Fall Car Care 2012 by Record-Herald

Washington C.H. Record Herald - Fall Car Care,

2012

FALL CAR CARE

We Ge t t o the Bottom of

Saturday, September 8, 2012

A supplement of the Record-Herald

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2012

FALL CAR CARE

Washington C.H. Record Herald - Fall Car Care,

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Prepare for winter Local service providers share helpful tips By RYAN CARTER Managing Editor

s fall approaches and with colder temperatures on the horizon, it’s not too early to start thinking about the maintenance of your vehicle. Doug Marine, owner of Doug Marine Motors, and Wayne King, the service manager at Doug Marine Motors, offered some advice for car care this fall. “Going into the fall and winter, it’s very important to have the cooling system inspected,” said Marine. “We recommend that you have the cooling system inspected every two years. That includes not only visual inspection but pressure testing and leak testing as well.” The cooling system not

“With tires, the tread is important on not only wet roads, but snow and ice-covered roads. It’s important to keep properly inflated tires and proper tread thickness.”

tion should also be taken when hooking up the cables. “Especially with newer vehicles, there needs to be extra caution with the hook up,” said King. “It could cause considerable damage to the electronics of the vehicle if it’s not properly hooked up.” And of course during the fall and winter months, keeping your tires maintained is essential. “With tires, the tread is important on not only wet roads, but snow and ice-covered roads,” Marine said. “It’s important to keep properly inflated tires and proper tread thickness.” In fact, tires seem to be the single-most prevalent item that is neglected by vehicle

— Doug Marine, Doug Marine Motors only keeps the engine running at the proper temperature but also produces heat for the interior passenger compartment. “It’s extremely important to keep the proper flow and circulation in the cooling system,” said Marine. “If you do not, it can severely damage the engine. We see a lot of neglect when it comes to cooling system maintenance.” Another important tip is to maintain the charging system of your vehicle. “With the battery, the cold

weather is hard on it,” Marine said. “Older batteries should be attended to. With the sophisticated diagnostics we have now, the battery can be tested relatively easy at a reasonable cost.” King recommends that four-year-old batteries be replaced. “It’s a preventative measure so you don’t end up being stranded in the cold,” said King. If there is a problem with the battery and jump starting your vehicle is required, cau-

owners, according to Marine. “It’s important to keep them properly inflated,” said Marine. “A lot of car owners just eyeball them and think they have enough air, but that’s not always the case. People waste big money in replacing tires prematurely because they didn’t make sure the tires were properly inflated.” Anyone with additional questions about vehicle maintenance can contact Doug Marine Motors, 1120 Clinton Ave., at (740) 335-3700 and ask for Wayne King in the service department.

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Tips for responsible driving By Family Features In today's fast-paced and hectic world, most people are constantly looking for ways to squeeze as much as possible from each second of the day, and time spent in the car is no exception. Eating, cell phone use and even adjusting vehicle controls are all some of the major tasks distracting America's drivers. To help remind all drivers that crossing the finish line responsibly is priority number one, Motorola Mobility is teaming up with NASCAR racing legend Kyle Petty. "If I've learned anything after more than three decades in racing, it's the importance of keeping two hands on the wheel," said Petty. "There are some simple tips to consider that will help you stay responsible behind the wheel." Buckle up. Forty-nine states and Washington, D.C. have mandatory seat belt laws, and statistics show seat belt use is increasing. In 2011, use of seat belts was estimat-

ed at 84 percent nationwide. Even so, certain groups, like new drivers, are less likely to buckle up, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. To research vehicle laws in your area, including safety belt and child restraint laws, visit www.iihs.org/laws. Obey the law. Do your homework. If you're uncertain about the laws in your area, or if you're traveling and not clear on the regulations in an unfamiliar area, a list of cell phone and texting laws state-by-state is available at www.motorola.com/hands freelaw. Eliminate distractions. Mobile phones can be a distraction for drivers, especially when used for texting. In fact, cell phone use while driving has increased significantly within the last few years, with as many as 10 percent of drivers using a hand-held device, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. The good news is a wide range of technology solutions are available to

