SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2017
WET WEATHER DRIVING TIPS
riving in the rain
can be more haz-
ardous than driv-
ing in the snow, particu-
larly because drivers fail
to realize the dangers
wet roads can impose.
After averaging 10 years
of statistics, the National
Highway Traffic Safety
Administration found
that 46 percent of weath-
er-related crashes hap-
pened during rainfall, but
just 17 percent occurred
while it was snowing or
sleeting.
Drivers often think
rain is no big deal, but
while it’s not necessary
to avoid driving when
the raindrops begin to
fall, exercising caution
when the roads are wet
can decrease the risk of
being in an auto acci-
dent.
• Slow down. Wet
roadways cause tires to
lose traction, as friction
is reduced between the
rubber and the asphalt.
D
ccording to the
Insurance
Information
Institute, more than
700,000 motor vehicles
were reported stolen in
the United States in 2015.
Car thieves are often
highly skilled, but that
does not mean car own-
ers cannot take steps to
reduce their risk of being
victimized by auto theft.
• Take the simple steps.
Suggestions like keeping
cars locked at all times
and rolling up all win-
dows before walking
away from the car may
sound simple, but they
are also effective. Drivers
should avoid being care-
less no matter how
briefly they plan to be
away from their vehicles.
Talented thieves need
only a few seconds to
steal a car, so don’t make
it any easier for them
than it already is.
• Park in well-lit areas.
Well-lit parking lots may
not prevent cars from
being stolen, but such
lots, especially ones mon-
itored by security cam-
eras, can be a strong
deterrent to thieves who
want to avoid being seen
and having their crimes
documented on camera.
• Park in public areas.
Avoid parking in areas
that are off the beaten
path. When parking at
A
COURTESY PHOTO
Drivers should take extra precautions when driving in foul weather.
It’s possible to lose up to
one-third of traction in
the rain. To compensate,
slow down to reduce
sliding and stopping dis-
tances.
• Improve visibility.
Turn on windshield
wipers and lights when it
is raining. This makes it
easier to see the road and
makes your vehicle more
visible
to
other
motorists.
• Leave more distance
between cars. In addition
to improving your reac-
tion time, giving others
more space can improve
visibility by reducing the
amount of mist or
splashing caused by
other vehicles.
• Stick to daytime
driving. If possible,
when it is raining, drive
only during the day.
Glare from wet road-
ways and headlights at
night can further com-
promise poor visibility.
• Watch for wind
gusts. Anticipate gusts
when traveling through
windy road corridors or
over bridges. — Metro
Simple projects to keep cars running smoothly
ne of the ways to
keep vehicles run-
ning strong for years on
end is to adhere to the
manufacturer’s recom-
mended
maintenance
schedule. Although there
are many factors drivers
cannot control, including
recalls, weather and road
conditions, proper main-
tenance is something
drivers can control, and
maintaining a vehicle can
be very simple.
corrosion from leaking
battery fluid on the con-
tacts. In such instances,
use a battery cleaning
brush to clean the con-
tacts and then replace the
cables.
O
Oil changes
Motor oil lubricates the
engine and keeps it in
good working order. Old
oil becomes more vis-
cous and can lose its effi-
cacy. While changing
motor oil is important,
motorists should follow
the owner’s manual or
the factory maintenance
schedule regarding how
often it needs to be
changed, as all vehicles
are not alike. The old
myth that cars and trucks
need oil changes at set
intervals has changed as
digital check capabilities
have evolved.
Car computers can now
keep track of more than
just mileage. Computers
now track starts and stops
Reduce risk
of vehicle theft
COURTESY PHOTO
Oil checks and changes are vital to engine health.
and trip durations to and destruction of the
determine when cars engine.
Coolant is usually
need oil changes.
changed once per year or
at 30,000 miles. This
Coolant levels
Coolant helps prevent keeps the coolant work-
vehicles from overheat- ing properly and will
ing and also prevents the help prevent corrosion
water that it mixes with and deposits from form-
in the radiator from ing inside the cooling
freezing or boiling. system. Coolant levels
Coolant is nearly as might be checked during
important as motor oil in a full-service oil change
vehicle
maintenance. appointment.
Coolant is typically com-
prised of a 50/50 mix of Check battery contacts
Many modern car bat-
distilled
water
and
antifreeze. These two teries do not require a lot
maintenance.
substances work together of
to maintain a proper ratio However, one problem
of heat energy and pre- that may occur is a
vent eventual breakdown buildup of minerals or
Tire maintenance
Properly inflated, bal-
anced and rotated tires
make for a smooth, safe
ride. Check that tires are
wearing evenly and that
the vehicle is not pulling
to one side. A lack of
tread on tires requires
they
be
replaced.
Because tires can be
expensive, many drivers
put off routine tire main-
tenance. But this can be a
costly mistake. Tires that
are worn or not properly
inflated can cause skid-
ding, problems braking
and accidents. Blowouts
also may occur, putting
drivers, their passengers
and fellow motorists in
danger. It’s best to be
proactive with regard to
tire maintenance.
Maintaining a vehicle
in adherence to manufac-
turer guidelines can pro-
long the life of the car,
improve its safety and
increase its trade-in or
resale value. — Metro
grocery stores, malls or
other areas with large
parking lots, park as
close to pedestrian
entrances as possible.
Constant foot traffic can
deter thieves from
attempting to steal cars.
• Install an alarm sys-
tem and anti-theft device.
Insurance companies
often discount their pre-
miums for drivers whose
vehicles have alarm sys-
tems and anti-theft
devices. Such systems
and technology draw
attention to vehicles
when thieves attempt to
steal them, and many
thieves can easily spot
which cars have anti-theft
devices they would prefer
to avoid.
• Remove personal
items and valuables from
the vehicle. Automobiles
should not be used as
rolling storage facilities
for various reasons. One
such reason is that valu-
ables may attract thieves.
Women should always
take their purses with
them when leaving their
vehicles, and all drivers
should make sure to
remove all valuables
when exiting their cars.
Car theft is a legitimate
concern for drivers, but
savvy motorists can take
steps to reduce the risk of
their vehicles being
stolen. — Metro
fordservicejmc@gmail.com
Celebrating 71 Years!
Hoberg’s
541-902-1955
WINNER
READERS
CHOICE
BEST AUTO REPAIR
AND
OIL CHANGE
Complete Auto Repair
www.hobergsautorepair.com
345 Hwy. 101
541-997-2413
acrauto.com
• Repairing all
makes and models
• Serving Florence
for 35 years
Kevin McMullen
3rd Generation Owner
hobergsautorepair@gmail.com
Serving Your Auto Needs Since 1945
1736 West 15th Street • Florence
541•999•6078
FOLLOW US FOR THE LATEST NEWS
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
/S IUSLAW N EWS ❘
@S IUSLAW N EWS
WWW .T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM
18 Mon
th
Unlimi ,
ted
Mileag
e
Warran
ty
FACEBOOK.COM/PETERSENAUTODETAIL
541-997-6700
joel@acrauto.com
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
2 C