Drive into Spring 2021

April 2021 A Special Supplement to

Manistee News Advocate

Vehicle Maintenance DIY tips on how to keep your vehicle in prime condition

Selling Quickly Tips to sell a car on your own

Talking Brakes

When to replace brake pads & rotors

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April 14, 2021 • MANISTEE NEWS ADVOCATE

What to do in the immediate aftermath of a car accident 1.35 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes

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ar accidents happen every day. Though the World Health Organization reports that approximately 1.35 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes, many more people walk away from such accidents relatively unscathed. In such instances, knowing what to do in the immediate aftermath of an accident can help drivers and passengers stay safe and start on their road to physical and financial recovery.

No two car accidents are the same, but the Insurance Information Institute recommends anyone involved in a car accident take the following steps to make the most informed decisions in what is often a difficult situation.

• Assess your physical condition. The III recommends people involved in accidents check themselves for injuries in the immediate aftermath of an accident. Call 911 if you are hurt. If you’re seriously

injured, try to remain still and only move with the assistance of emergency response personnel.

• Assess passengers’ physical condition. Drivers who are not too hurt to move can check on their passengers after assessing their own condition. Before moving a passenger who is injured, speak with an emergency response professional. This person can assess the situation and determine if it’s safe to move an injured passenger or if it’s best to wait for first responders to arrive on the scene.

• Get to a safe place. If possible, move to the side of the road or a sidewalk. If it’s safe to move a vehicle and the vehicle is in a hazardous position, such as in the middle of the road, pull it to the side of the road. If the vehicle won’t start of you suspect it could be dangerous to move it, leave the car where it is and get yourself and any passengers who can move to the side of the road or

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a sidewalk.

• Call 911. If you have not already done so, call 911 once you have gotten to a safe place. The III notes that no accident is too minor to involve the police, and some local laws even mandate that all traffic accidents be immediately reported. Be sure to fill out an accident report, which can be vital for drivers who intend to file claims with their insurance providers.

• Turn the vehicle off. If the vehicle is still running, turn it off. Turn on the vehicle’s hazard lights and, if you can physically do so and it’s safe to do so, place road flares around the car to warn fellow motorists.

• Exchange information.

Exchange contact and

insurance information with the other driver once everyone has determined that they are not injured. The III recommends exchanging full names and contact information. Specific information like insurance companies and policy numbers, driver’s license numbers and license plate numbers, the exact location of the accident, and the type, color and model of the other driver’s vehicle also should be exchanged and noted.

• Avoid discussing fault with the other driver. Drivers will not determine who’s at fault.

Such decisions are made by insurance adjusters. Discussing fault with the other driver in the immediate aftermath of an accident can lead to difficult, potentially heated exchanges.

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• Notify your insurance provider. Notify your insurance provider as soon as possible.

You can even do so from the scene of the accident if you’re capable of doing so. This can jump-start the claims process.

Knowing what to do in the immediate aftermath of a car accident can calm drivers’ nerves and get them on the road to recovery that much sooner.

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• Document the accident.

The III recommends motorists involved in accidents identify the responding police officers and ask them how to obtain copies of the official accident report. Take pictures and speak with any witnesses, jotting down their names and contact information if possible.

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The very real benefits of wearing seat belts

Seat belts saved an estimated 14,955 lives in 2017 alone

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he importance of wearing seat belts in vehicles has resonated with drivers and passengers across the globe. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the national seat belt use rate in passenger vehicles in 2019 was 90.7 percent. And despite their simplicity, particularly when compared to the various other technologies available in modern vehicles, seat belts remain an incredibly effective device against injury and even death, though only when drivers and their passengers

The 5 most expensive vehicles to insure

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uyers must consider a host of factors before purchasing a new vehicle.

While the make, model and color of the vehicle may garner the bulk of buyers’ attention, the cost of the vehicle bears consideration as well. The sticker price is important, but the cost of insuring a vehicle also can determine just how much a vehicle will cost buyers each month.

Insurance premiums are determined after providers consider various factors, including the age of the driver, his or her accident history and how much he or she drives. The make and model of the vehicle also goes a long way toward determining just how much drivers will have to pay to insure their cars and trucks.

The insurance comparison site The Zebra (www.thezebra.com) notes that the following were the five most expensive vehicles to insure in 2020.

remember to engage them. For example, the NHTSA notes that seat belts saved an estimated 14,955 lives in 2017 alone. Unfortunately, the NHTSA also reports that 47 percent of the 37,133 people killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2017 were not wearing seat belts. Studies have indicated that front seat riders in cars who wear their seat belts can reduce their risk of fatal injury by 45 percent, while front seat riders in trucks can reduce their risk for fatal injury by 60 percent.