help drivers stay compliant with state and local laws. For example, Motorola's suite of handsfree Bluetooth enabled headsets and speakerphones, like the Roadster 2 in-car speakerphone or the Elite Sliver headset, make it easy to receive a call and hear or respond to a text message while keeping your hands on the wheel. Practice good defense. In NASCAR, they say that the best offense is good defense, and it holds true for all drivers. Being a good defensive driver means being fully aware of your surroundings, including road conditions and other drivers. Heightened awareness also means you are better able to react when the need arises. To learn more about responsible driving practices, visit www.nhtsa.gov/Driving+S afety. For more information about how you can drive more responsibly using Motorola's line up of hands-free Bluetooth devices, visit www.motorola.com/Thum bsUp.

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FALL CAR CARE

Washington C.H. Record Herald - Fall Car Care,

2012

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Texting ban now in effect By RYAN CARTER Managing Editor

A law to ban texting while driving took effect on Aug. 31, initiating a six-month warning period. Signed by Gov. John Kasich on June 1, House Bill 99 makes texting behind the wheel illegal for motorists of all ages on a secondary enforcement basis. The offense can be cited only if another moving violation has occurred. “It’s a very difficult law for us to enforce,” said Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth. “Unfortunately, the majority of citations come out of traffic crashes after the fact. Hopefully, many people will just voluntarily not answer the texts they are receiving when they are driving. You

don’t have to answer your texts right away. Think about how many urgent texts there actually are. Not many.” The bill also makes it illegal for drivers under age 18 to use an electronic wireless communications device in any manner. For novice drivers this means they can be ticketed for texting while driving and for talking on a cell phone. No ticket may be issued for a violation of either prohibition until after the six-month warning period. “This is also difficult,” said Stanforth. “How can we know who is 17 or 18 years old? We can’t arbitrarily start pulling people over either. You can get into constitutional violations. Again, we just encourage everyone to use common sense. If a text really is urgent and

you are driving, you can find a place to pull over and send a response.” AAA is warning motorists about the dangers of texting while driving. “Texting while driving is the most dangerous of all distractions behind the wheel,” said Brian Newbacher, director of public affairs for AAA East Central. “The teen driving portion of the bill is very strong and AAA supports it 100 percent. AAA would like to see a primary enforcement ban for all drivers in the future but this is a great start.” Motorists violating the law after the six-month warning period would be subject to a fine of no more than $150. Teen drivers would be subject to having their license suspended for 60 days for

After the warning period, adult violators would be fined and teen drivers would be subject to license suspension.

a first offense. A recent survey of the motoring public by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 35 percent of motorists of all ages admitted to text messaging while driving. Nearly half of drivers ages 18 to 24 admitted to text messaging while driving. AAA announced in 2009 that it will work to pass laws banning text messaging by drivers in all 50 states, citing strong public support for the laws and the danger of

distracted driving. Ohio became the 39th state to ban texting behind the wheel with AAA working for passage of a texting while driving ban for approximately four years. In a recent AAA survey, 95 percent of Ohio AAA members support a statewide ban of texting behind the wheel. Currently 39 states and the District of Columbia have laws that address text messaging by all drivers. Ohio cities including Cleveland and Beachwood ban texting

on a primary basis and those laws will take precedent due to Ohio’s Home Rule laws. Studies have shown texting while driving to be an extremely dangerous distraction for drivers due to the extended time (an average of 4.6 seconds) spent not looking at the road. AAA East Central is a not-for-profit organization with 80 local offices in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and New York, servicing 2.6 million members.

