreLight Into Darkness (Vehicle Lighting)
You need to be able to see at night and have other vehicles see you as well. Spend a few minutes to check and make sure all your vehicle’s outside lights are working. It might help to have a friend assist you since there are a few bulbs to check that are much easier to…
Read MoreEmergency Items For Your Vehicle
Emergencies can range from a flat tire downtown to being stranded in a snowy ravine for three days. So, you may want to consider a basic emergency kit to keep in the car and a travel kit tailored to a specific trip. Your close-to-home kit would have some basic items to work on your car: …
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