Clinton News-Record, 1978-11-02, Page 32Page 10
Ten Ways to Be Prepared
for Any Roadside Emergency
Few of us keep our cars
equipped for the unexpected,
which may confront us espe-
cially during the season of
inclement weather.
If you are among the mil-
lions of unprepared motor-
ists, you can correct the con-
dition quickly and inexpen-
sively.
Begin with the following
shopping list of ten items.
Stored neatly in, a carton in
the trunk of your car, these
should prepare .you for most
roadside emergencies.
1. FIRST AID KIT . . Check
the' American Red Cross for
proper contents—such things
as water, paper cups, a blan-
ket, certain bandages, etc.
2. FIRE EXTINGUISHER ..
Buy a good one and practice
using it — before you have to.
A CO•1 or 2'/s pound (or larg-
er) dry chemical extinguish-
er is recommended.
3. FLASHLIGHT ... Use it
to read a map, find a key or
house number at night. And
get one with a magnet so it
can be placed on the side of
the car to free your hands
while you are changing a flat
tire.
4. TIRE INFLATOR ... The
pressurized can is easy to use
and will help you get to the
nearest service station for a
tire change. In fact, there are
times when it is downright
unsafe to try to change a tire
yourself — traffic conditions,
weather, position of the car,
time of day, etc.
S. SPARE FUSES ... Your
auto store or service station
man can tell you how many
of what type you will need.
if you can't figure out fuse
locations from your owner's
manual, ask your service man,
to help you. It can be a frus-
trating search on a rainy
Reduce Thefts, Lower Accidents
But Robert L. Wilson, sec- tion.
retary of the AMA's vehicle In an effort to make it eas-
security committee, said the ier for police to identify a
device "definitely has an Of- stolen car and to make it
feet on the joy riding kids. tougher for thieves, Vehicle
The juveniles are stealing a Identification Numbers (VIN)
lower percentage of new cars. are now mounted perma-
And.that was our main thrust nentiy on the instrument
with the device." panel.
The only available tatis- New cars have had to have
tics show that about 40 per- the triple lock since January
cent of the cars stolen had 1, 1970 under a federal safe-
the keys left in the ignition ty regulation adopted be -
This, of course, defeats the cause stolen cars are 200
purpose of the triple -locking times more likely to be in -
system. To remind people to volved in a traffic accident,
remove their keys, cars for according to statistics. Thus,
the 3ast couple of years have if you cut down the number
had a buzzer which sounds of car thefts, you should cut
if the driver's door is opened down the number of acci-
with the key still in the 'gni- dents.
Auto Executive Points Finger
frustrated engineer. He seems
to know all the fine ways of
doing things — a real sharp
cookie, good with a hammer
and a torch,"
He also said that "while
thefts last year were very
definitely a new, record, I
can't say that new cars are
being stolen at the same rate
they used to be. My own per-
sonal opinion is that we are
getting a lot more profes-
sional than joy riding."
New York City is called,
among other things, the sto-
len car capital of the world.
Chicago is running second.
One auto executive theorizes,
"I know there are a lot of
organized groups in New
York and Chicago who steal
cars — make a business out
of this.
"In my opinion, the mat
technologically sharp indi-
viduals come out of Chicago.
The car thief there is like a
Thieves Keep Up
with Times
Officials also note a rising
number of stolen trucks and
recreational vehicles.
"The thieves are moving
into this field as these ve-
hicles become more popular,"
one auto spokesman said.
"It's very tough to identify
them too, because there are
so many manufacturers."
About 84 percent of stolen
cars are now recovered, down
from 92 percent (of the 288,-
300 cars stolen) recovered in
1959.
Thus, as a larger percent-
age of the thefts are by pros,
the percentage of cars re-
covered will probably eon -
Untie to drop.
While the locks apparently
won't Stop a professional
thief, the warning devices
which are available as acces-
sories may stall him.
One auto man said, "a
warning systerri individually
tailbred to a car can be sue,.
cesSful. But it the warning
system is installed oti a .tiro-
duction line, then the thieves
know how to beat it.
"They will -go too junk yards
ane Auy wrecked cars just to
'opex a & on them --- like a
school for thle,es,"
night when you have no
lights.
6. FLARES ... When you're
in trouble on a dark road, re-
flector flares or emergency
flashers are friends indeed.
These are available at most
auto supply stores. Place
yours 50 feet behind ,and
ahead of your car to alert
oncoming traffic of your pre-
dicament.
7. BATTERY JUMPER CA-
BLE ... This can be worth its
weight in platinum when you
are stranded with a dead bat-
tery and another motorist
comes to your aid.
8. TWO 4 x 4 WOOD
BLOCKS ... about 12 inches
long, to block the wheels
while you jack up the car for
a tire change — if you've
forgotten your tire inflator.
"Chocked" wheels keep the
car from rolling off the
bumper jack. .
9. A DIME ... in case you
have to make a phone call.
10. A DISPOSABLE 'WASH-
CLOTH. You'll be glad you
have it after you've worked
with the battery jumper
cable.
YOUR LOCAL
MECHANIC
r,,., ONTARIO MOTOR LEAGUE . . "
woos
tiO
44 live
sii i- it
..„0, ...mito li*W41410':---t Illt'._
-4011111110111111111._ ______47iallgri
IN ALL YOUR MOTORING NEEDS
• EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE
• PERSONAL TRAVEL PLANNING
• BAIL and ARREST BONDS (U.S.)
• PERSONAL ACCIDENT INSURANCE
• $150.00 TRIP GUARANTEE SERVICE
We would like to tell you about these and other
services too. You will not be obligated.
Call 482-9300 or Return Coupon
Ontario -Motor League
"Bluewater Club"
7 Rattenbury Street, Clinton
Name
Address
---.--
AUTO SUPPLIER
Come in and see us
for all your Automatic
Accessories..
H.G. BRADLEY. Ilt SONS LTD
It ,Takes
Team Work
-to care for
your car
at H.G Bradley & Sons
Your car is our only concern... that's why
we work close) with local and area ser-
vice stations and garages to keep them
stocked with the best quality brand lines
available for your car. Neither rain, snow,
nor dark of night can hinder you from
completing your appointed rounds this
Fall and Winter, if you give your car the
services it requires for safe and pleasant
motoring.
ESTABLISHED 1927
•
The
GIassm8n
of
Ontario
WE ARE SPECIALISTS IN .
GLASS...
AUTO & TRUCK GLASS
CAMPER WINDOWS.
VAN WINDOWS
CONSTRUCTION .
EQUIPMENT
VAN ROOF VENTS
AUTO WINDSHIELDS
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TRIM...
COMPLETE
AUTO UPHOLSTERY
PINSTRIPING
VINYL ROOFS
OPERA- WINDOWS
BODY SIDE MOULDINGS
CONVERTIBLE TOPS
INSURANCE CLAIMS
(TALL 524-2136 FOR FREE ESTIMATES
ALL PARTS AND WORKMANSHIP GUARANTEED FOR 90 DAYS,
REE MOBILE SERVICE ON GLASS TO HOME, OFFICE, FARM, FACTORY
Auto GOA
056 'BA1 FIEF D RD
AIM
ERICH 524-2136
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