New mileage standards would double fuel efficiency WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration has finalized regulations that will force automakers to nearly double the average gas mileage of all new cars and trucks they sell by 2025. The rules mean that all new vehicles would have to get an average of 54.5 miles per gallon in 13 years, up from 28.6 mpg at the end of last year. The requirements will be phased in gradually between now and then, and automakers could be fined if they don't comply. The regulations, announced Tuesday, will change the cars and trucks sold in U.S. showrooms, with the goal of slashing greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption. Automakers will need to improve gasoline-powered engines, and sell more alternative fuel vehicles. Critics say the rules will make cars unaffordable by adding thousands of dollars to the sticker price. The "Corporate Average Fuel Economy," or CAFE standards, will vary by automaker depending on the mix of models they sell. The requirements will be lower for companies such as General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, which offer more pickup trucks. The standards can be lowered by the government if peo-

The administration says the latest changes will save families up to $7,400 on fuel over the life of a vehicle.

ple suddenly start buying less-efficient vehicles in the future, although few expect that to happen. The administration says the latest changes will save families up to $7,400 on fuel over the life of a vehicle. The standards also are the biggest step the U.S. government has ever taken toward cutting greenhouse gas emissions, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson said. Tailpipe emissions from cars and

light trucks will be halved by 2025. President Barack Obama said the new fuel standards "represent the single most important step" his administration has taken to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. But Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has opposed the standards, and his campaign on Tuesday said any savings at the pump would be wiped out by the rising cost of cars and trucks.

Already, automakers have committed to an average of 35.5 mpg by model year 2016 under a deal reached with the Obama administration three years ago. In the arcane world of government regulations, the rules don't mean that each new car or truck will get 54.5 mpg. The average vehicle will get closer to 40 mpg in real-world driving. Automakers will be able to sell pickup trucks and lessefficient vehicles as long as that's offset somewhat by smaller vehicles that already can get upward of 40 mpg. Automakers can reduce the mileage they're required to get with credits for selling natural gas and electric vehicles, changing air conditioning fluid to one that pollutes less, and adding stop-start circuits that temporarily shut off the engine at stop lights. At showrooms, dealers are likely to offer more efficient gas-electric hybrids, natural gas vehicles and electric cars. There also will be smaller motors, lighter bodies and more devices to save fuel. Automakers have already been adding technology to boost the efficiency of gasoline-powered engines, mainly because people want to spend less at the pump. Fuel economy

is the top factor people consider when buying a car in the U.S., according to the research firm J.D. Power and Associates. The national average for gasoline hit $3.76 Tuesday, the highest price ever for this time of year. Fuel efficiency has been rising for the past five years because government regulations and high gas prices have encouraged smaller vehicles and engines. The average new car now goes almost four miles farther on a gallon of gas than it did in October of 2007, according to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. Market demand for more efficient vehicles already has pushed the auto industry to boost mileage with an array of technology, said Roland Hwang, transportation director for the Natural Resources Defense Council. "We're pleasantly surprised to see how fast the industry is moving," he said. The administration estimates that the new rules, combined with those that began in 2011, will raise the cost of a new car about $2,800 by 2025. The estimates are based on 2010 dollars. But the government says the net savings from the requirements still will be $3,500 to $5,000 because people will spend

less on gas. The administration also predicts that the new regulations will cost the auto industry about $135 billion from 2017 to 2025. The new rules were adopted after an agreement between the administration and 13 automakers last year. That's a change from the past, when automakers fought the regulations, saying they cost too much. Industry leaders repeatedly told the Obama administration that they wanted one nationwide fuel standard, fearing separate mileage standards from California and other states. "They wanted certainty so that as they invest in the future they will know what rules they are playing by," the EPA's Jackson said. Fuel economy standards were first imposed on U.S. automakers in the 1970s. The aim was to make cars more efficient and reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil at time when the Arab oil embargo was creating gasoline shortages. The administration says this is the first update in decades. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will enforce the standards, calculating the average mileage of cars sold by each automaker. Automakers can be fined if they don't comply.