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April 14, 2021 • MANISTEE NEWS ADVOCATE

DIY vehicle maintenance tasks

D

uring the global COVID-19 pandemic, many people looked for ways to save money. One way to live a frugal life is to take on more projects. In addition to lawn and garden upkeep and minor home improvements, a number of people may be able to tackle some auto repair and maintenance jobs themselves.

capacity in the winter. Check the location of the air filter in the owner’s manual; pay attention to how it is placed before removing. Then replace it with a clean filter that can be purchased for around $15.

Performing routine vehicle maintenance tasks on one’s own is an ideal way to reduce automotive expenditures. The following are several vehicle maintenance jobs skilled DIYers may be able to handle on their own.

• Replace the air filter. An air filter should be changed annually or more frequently if you reside in a dry, dusty climate. A clogged filter can stress the vehicle’s air conditioning system and reduce heat

• Replace the wiper blades. When wiper blades are worn out, visibility in rainy or snowy weather is reduced. Choose a quality wiper blade, as they usually are made with high-quality rubber, clean better and have more UV protection than manufacturer-provided blades. Follow the installation instructions on the package, and be sure to refer to the particular manufacturer’s buying guide to get the right size for your make and model of vehicle.

• Replace spark plugs. The money management site Money Crashers says

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it to an oil change center. However, at an estimated cost of $20 versus nearly double or more what you’ll spend elsewhere, it can save money to do it yourself. Never change the oil while the engine is hot. And remember to lubricate the rubber gasket on the new oil filter and allocate enough oil to fill the filter with about 2⁄3 of new oil in addition to what is put in the engine.

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spark plugs need to be replaced after around 30,000 miles or as indicated by your owner’s manual. Vehicles will have four, six or eight plugs, depending on how many cylinders the car has. The plugs need to be changed in a certain order, so only remove the first wire and spark plug. Remove and replace plugs one by one with a spark plug socket, wrench or ratchet.

• Change the oil and oil filter. Because changing the oil in a vehicle requires jacking up the car or truck and getting a little dirty, some people prefer to leave

• Replace headlight bulbs. Replacing headlight bulbs is a fairly easy project and will only take around 10 minutes to do after you purchase the right bulbs for your vehicle. Each vehicle is different, but many bulbs are housed inside of a bulb holder, which is shaped like a trapezoid with three wires coming out of it, advises U.S. News & World Report. Remove the old bulb and put in the new. Plug the wires back in and test to see if the headlight works.

The above automotive tasks are just some that people can try themselves to save time and money.

How to sell a car quickly

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sed cars have become much more popular thanks to the affordability and reliability of certifiedpreowned vehicles. According to the financial resource Dave Ramsey, a brand-new car loses somewhere between 9 and 11 percent of its value the moment it is driven off of the lot. That’s like throwing away $3,000 on a $30,000 vehicle in an instant.

The car research resource The Car Connection says there are more than 250 million used cars on the road in the United States, and every year roughly 40 million people sell and buy used cars compared to the 14 million new vehicles. People who are considering selling a vehicle to capitalize on the used-car boom can follow these guidelines to sell quickly.

Prepare the vehicle

It’s hard not to judge a book by its cover. The same can be said for the way prospective buyers will view a car or truck, particularly if it is dirty. Cleaning the interior

MANISTEE NEWS ADVOCATE • April 14, 2021

and exterior and removing any items from the trunk, cargo bed, glove compartment, and any other storage areas will give a positive impression. The level of cleanliness will give buyers the impression that the vehicle has been well-maintained.

Price it correctly

Use trusted resources to appraise the value of the vehicle being sold. Kelley Blue Book is an industry standard for determining the value of a vehicle for sale. A vehicle that is priced at or slightly below other similar cars or trucks will sell more quickly.

Gather your documents

Put together a folder of receipts, maintenance schedules and any other paperwork that has been gathered through the years.

Paperwork also should include the vehicle title and original sales paperwork. This will indicate to potential buyers that the car has been diligently maintained and that the previous owner was organized.

Make repairs Depending on how much a person is willing to spend or concede in price negotiations, repair the vehicle accordingly.

Types of repairs can include replacing burned out lights, fixing chips and cracks, replacing or repairing tires, repairing dings and scratches, and checking and replacing brakes.

Advertise in the right places Major automobile listing sites are a good place to start, as are newspaper classifieds and local social media sales marketplaces.

Include plenty of well-lit pictures of the interior and exterior, and include detailed information on the vehicle, including any special features. This will generate interest from serious buyers.

Taking certain steps to sell a used vehicle can make the process go quickly and smoothly.

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April 14, 2021 • MANISTEE NEWS ADVOCATE

When should you replace rotors and brake pads?

T he ability to accelerate and steer freely is vital to vehicle performance.

