Driving Through Severe Weather

Severe storms are pummeling the Midwest this week. While news and weather sources may encourage drivers to stay off the road, drivers unexpectedly caught in these storms may have no choice but continue to drive. Central Collision Center has prepared our tips for safely navigating these potentially dangerous situations.

Before the storm:

• Check the condition of your windshield wipers and tires
• Replace immediately if either are worn

During the storm:

• Increase distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you
• Treat traffic lights as stop signs in anticipation of other drivers losing control of their vehicles
• Turn headlights - not brights - on
• Reduce speed to prevent hydroplaning

Hydroplaning is a major cause of accidents during severe weather. Three factors can cause hydroplaning:

1. High speeds, which reduce traction
2. Worn tires, which are less likely to resist hydroplaning
3. Water depth, which reduces traction

Water on roadways can create dangerous driving situations. According to The Weather Channel, six inches of water will reach the bottom of most cars and one foot of water will  float most vehicles. Be cautious driving when any amount of water is present on a roadway, but turn your vehicle around if you have to pass through more than a few inches. 

Central Collision Center urges drivers to be cautious driving during these stormy, summer months. If you have concerns about the safety of your vehicle before the storms hit, please call one of our six locations.

Riding in Cars with Pets

January 2, 2013 marks the third annual National Pet Travel Safety Day. Founded by Celebrity Pet and Safety Expert, Behaviorist and former Los Angeles Paramedic Colleen Paige, National Pet Travel Safety Day raises awareness of the importance of pet safety in all modes of travel. 

Pet safety while driving is not only critical for the animal, but also the driver. Unrestrained pets in cars is one of the top reasons for distracted driving. According to Paws to Click, unrestrained pets cause more than 30,000 accidents a year. An accident occurs every 18 minutes as a result of an unrestrained animal. 

A 2010 survey by AAA and Kurgo asked 1,000 dog owners who had driven with their dogs in the last 12 months about their habits. The survey reported the percentage of dog owners who take their dogs:

• On leisure rides:  88%
• On local errands:  85%
• To the pet store:  81%
• On day trips:  80%

Of the 60% of dog owners who reported driving with distractions by their pets, only 17% reported using animal restraints or harnesses.

An unrestrained animal in the car can cause a driver to become distracted. There are three forms of distracted driving:  visual, taking your eyes off the road; manual, taking your hands off of the steering wheel; and cognitive, taking your mind off of what you're doing. Looking away from the road for just two seconds doubles the risk of an accident, according to the AAA Foundation for Safety Traffic.

Here are some tips from The Humane Society of the United States to help you and your pet stay safe while driving together:

1. Update your pet's identification information on his/her collar before traveling
2. Identify a contact person to pick up your pet in case of an accident in case you are unable to leave the scene or become injured
3. Bring an up-to-date picture of your pet. If you are involved in an accident, your pet may become frightened and run away. Keep a picture on hand to help others locate your pet
4. Help your pet get use to traveling by beginning with short trips and gradually increasing time spent in the car
5. Place your pet in the back seat. Never travel with your pet in the front seat. If the front passenger side airbag deploys during an accident it could hurt your pet
6. Restrain your pet while driving. Dogs should be restrained using a harness that buckles into a seat belt. Place a blanket or towel under your dog to protect your interior. Cats should be restrained in a carrier so they don't bounce around. Secure the carrier with a seatbelt
7. Do not let your dog stick his or her head out the window while driving. The force of the air can injure the dog's lungs 
8. Make frequent rest stops so your pet can stretch his/her legs
9. Never leave your pet in an unattended vehicle. A car can reach up to 102 degrees in just 10 minutes on a hot summer day. In the winter, a car can become and icebox, causing hypothermia

Many states are beginning to enforce laws regarding driving with animals. For example, New Jersey recently began issuing $250 to $1000 tickets for driving with loose pets in cars, which is a violation of an animal cruelty law. Other offenses include allowing pets to hang his/her head out the window, pets riding in the back of a truck or pets sitting on the driver's lap. Col. Frank Rizzo, Superintendent of the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, summed up the reasoning behind the new laws. "You wouldn't put your child in the car unrestrained so you shouldn't put your pet in the car unrestrained either."