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2012

FALL CAR CARE

Washington C.H. Record Herald - Fall Car Care,

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Going farther on a gallon of gas

Simple tips to stretch your tank

s much as we’d like to hope, gas prices aren’t likely to drop much. Consider these simple tips to stretch your tank a little farther: Gettin’ in tune — Keeping your car in proper running condition is vital to getting good gas mileage and saving money, so make sure your engine is tuned up. Especially crucial under the hood are the spark plugs. Are they firing correctly? One that isn’t can cost you as much as 30% in fuel efficiency. All thumbs? You can still replace your own air filter and improve your gas mileage up to 10%. Check the filter periodically for the things that can clog it-dirt, dust, bugs, etc.-and change it according to your owner’s manual guidelines. Pump ‘em up — Make sure your tires are inflated to the proper air pressure indicated in your owner’s manual. Underinflated tires can wreak havoc on three fronts-they rob you of precious gas mileage (up to 15%), they wear out faster than properly inflated tires and

they can cause an accident. Do the math. If you’re getting 20 miles to the gallon on underinflated tires, you can possibly bump that to 23 with the proper pressure. If your gas tank holds 15 gallons and you get three extra miles a gallon, that’s 45 miles per fillup. If you fill up once a week, that’s 2,340 additional miles a year you’re getting. Buy a quality tire gauge and check your tire pressure once a month. Listen for the click — After filling up, make sure you tighten your cap until it clicks to prevent evaporation of gas and your money. More than 145 million gallons of gas evaporate each year from vehicles, according to the Car Care Council. To cool or not to cool? — The debate rages about whether air conditioning use affects your miles per gallon. Follow your gut on this one. You’re not Jeff Gordon — Accelerate smoothly away from stop signs and stoplights to get the most out of a tank of gas.

87, 91, 93, hike — Figuring out what octane gas to use in your car can seem as complicated as a football playbook. As a general rule, use the octane recommendation in your owner’s manual. Using a higher octane fuel won’t necessarily get you better gas mileage, but it will you hit in the wallet or pocketbook. And while you’re filling up, don’t worry about topping off. You don’t need to get the absolute most miles possible before your next pit stop, er, fillup, so trying to top off will likely only lead to gas spilled on the ground or on the finish of your car. Once the automatic nozzle shuts off, stop pumping. Channel your inner Columbo — Snoop around town and find the lowest gas prices-trenchcoat is optional. You might notice a particular station or two is always a few cents lower-or higher-than the rest. The Web site gasbuddy.com can show you gas prices as general as by state or as specific as by ZIP code. In many parts of the country, prices are often lowest on Wednesday and then increase toward the weekend.

Pickup trucks drive U.S. auto sales to three-year high DETROIT (AP) — Big pickups carried U.S. auto sales to their highest level in three years. Demand for full-size pickups jumped 16 percent in August, helping to make it the strongest sales month since August 2009. Overall auto sales increased 20 percent from a year earlier to nearly 1.3 million, according to Autodata corp. The rising demand shows that businesses need to replace aging trucks and feel more confident about the recovery in U.S. housing — an industry where pickups are essential for hauling equipment and crews. "Businesses don't usually go buy a fleet of trucks unless they have good reason to believe that business will be ramping up," said Jesse Toprak, vice president of market intelligence for the TrueCar.com auto pricing service.

Ford, GM and Chrysler, the biggest makers of fullsize trucks, notched double-digit gains in overall sales last month. In pickups, Ford's FSeries, the top-selling vehicle in America, saw a 19 percent sales increase, as did Chrysler's Ram pickup. Sales of General Motors' Chevy Silverado rose 4 percent, while the GMC Sierra was up 9 percent. Toyota's struggling big truck, the Tundra, posted a huge increase of 68 percent. The rising demand helped push total U.S. auto sales last month to an annual rate of 14.5 million. That's the best monthly sales pace since the government's "Cash for Clunkers" rebate program in August of 2009. Pent-up demand is one reason for last month's truck increase. The average vehicle on U.S. roads is nearing 11 years old,

and some are simply wearing out. But automakers and industry analysts say the economic recovery — new housing in particular — is starting to make buyers feel more comfortable about a big-ticket purchase. There's a direct correlation between the housing market and pickup sales, they say. When people who work in housing or other construction are more confident, they tend to invest in equipment. Some may be adding crews and need vehicles to get them to and from job sites. Housing has been in the dumps since the 2008 financial meltdown. But recently there have been some good signs. U.S. new home sales rose 3.6 percent in July to match a two-year high reached in May. In the past 12 months, sales have jumped 25 percent. But new-home

