Auto

AUTO HORIZON SAYS RAIN, THE HUMIDITY SAYS “STICKY!”

By Community Tire Pros & Auto Repair

Our most unusual and loveable weather succumbs to the unfunny humor of Mother Nature and the main topic in the news come July-August. The unbelievable monsoons settle heavy dust over our beautiful city of Phoenix and surrounding areas. The reason we love these ‘haboobs’ is the robust rain that falls without fail on our severely dry deserts.

We all become a bit dizzy with the most ‘uncommon sensical’ decisions when driving our vehicles. Dry roads become raging rivers, freeways become lakes and a lot of our Arizonians think they are Super Heroes!

As an automotive repair center, we see many of these car issues that just didn’t make it through their ‘superhero’ attempts through the door height waters. The rubber molding, the water damage to carpet and don’t even get me started on the electrical issues that occur…

I hate to think that the heat has really gotten the best our AZ residents, but to think that the vast has no “common sense” baffles me. Didn’t our mothers warn us to stay out of the water when we were little at one point?

Arizona is the only state that has gone so far as to enact and create a “Stupid Motorist’ law. This law states that any motorist who becomes stranded after driving around barricades to enter a flooded stretch of roadway may be charged for the cost of their rescue. Now if public emergency services (such as a fire department or paramedics) are called to rescue a flooded motorist and tow the vehicle out of danger in Arizona, the cost of those services can be billed to the motorist, plus additional

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liability of up to $2,000. Motorists are only liable if water already covers the road and barriers are in place but bypassed, and people are rescued from a vehicle. The 'stupid-motorist law' is not a chargeable statute; to be fined under the law, a motorist must commit at least one other violation. Our first responders should be given all the kudos we can adorn on them to make it necessary to rescue these non-sensical decisions of drivers and put their own lives in jeopardy.

The monsoon is a seasonal shift in wind direction, so there can be dry monsoon winds and wet monsoon winds. With these forceful winds filled with dust, our facilities see the end damage of the pitting of windshields and car paint. We recommend a good wax and detail to your car investment before the season hits. This will help, especially while out in the weather that can’t be avoided. Let’s make sure your wipers are in good shape. With our heat causing wipers to deteriorate quickly, wipers should be replaced twice a year. Air filters and cabin air filters are also important to maintain. These filter the air coming into your vehicle, catching all the nasty things in the air and dust. Let’s make sure you put your air conditioning on re-circulate so you’re not pulling in the dusty air from outside but cooling the inside air of the vehicle cab.

As the rain pounds the pavement, the elements rise to the top including different oils, making the road slippery on the first part of a rainfall. If you feel some sliding, take your foot off the accelerator and slightly brake, pumping lightly till you have control. Tires are your only contact to the road, so check your tire pressure and make sure you have good tread - your family’s lives are riding on them.

If possible, we do suggest that if you know a storm is coming, stay home! If you are out in this crazy stuff, be aware of where you park. Avoid parking under trees due to falling branches, away from flooding areas and certainly if possible, away from electrical lines. Caught in the dust storm? Pull over to the right as far as you can, stop, and turn off all your lights. Newer cars will need to turn off the ignition, as the headlights will then turn off. You don’t want cars following you. Be sure to travel at a safe distance from the car in front of you, and always remember “Pull Aside, Stay Alive.” Walls of dust are not usually a long endurance of a wait, just an inconvenience to most.