For more information about pet travel safety, visit Paws to Click or The Humane Society of the United States.

Some of our furry friends at Central Collision Center:

Aubry
Jen, Office Manager at Central Collision of Mokena

Norbu
Kristen, Office Manager at Central Collision of Crete

Wrigley
Kristie, Customer Service Representative Manager

Preparing For Winter

Many times after the first snow of the season, drivers wish they would have taken the time to prepare their cars for the winter. Instead of waiting until the first snow fall, Central Collision Center encourages you to be proactive this winter. Our managers shared their best practices for preparing and maintaining cars during the winter weather. Here is our managers' advice:

Before winter:

1. Create a winter emergency kit to keep in your car. Include the following:
• Jumper cables
• Blanket
• Extra clothes, gloves, hats and scarves
• Snow scraper
• Snow shovel
• Flashlight
• Bottled water
• Snacks, such as granola bars
2. Do a car check-up. Here's what you should check:
• Air pressure and wear of tires
• Radiator coolant level
• Washer fluid level
3. Wax headlights and taillights
4. Program local safety numbers in your cell phone 

During winter:

1. Use a snow scraper, not windshield wipers, to clear away snow on your windshield
2. DO NOT use hot water to melt ice on windows. The hot water will cause the windows to shatter
3. Use a spray bottle to spray a 3 parts vinegar 1 part water mixture on your windows to prevent ice. The acetic acid in the vinegar prevents the water from freezing
4. Leave more distance between you and other vehicles
5. Charge your cell phone before you begin to drive in bad weather

Before the snow hits, please take the time to follow through on these tips. We hope this information can help keep you safe this winter. If you have any questions on how to better prepare your car for winter, please feel free to call any of our six locations.

Central Collision Center Verifies Use of OEM Airbag Components

In response to the recent concerns about counterfeit airbags, Central Collision Center would like to ensure its customers, insurance partners and local communities that vehicles repaired at any of our six locations under Central Collision ownership are not at risk.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a statement today alerting vehicle owners and repair professionals to the danger of counterfeit air bags. Consumers who purchased their vehicles new or know their entire vehicle’s history, including if an airbag was replaced, are not at risk.

Vehicles repaired at any of the six Central Collision Center locations are not risk. Our company installs strictly OEM, original equipment manufacturer, airbags during repairs. Central Collision Center also strictly uses OEM parts relating to the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), which includes seatbelts, seatbelt buckles and seatbelt retractors.

For more information on the advisory, visit www.safecar.gov. For more information about Central Collision Center, visit our website.

Pledge To Keep Your Teen Driver Safe

   
          With a break from school, family vacations and days by the pool, summer is an exciting time for teenagers. Summer is even more exciting for those teens that turned 15 during the school year and can now begin drivers’ education courses. Many students use their summer vacation as the perfect time to practice behind the wheel.

            Unfortunately, accidents involving teen drivers are extremely common. “Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). The most common factors putting teen drivers at risk are:

•     Failure to recognize and respond to dangerous situations
•   Distractions inside and outside of the vehicle
•   Increased risky driving as a result of male teen passengers
•   Low seat belt use
•     Underestimated distances combined with increased speed
•    Elevated blood alcohol concentration

Parents can help instill safe driving habits in their teenagers to prevent accidents. Ensure your teen completes all 50 hours of driving practice during the permit period with you or an adult 21 or over with a valid driver’s license. Ten of these hours should be at night. Prepare your teen by having him or her drive new routes each time he or she drives. Help your teen develop safe driving habits by limiting distractions in the car. Put cell phones away and keep the radio off or on low.

After your teen receives his or her license, continue to monitor his or her driving. Enforce your community’s nighttime driving restrictions. Most communities set a 10 p.m. curfew Sunday through Thursday and an 11 p.m. curfew Friday through Saturday. For the first 12 months with a license, drivers ages 16 to 17 are limited to one passenger under the age of 20, unless the passenger is a sibling. Cell phone use and texting are prohibited while driving.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention encourages parents and teens to develop a driving agreement. Together, teens and parents can develop personalized driving rules that fit their family. Click here for a copy of the CDC's Parent-Teen Agreement and pledge to keep your teen driver safe.