sales remain well below the annual pace that economists consider healthy. Truck sales fell dramatically in 2008 and 2009 as gas prices spiked and the housing industry collapsed. Since then, they've never fully recovered. Gas mileage also is playing a role in the pickup increase. Newer models are lighter than older ones and can be equipped with small but powerful V-6 engines. A business owner can cut costs dramatically by replacing a 10-year-old pickup, said Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of forecasting for LMC Automotive, an industry consulting firm. A new Ford F-150 with a six-cylinder engine can get up to 23 miles per gallon on the highway. A V-8powered F-150 got only 18 mpg on the highway in 2002. Normally, strong truck sales don't happen until the

last three months of the year due to marketing promotions and customers wanting four-wheel-drive vehicles as winter approaches, Schuster said. So the August surge bodes well for the industry. Toprak expects truck sales to grow faster than the rest of the U.S. car market for the remainder of the year. Truck sales also are good for automakers' profits, especially the Detroit Three. The companies make $5,000 or more on pickup sales, compared with $1,000 to $2,000 for an average car, Schuster said. The strong sales in August can't be attributed to deals. Discounts on the F-150 and Ram pickups fell compared with last year, while they rose only 5 percent on Chevy's Silverado, to $4,787. The F-150 incentives are the lowest since 2007, when

Ford offered an average of $3,598 per truck, according to the Edmunds.com website. In overall sales, Toyota, Honda and Volkswagen led the way with big increases. Toyota sales rose 46 percent, while Honda's climbed 60 percent. VW kept its stunning growth going with an increase of 63 percent. Both Honda and Toyota reported jumps because last year's numbers were depressed when an earthquake in Japan hobbled their factories and caused vehicle shortages. Gas prices, which rose more than 20 cents a gallon during the month to an average of $3.82, drove people into smaller cars. The Chevrolet Cruze notched almost 26,000 in sales, making it the topselling compact in America. Sales of Toyota's Corolla, and Ford's Focus surged, and Honda Civic sales more than doubled.

Ford unveils 15 models for European market MILAN (AP) — Ford Motor Co. on Sept. 6 unveiled 15 new or restyled vehicles for the European market that it will launch over five years to revive slumping sales. While other carmakers are holding back on new car launches due to tanking European demand, Ford executives announced that the Detroit carmaker will accelerate new car launches in Europe, expanding its lineup of SUVs, restyling the hotselling Fiesta, redesigning its commercial vehicles and bringing the iconic Mustang sports across the Atlantic. Ford Europe CEO Stephen Odell said improvements in the "brutal" European market are not expected soon. Ford's first-half European sales dropped 10 percent to 517,094 units, a 7.8 percent market share for the fifth-largest carmaker in Europe. Consumer demand for cars in Europe has plummeted as the sovereign debt crisis has spread to the real economy, cutting economic production and forcing up unemployment in the region. Vehicle sales in the European Union dropped 6.8 percent in the first six months of the year to 6.64 million, from 7.1 million in the same period a year earlier — raising concerns about factory overcapacity across the continent. But Odell said Ford

“We want to make a statement loud and clear that we believe there is great opportunity in Europe."

well as a new Ecosport compact SUV and the European launch of the larger Edge. The new Fiesta small car features a sharper exterior design and will be available with technology aimed at parents of young drivers that sets maximum vehicle speed or volume for in-car audio. Ford is targeting the lucrative midsize car market with a restyled Mondeo, incorporating the carmaker's new inverted trapezoidal grill. The Mondeo will be available in four-door, five-door, wagon and a four-door gas hybrid electric version, Ford's first full hybrid car for Europe. After shrinking over the last decade, the midsize market has stabilized and Ford is forecasting growth of 15 percent by 2015. Many of the vehicles will be offered with Ford's 1.0 liter EcoBoost engine that increases performance while achieving greater fuel efficiency.

