SIUSLAW NEWS | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2018 | 9A
Summer Car Care
Car Care stories & photos
courtesy of Metro
Creative Connection
Precautions help road-trippers stay on course when traveling
W
hen the outdoors beckons, road
trips can be the perfect way to
see the countryside, escape the routine
of daily life and enjoy short vacations.
When taking to the open road, it is
important to focus on safety. The Na-
tional Highway Traffic Safety Adminis-
tration says that planning and preven-
tion can spare road-trippers from the
consequences of breakdowns, traffic
accidents or other road emergencies.
• Stock emergency preparedness
items. Prior to a trip, drivers should
make sure their vehicles are equipped
with necessary safety items. Liberty Mu-
tual Insurance New Beginnings Report
warns that nearly half of Americans do
not check that proper emergency items
are stored in their vehicles prior to get-
ting on the road. Before embarking on
a road trip, make sure vehicles have a
first aid kit, flashlight, water bottles,
phone chargers, tire-repair tools, flares,
jumper cables, towels and even an old
backpack for storage.
• Schedule a service call. Regular
maintenance can keep vehicles from
breaking down. Drivers should take
their cars in for tune-ups before long
road trips. Such tune-ups should in-
clude an oil change, battery check, tire
rotation and any other necessary ser-
vicing.
• Plan your route. Map out the route
before heading out. Be aware of po-
Keep summer road trips safe for all involved by doing simple steps before and after you hit the road.
tential road closures, obstacles or con-
struction. Thanks to real-time GPS
updates through mobile phones and
other devices, some drivers like to rely
on tech to get them through. However,
service may be spotty in rural areas.
Mapping a trip out in advance can save
drivers from getting lost during mobile
service interruptions.
• Join a roadside repair service. Break-
Les Schwab Tire Center
— serving Florence since 1981
Les Schwab Tire Center, 4325 Highway 101 in Florence
Employees at each local Les
Schwab Tire Center believe in
giving back to the community
where they live and work. In
Florence, we sponsor activities
large and small, supporting
youth programs, helping fam-
ilies in need and raising funds
for good causes — because
these are values we believe in.
For over 66 years, Les Schwab
has been an active member
of every community it serves,
earning the trust of people all
over the Western United States.
Here are some of the causes
Les Schwab proudly supports in
our neighborhood:
• Siuslaw School District athlet-
ics and activities
• Siuslaw Athletic Booster Club
• Mapleton School District ath-
letics and activities
• Boys & Girls Club of Western
Lane County
• Rods ’n’ Rhodies Invitational
Car Show
• Oregon School Activities As-
sociation (OSAA)
• Rocky Mountain Elk Founda-
tion
• Oregon Hunters Association
(OHA)
• Oregon High School Rodeo
Association saddle sponsor
Want more information? Stop
by Les Schwab Tire Center, 4325
Highway 101 in Florence or call
541-997-7178.
downs happen even if trips are careful-
ly planned. Automotive clubs can help
drivers when breakdowns occur. Some
car manufacturers also include road-
side assistance in warranty packages, so
inquire about your coverage.
• Refresh defensive driving skills. A
safe-driving course can remind drivers
of the rules of the road. In some cas-
es, courses also may qualify drivers
for discounts on their auto insurance
policies. One such class is the AARP
Driver Safety course.
• Avoid distractions. Keep children
and other passengers occupied so they
are not a distraction to the driver. Set
out with favorite music, books, video
games or even a pad and paper for
doodling. Pack snacks to keep every-
one feeling full in between roadside
pit stops. Drivers also can load their
cars up with tissues, water and music
to limit distractions.
• Plan fun breaks along the way.
Breaks give drivers a reason to rest and
passengers an opportunity to get out
and stretch their legs. The Roadside
America smartphone app lists must-
see stops along any route, and drivers
can plan their own stops as well.
• Stay over if necessary. According
to the NHTSA, driving while drowsy
is a contributing factor in 100,000 ac-
cidents every year. Drive only when
well-rested. Share driving duties or
plan a night at a motel so everyone is
well-rested.
Road trips are all about fun, but
drivers must emphasize safety before
and during such excursions.
Simple ways to extend the life of your vehicle
Automobiles are significant
investments. According to Kel-
ley Blue Book, the average trans-
action price for light vehicles was
$34,968 in January 2017, mark-
ing a 3 percent increase from just
a year earlier.