Equally crucial is being able to stop the car to avoid collisions and obstacles.

Brake pads and rotors are vital components of braking mechanisms that need to be maintained and serviced.

Drivers may wonder how frequently they have to replace brake parts. Car and Driver magazine states brake pads are among the most crucial braking components. Brake pads create the friction that helps stop a car when they are pressed against the brake rotor, also known as the brake disc. It’s in drivers’ best interests to ensure that brake pads, as well as rotors, always function properly and are replaced before their effectiveness is compromised.

Replacing brake pads

Brake pads are made from different materials, but all will wear down over time, losing a portion of material every time the brakes are used. Eventually brake pads will not be able to generate enough friction to stop the vehicle quickly.

Industry experts generally recommend brakes be replaced every 20,000 to 60,000 miles. Since that is a wide mileage range, drivers can listen for squealing noises or grinding sounds or feel for vibrations when deploying the brakes. Each of those signs may indicate brakes need to be replaced.

Replacing rotors Like brake pads, rotors also will wear out over time.

Brake rotors must meet a certain thickness to be considered safe. If they are below that thickness, then

they must be fully replaced.

Some drivers opt to have their rotors resurfaced.

This means removing any grooves, hotspots or anomalies on the rotors that can cause uneven wear of the brake pads. However, if the rotors are too thin, they cannot be resurfaced, as this removes some additional rotor material. Rotors can only be resurfaced once before replacement. Some

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vehicles have rotors that cannot be resurfaced at all.

Rotors can go thousands of miles before they need to be replaced, but vibrations while braking and squeaking noises are usually indicative that rotors need to be checked and/or replaced.

Even though brake pads and rotors may wear out at different intervals, many automotive professionals

advise replacing rotors when brake pads are changed for optimal performance and safety.

Brakes are an essential safety component. Work with a qualified mechanic to have brake pads and rotors serviced before wear and tear adversely affects driver safety and vehicle performance.

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MANISTEE NEWS ADVOCATE • April 14, 2021

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Did you know?

According to the World Health Organization, males are more likely to be involved in road traffic crashes than females.

Mobile phone use

The top distractions behind the wheel

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id you know that a vehicle driven at 55 miles per hour or faster can traverse the length of an entire football field in a matter of seconds?

Driving requires not only knowledge of the rules of the road and skill behind the wheel, but also concentration on the task at hand. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates distracted driving has been a significant factor in fatal car crashes. NHTSA says as many as one in 10 deaths are now attributed to driver distraction.

Distractions can come in many forms but fall into one of three categories: manual, visual and cognitive. Any distraction has the potential for serious consequences, including deadly accidents. Here’s a look at some of the common distractions and how to avoid them.

• Mobile phone use: Texting while driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving. Texting combines cognitive, manual and visual distractions.

Turn off phones while behind the wheel to help reduce the temptation to grab the phone.

• Daydreaming: Being lost in one’s thoughts can be a big distraction. Driving with something heavy on one’s mind can cause a person to lose track of the road. This may occur when experiencing intense emotions, particularly anger or stress. There’s also a condition called

“highway hypnosis” that causes drivers to “zone out” while driving. It often occurs while driving on open highways for extended periods of time. Taking breaks and pulling over if you notice your mind wandering can help.

• Pets and children: Young children or unsecured pets can be very distracting in the car. As a child calls out, begins to cry or wants his or her needs met, drivers may turn to address those needs and take their eyes off the road. Pets that are moving around the vehicle also may distract a driver. All pets and children should be secure in the vehicle at all times.

• Adjusting the GPS: Recalibrating the GPS or entering an address while driving can be a distraction. It’s best not to touch the GPS unless the car is in park and at a complete stop.

• Eating or drinking: Taking hands off the wheel to enjoy that drive-thru meal can be a mistake. Looking down at food and removing hands from the wheel reduces one’s ability to steer and react immediately to sudden traffic hazards.

If drivers become knowledgeable of the significant hazards of distracted driving, they can make changes to improve overall safety. Completing certain tasks before leaving home or while the vehicle is parked can reduce the need to multitask while driving.

The WHO notes that 73 percent of all road traffic deaths occur among young males under the age of 25. In addition, male drivers under the age of 25 are nearly three times as likely to be killed in road traffic crashes as female drivers under 25. The WHO acknowledges that various factors can increase drivers’ risk of being involved in road traffic crashes, and distracted driving may be one of the biggest threats facing today’s young drivers. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute notes that, in 2017, 40 percent of high school students reported texting or emailing while driving in the 30 days prior to being surveyed.

Parents also may unknowingly contribute to teens’ distracted driving, as the CHPRI notes that teen drivers receive more calls from their parents while driving than any other group of motorists.

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April 14, 2021 • MANISTEE NEWS ADVOCATE

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