The Castlegar Sun

Wednesday, February 23, 1994

Drinking coffee while driving raises accident risk, says experts

More and more Canadians are having that second cup of coffee in the moming while driving to work.

But drinking coffee while driving can increase your chances of being in an accident, says the |

Some drivers use commuter mugs, which have a specially designed lid to help.control the flow, and a mug holder that attaches to the car's dashboard. Others stop at a convenience store and take out their coffee in foam containers.

Driving is a full-time job, the LILI. notes, and drinking coffee while driving diverts your attention. If you hit a good-sized bump

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drive and drink coffee at the same time makes

no sense at all,” says Barbara Taylor B

a

You probably don't give it much thought, but would, you be prepared in. c: of a road emergency? Suppose your vehicle were to break down in the middle of nowhere— would you feel safe? If you've never stopped

HOO

Be safer on roadside breakdowns

gauge for tires, a metal gas can and a can of STP Flat Tire Repair, in your vehicle. In case of a routine flat, STP Flat Tire Repair can inflate a regular-size tire invless than one

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to consider this before, now, with shorter days and the temperature dropping, it's time

LLL's consumer consultant.

Many motor vehicle accidents could be avoided if drivers would simply go back to basics and not let coffee, a snack, the car tele- phone, the stereo or even the kids interfere with your driving, Taylor Burkett suggests.

O.K. for passengers

While drinking coffee and driving should be a no-no, it's O.K. if you're a passenger. In fact, a safe driver makes sure that only pas- sengers use the car phone or have coffee.

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them the accident happened because your coffee spilled,” Taylor Burketts says. “You could wind up with a ticket and a chargeable accident if your vehicle hit another car.”

There are more than 34 mil- lion motor vehicle accidents across the country each year, Taylor Burkett notes.

to ider' what you would do and how you can prepare yourself in case of an emergency. To. help you be safer in the instance of road- side breakdowns, First Brands Corporation, the maker of STP*, PRESTON® and SIMO- NIZ® you take a few simple steps:

1) Carry a flashlight, flares and/or reflec- tive danger signs. A flashlight will come in handy at night and can be used to flag down passing motorists or to signal your location to

The

or struggle with changing a flat.

4) Store emergency supplies such as jumper cables, an‘old winter coat, gloves and salt in your trunk.

5) Keep the phone number for your service station and local towing agent in an envelope in your glove compartment, along with plen- ty of change for emergency phone calls.

6) Keep in mind that a well-maintained vehicle is less likely to break down on the road. Periodic tune-ups and annual antifreeze changes will help maintain your car's perfor- mance.

tow. trucks or service vehi signs or flares will make other motorists aware that a problem exists, so they can drive accordingly. 2) Before starting out on even a short trip, check your gas gauge. It's easy to forget to refuel, and running out of gas is not only a harrowing experi- ence for you, it's bad for your | ¥ fuel system. At the same time, check your oil and windshield- wiper fluid, too! 3) Keep. items, including a jug of antifreeze, a pressure

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Wednesday, February 23, 1994

F QUICK FACTS ABOUT GIN AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Telease tar fewer emissions tha: paints.

- In 1955 GM became the fret auto company to begin conducting atmospheric research, i

« In 1971, GM became the first canaries te establish an Environmental Activities Staff.

‘iy “OM developed the LORS converter : t effective emission control technc e ‘ond

04 the scrap steel from GM stamping 5 Is recycled. s.

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* Waterborne pelnt systems in use'in HS" ‘Oshawa, Ontario Truck Assembly Plant and the Car Assembly Piant at Ste. Therese, Quebec — ‘the first in North America — have d atically feduced solvent emissions during vehicle paint- me All topcoat paints are lead-free.

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Know when it's time to ‘brake’ for car repair

When your vehicle needs a “brake job,” the brakes may be failing to release. The you tend 10 think only about the obvious — danger isthe condition can revere itetf and Jeave the driver with no brakes at all,

+ Squeal — Brakes should operate with a minimal amount of noise. Some noise is normal, but excessive squeal, screech,

takes are more than shoes and pads — theyre a system that is only as stong as its weakest component. If one part of the system fails, the load transfers to another part, adding more wear and increasing the chances for failure. ‘The following are warning signs you can bbe aware of when driving.

+ Pull — If, when you apply your brakes, your car pulls to one side, this indicates a “palling” problem. This may be caused by an underinflated tire, misadjusted brakes, brakes that are in need of repair or a faulty

+ Low Pedal — This occurs when the pedal nearly touches the floorboard before the brakes function. The solution to the problem could be an adjustment or could indicate something much more serious.

+ Hard Pedal — If the pedal requires extreme pressure to make the brakes function, you are suffering from “hard pedal.” This can indicate power brake trouble, restricted

— “Touchy” brakes that grab hydraulic lines, frozen calipers or wheel

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with the least pressure. This may indicate problem as simple as grease or oil- contaminated linings — or as serious as a loose or broken component ready to fail in an emergency.

+ Drag — You are driving and experience sticking brakes, hot wheels or an engine that seems to have lost power. This may indicate

cylinders, or damaged brake linings.

+ Vibration — Brake pedal, stecring wheel or entire vehicle shakes, vibrates or pulsates when the brakes are applied. This may indicate the need to resurface drums, disc brake rotors, or may signal a serious problem, a loose componeat of faulty steering. i

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Contrary to popular belief, winter is one of the most important times of the year to keep up your car's appear- ance. Left untreated, the snow, salt, mud, and freezing temperatures of the season wreak havoc on a vehicle's surfaces, and in the long term can reduce its value.

“Many people think they only need to wash their cars in the summer, in fair weather,” says Rick Manoogian, mar- keting manager for Armor All Products Corporation. “But the h, of a winter day, as well as its elements — _ snow, mud, and salt —- damage the sur- faces of your car.”

Rocks from the road create small chips in the paint. The road's mud and salt, which both absorb and hold water, forms a layer over the paint, and slowly corrodes it. Win- ter's freeze/thaw process of night and morning worsens the situation, causing “micro cracks.” Water enters the cracks, and through the same process causes cracks to enlarge.

With each water p further through the paint, until it eventually reaches metal and begins rusting. Rust will spread under the paint layers, and bub- bles can form on the paint surface due to the expansion of metal during ‘the rusting process.

“Although it's not always possible, frequent washing and waxing — perhaps on the first clear day after a storm — is the best preventative mea- sure,” says Manoogian. “Just waiting until the next rain storm won't adequately do the job — it would be like taking a bath without soap.”

Armor All recommends the

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+ Be sure to hose off all the mud caked in crevices.

* Dry with a clean, cotton flannel cloth.

* The apply wax or polish, such as Advanced Formula Rain Dance, to form a protec- tive layer that helps repel water and dirt.

Just as important, be sure to apply a protectant such as Armor All and Tire Foam, which will help to prevent fad- ing and hardening of your car's rubber and vinyl surfaces.

Putting extra effort into win- ter car care will help to pre- serve your investment. Think of it as-a survival kit for your car's

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