The decision to spend thou-
sands of dollars on a new vehi-
cle is not one consumers should
take lightly. Once drivers pur-
chase their new vehicles, they
can protect their investments
and get greater returns on those
investments by prioritizing
maintenance and taking simple
yet effective steps to extend the
lives of their cars and trucks.
1. Drive defensively
Aggressive driving is danger-
ous and can have adverse effects
on a vehicle. When driving, al-
ways obey posted speed limits
and avoid accelerating and de-
celerating quickly. Such a style
of driving can strain vehicle en-
gines and drive trains while neg-
atively affecting fuel efficiency
and wearing down brakes.
2. Maintain a clean vehicle
Car washes do more than just
clean a vehicle. Routine wash-
ing and waxing can remove
dirt that, if left on a vehicle,
can gradually scratch paint and
contribute to chips and rust.
Over time, rust can affect vehi-
cle performance and may even
compromise the safety of driv-
ers and their passengers if bad
enough frame rust affects struc-
tural integrity. Routine washing
also can remove road salt from
vehicles.
3. Check tire pressure
Many of today’s new vehicles
alert drivers when tire pressure
is low. Drivers should not ig-
nore such warnings, as low tire
pressure can affect engine per-
formance by forcing it to work
harder than necessary. Engines
that are forced to work harder
than they need to likely won’t
last as long as those that run ef-
ficiently. Low tire pressure also
negatively affects fuel efficien-
cy, potentially costing drivers
substantial amounts of money
over time. Drivers of older vehi-
cles without tire pressure alerts
should routinely check tire pres-
sure and keep tires adequately
inflated. Vehicles that are slow
to accelerate from resting posi-
tions may not have enough air
in their tires.
4. Maintain a schedule
Drivers may have heard that
today’s vehicles were built to go
longer periods of time between
oil changes and tune-ups than
the vehicles of yesteryear. But
drivers should still adhere to
manufacturer-recommended
maintenance guidelines. Upon
buying new vehicles, drivers
should read their owners’ man-
uals to determine recommend-
ed maintenance intervals, and
stick to those intervals for as
long as they have their vehicles.
Cognizant of the sizable in-
vestments they’re making when
buying new vehicles, many driv-
ers want to get as many miles
out of their vehicles as possible.
Simple maintenance and safe
driving habits can go a long way
toward keeping vehicles on the
road for years to come.
Essentials for roadside emergency kits
The following are some must-have items drivers should include
in their roadside emergency kits.
• Roadside flares
• First-aid kit
• u
J mper cables
• Warm blankets
• Flashlight
• Screwdrivers and a
basic tool kit
oil, brake fluid, anti-
• Tire-pressure gauge
freeze, water
• Spare tire
• Cell phone charger
• N
on perishable snacks • Contact information
and drinking water
• Check in person who
• E
x tra fluids — motor
knows your route
AUTO CARE
MARKETPLACE
Your guide to quality car
care in the Florence Area!
Evergreen Windshield Repair
Mobile Business
435-229-3321
VALUE THAT GETS BETTER BY THE MILE.
Free Peace of Mind
Tire Protection
• If a Tire is Damaged Beyond
Repair, We’ll Replace its Value.
• We Guarantee Our Work for the
Life of Your Tires.
• Free Pre-Trip Safety Checks
Free Lifetime Tire
& Mileage Care
• Flat Tire Repairs
• Tire Rotations & Rebalancing
• Tire Pressure Checks
• Brake & Alignment Checks
FLORENCE
4325 Hwy. 101
541-997-7178
Les Schwab Tires
Doing the Right thing matters.
4325 Highway 101 • Florence, OR 97439
541-997-7178 • LesSchwab.com
Napa Davison Auto Parts
4480 Hwy 101 Bldg A Florence, OR 97439
541-997-3428
Shervin’s Tire & Automotive
Full Service • Alignments
• Tire Sales • Oil Changes
4515 Hwy. 101 • Florence, Oregon 97439
541-997-8052 • facebook.com/shervinsauto
Tony’s Garage
Auto Service and Repair
ASE Certifi ed Master Technician
1730 W. 21st • Florence, OR 97439
541-902-1955
