HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-04-16, Page 13THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2003. PAGE 13.
2003 Spring Car Care
Take a closer look at vehicle safety belts
Warm weather and driving go
hand in hand. Road trips are best
enjoyed when the sweet smells of
spring are in the air. While you may
take advantage of the weather to
give your vehicle a much-needed
wash and wax or a seasonal tuneup,
safety concerns also should be at the
top of your “to do” list.
As more motorists enter the
roadways for warm-weather fun,
there are greater opportunities for
fender benders from distracted
drivers. Your best way to be
prepared is to safely buckle up
passengers, and follow these safety
instructions when taking the car out
for a drive.
Safety belts supplemented by air
bags provide the best available
protection during automobile
Some suggestions
for selecting
a reliable used ear
crashes. However, there is a wide
fluctuation in the percentage of
drivers who actually are using safety
belts.
Regulations now require that all
new cars come equipped with
passive restraint systems for the
driver- and front-passenger seats.
This system can be e;ther an air bag
or automatic safety belts — neither
of which requires any action by the
vehicle’s occupants.
Becoming aware of these passive
restraint systems can be your best
way to improve safety while dri
ving.
Air bags provide increased
protection for drivers. In frontal or
head-on crashes, these restraints
give supplemental protection to
front-seat occupants wearing safety
belts. Safety belts are designed to
stretch, preventing an occupant from
stopping too abruptly during a crash.
However, at high speeds belts may
stretch too much. Air bags greatly
reduce the chance of injury to the
face, head and neck during these
instances.
Safety belts not only save lives,
they offer other positive advantages
as well.
• Better car control — Belts can
help prevent collisions. When you
steer or break in an emergency,
safety belts help keep you behind the
wheel and in control of the car.
• Less fatigue — Properly worn,
safety belts reduce fatigue by
supporting you in an erect position,
keeping you more comfortable and
alert.
• Protect expectant mothers —
Studies show that pregnant women
are far safer if they are protected by
lap and shoulder belts.
• Protect small children — Car
crashes continue to lead all other
causes of injury to small children
and adolescents. Proper use of child
restraint systems will help keep them
safe in an crash.
• Belts keep passengers in place —
In violent crashes, unbelted back
seat passengers can be thrown into
the driver’s compartment, injuring
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themselves and others. Unbelted
occupants also can push the driver
away from the steering wheel,
making it impossible to control the
car.
V.’I
Buying a used car can be a hair-
raising experience. A slick
salesperson can gloss over the
damage an accident caused or lead
you to believe the car is in better
condition than it really is.
This doesn’t mean that you should
throw in the towel and sign up for a
high-interest lease; buying a used
car still is the most affordable option
around.
Before you take the plunge, it is
important to ask several questions of
the seller to get an idea of the
purchase you’ll be making.
Following are a few ideas to help get
you started.
1. Are you the first owner? If the
owner has cared for the car, there
usually will be receipts to prove it.
2. What’s the mileage? Don’t
emphasize this too much, but do
take it into account. Ask if they
drove mostly on the highway or in
the city. Highway miles are better,
but this still is only one indicator.
Accurate mileage can be assessed
through maintenance records or by
checking the stickers on the inside of
the driver’s door.
3. Why are you selling the car?
“Because I had a baby,” is a good
answer. “I just feel like it,” can make
you wonder if the car has needed
continual repairs.
4. What condition is it in? The
“Get What You Paid For” theory
certainly applies to used cars. Ask
how often the car has been
maintained (oil checked, timing
adjusted, tires rotated) just to get a
general idea. Ask to see receipts for
this work.
5. Has it been in an accident? An
accident can alter anything from the
car’s, steering to the engine’s
performance; front-end damage can
especially be problematic.
6. Has the car been emissions-
tested? Different states have
different regulations, so find out
what’s required in your state. Be
careful — this can require complex
repairs if . the car isn’t up to
standards.
7. Any other problems? These
might include problems with the
engine (strange noise while running,
oil leaks), the transmission
(clunking sounds while shifting,
slipping out of gear), the clutch
(sticky, stiff or difficult to shift), the
brakes (pulling or locking) and the
body (rusts or dents).
See Scott or Allan for all the details
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Parts
Tammy Gibson
r—
BRIDGE