The Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-11-02, Page 52Page 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 Atnericair 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_ or 21/2 pound (or larg-
er) dry, chemical extinguish -
3.
er. ts recommended _-_
FLASHLIGHT ... Use it
to read a map, find a key or
house number at night. And
get one with a magnet soit
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 itis downright
unsafe to try to change a tire
yourself — traffic conditions,
weather, position of the car.
tithe Of day, -etc.
5. 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-
retary of the AMA's vehicle
security committee, said the
device "definitely has an ef-
fect on the joy riding kids.
Thejuveniles are stealing a
lower percentage of new cars.
Andthat was our main thrust
with the device."
The only available statis-
tics show that, about 40 per-
cent of the cars stolen had
the keys left in the ignition.
This, 'of course, defeats the
purpose of the triple -locking
system. To remind people to
remove their keys, cars for
the last couple of years have
had a buzzer which sounds
if the driver's door is opened
with the key still in the igni-
tion. '
In an effort to make it eas-
ier for police to identify a
stolen car and to make it.
tougher for thieves, Vehicle
Identification Numbers (VIN)
are now mounted perma-
nently on the instrument
,panel.
New cars have had to have
the triple lock since January
1, 1970 under a federal safe-
ty regulation adopted be-
cause stolen cars are 200
times more likely to be in-
volved in a traffic accident,
according to statistics. Thus,
if you cut down the number
of car thefts, you should cut
down the number of acci-
dents.
Auto Executive Points Finger
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 most
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 arenow 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 con-
tinue 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 system individually
tailored to a car can be suc-
cessful. But 'if the warning
system is installed on a pro-
duction line, then the thieves
know how to beat it.
"They will go to junk yards
and buy wrecked cars just .to
'operate' on them -- like a
school for thieves."
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."
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
b.urrpel:_]:ae_k--=_ _:._: .
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.
V
�,t ONTARIO MOTOR LEAGUE s� ,
()LS
his ti0
IN ALL YOUR MOTORING NEWS
• EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE
• PERSONAL TRAVEL PLANNING
• SAIL and' ARREST BONDS- M.S.)
• PERSONAL ACCIDENT INSURANCE
• $150.00 TRIP GUARANTEE SERVICE
We would, like to tell you about these and oth&r
services too. You will. not be obligated.
CaII 482-9300 or Return Coupon
Ontario eaguu.. :.
"Bluewater Club"
7 Rattenbury Street, Clinton
Name
Address
YOUR LOCAL
MECHANIC AUTO SUPPUER
Come in and see us
for all your Automatic
Accessories.
It Takes
Team Work ,
• to care for
your car
at N.G. Bradley & Sans
Your car is our only concern... that's why
we work closely 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.
.G. BRADLEY ilt SONS LTD.
ESTABLISHED 1927
The
Glassmen
of
Ontario
WE ARE _SPECIALISTS IN •
GLASS ... TRIM...
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AUTO UPHOLSTERY
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CALL 524-2136 FOR, FREE ESTIMATES. '
ALL PARTS AND WORKMANSHIP GUARANTEED FOR 90 DAYS,
FREE MOBILE SERVICE ON GLASS TO HOME, OFFICE, FARM, FACTORY
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