Drive Safe This Summer

 

Summer is finally here and many of us are planning to travel more frequently.  Each year we eagerly look forward to summertime family vacations and extended road trips.  What with an increase in traffic and a lot more road construction, sometimes a driver’s patience can wear thin but there are good reasons to keep our cool.

One of the curious things about driving in the summer is people can tend to let down their guard after driving through ice and snow all winter long and become somewhat lax about safety.  Statistics show that traffic accidents actually increase over the summer months despite better driving conditions.  So other than running into more congestion on the roads, why is there an increase in traffic accidents?

Some of the reasons may be the type of drivers, vehicles, and conditions on the road.  Summertime brings out more bicycle and motorcycle riders.  Teenagers, who are at higher risk for accidents are now out of school and on the road more frequently.  Road construction can also leads to accidents so drivers need to use caution and follow posted speeds. 

Safercar.gov urges drivers to start a road trip with a vehicle that is up-to-date on all required maintenance and repairs.  Drivers should do a visual inspection of the vehicle before starting out that includes checking tire pressure and wear, lights, wiper blades, and fluid levels.  They recommend that all children 13 years and younger ride in the backseat.  Only use car seats and booster seats that are appropriate for the age of the child and see to it that they are properly installed.     

Drivers need to be especially vigilant for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists during the warmer weather.  Watch out for small children when in parking lots, campgrounds, and other family style activities.  Finally remember to stay sober when driving.  There are 32 alcohol related accidents every day in the U.S.

Sources:  http://www.safercar.gov/summerdrivingtips

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Now that summer is here it is a good time to get a vehicle cleaned up and looking its best.  Many of us still like to wash our cars at home, but for some and certainly during the winter months, our local car wash is a convenient place to get a car clean.  Like most things today, there are many different types of car washes to choose from.

The first commercial car wash was started in Detroit, Michigan in 1914.  The Automated Laundry washed cars in an assembly line fashion with men pushing the vehicle from one “washing station” to the next.  The first semi-automated car wash was again started in Detroit in 1946 and used an automated pulley system along with men who manually used brushes to clean. 

Wikipedia states that car washes fall into the following categories:

·         Hand car washes that are completely done manually.

·         Coin operated, self-service bays.

·         In-bay automatic car washes such as the “touchless” method that uses water pressure rather than brushes.

·         Tunnel washes which conveyor the vehicle through the different washing stations.

·         Chemical car washes that use chemicals rather than water (started in Australia) and is considered to be more eco-friendly.

·         Steam car washes that use steam jets and micro fiber towels (started in South Korea).

·         Mobile car washes that travel to a site carrying the needed water, pressure washer, and supplies.

·         Mechanical car washes that use brushes that move alongside your car.

Consumer Report states that if you are going to wash your own vehicle, only use soap designed to wash cars as other types of soaps and detergents can strip a car’s finish.  Get in the habit of washing your car at least once a week and as soon as possible wash off any dead bugs, bird droppings, and tree sap as they too can damage the finish.

They further add that you should not wash your car in the direct sun, be sure to rinse it off before starting to wash, and use long, lengthwise strokes rather than a circular motion.  When you are done, rinse thoroughly and use a soft towel or chamois to dry. 

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_wash

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/12/do-s-and-don-ts-of-washing-your-car/index.htm

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