— Ford Europe CEO Stephen Odell wants "to demonstrate that automotive industry anadespite the economic crilyst at IHS Automotive, sis, we are investing in the said the strategy worked in future. ... We want to make helping Ford get through a statement loud and clear the crisis in the United that we believe there is States. great opportunity in "They gave us half the Europe." equation," Bragman said. Ford forecasts that car "The other half that wasn't sales in Europe, including discussed was what kind Russia, will increase by 20 of changes are going to percent in the next five happen at Ford of Europe years to 23 million vehiinternally to bring their cles. costs under control." Many of the new vehiThat could include cles announced at a gather- looking at the manufacturing of Ford dealers in ing footprint, engineering Amsterdam, broadcast live and staffing. "That will be on the Internet, are either a much harder look and it restyled versions of existwon't be as fun to talk ing vehicles or European about as new products," launches of vehicles availBragman said. able in other world marThe refreshed lineup kets, as the car company includes a second-generaaccelerates its global tion Kuga midsize SUV to model strategy devised six be launched this year, as years ago to confront the economic crisis in North America. Ford CEO Alan Mulally said the so-called "One Ford" strategy has helped the automaker post 12 straight quarters of profits. "In 2017, our European showrooms will feature 15 truly global vehicles," Foreign and Mulally said, bringing to Transmission Diesel Domestic Repair 71 percent the share of Repair Repair global models in Europe, compared with 43 percent currently. 703 Columbus Ave. 740-335-3701 • 740-636-8466 2315250 Aaron Bragman, an

GM investing $220M in 2 plants to build new Cruze DETROIT (AP) — General Motors says it will invest $220 million at two Ohio factories to build the next generation Chevrolet Cruze compact car. The company says the investment in new equipment will preserve more than 5,000 jobs at factories in Lordstown, near Youngstown, and Parma near Cleveland. GM says the new Cruze will get fresh styling, a nicer interior and better gas mileage

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than the version on sale now. The Cruze now gets 35 to 42 miles per gallon on the highway depending on engine and transmission. GM wouldn't say when production of the new Cruze will start. The compact is GM's second-best selling car with nearly 129,000 sold so far this year. The Lordstown factory complex has built 500,000 Cruzes since production began in September of 2010.

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FALL CAR CARE

Washington C.H. Record Herald - Fall Car Care,

FAMILY FEATURES

ince January 2011, nearly 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day, joining the fastest growing age group in the nation. According to a recent American Automobile Association (AAA) survey of that booming population, nearly half of seniors worry about losing their freedom and mobility when the time comes for them to transition from driver to passenger. From understanding how vision changes can affect one’s ability to drive at night, to researching the effects certain medications can have on one’s driving ability, it’s important to get the facts about driving for seniors. Use these tips from AAA to help ensure you and your family members are driving safely:

Evaluate your driving.

While most seniors are experienced drivers, it’s important to take time to consider one’s driving “health” and habits. For instance, how frequently do you wear a seatbelt? Do you use your signal and check for nearby traffic before changing lanes? Does traffic cause you to feel anxious? When was the last time you had an eye exam? You can take a Driver 65 Plus self-assessment at www.SeniorDriving.AAA.com to get a clear picture of just how good your driving skills really are, and you’ll also get suggestions for improving your driving.

Be aware of how aging affects driving habits.

From hearing and vision loss, to mental fitness and reaction time, seniors may not notice the gradual differences that can impact their driving ability. For instance, by age 60, your eyes need three times the amount of light to see properly as they do for people 20 years old, which means it’s more difficult to see at night. Likewise, one-third of Americans suffer from hearing loss by age 65. This can pose a problem, as senior drivers may be unable to hear highpitched noises such as emergency response vehicles while on the road. Reaction times can be slower for seniors as well. But preventative measures can go a long way.

When following other vehicles, seniors should increase the distance between their car and the car in front of them, to allow more time to react to sudden braking. Eliminating distractions in the vehicle and avoiding heavy traffic can also help seniors identify emergency sirens, and avoiding driving at night is another safer option for seniors.

Find the right fit.

With the wide array of vehicles offering all sorts of convenience features, seniors may not realize that their car may not be optimally adjusted to fit them. For example, sitting too close to the steering wheel can interfere with steering and cause fatigue, as well as injury, should the airbag deploy during a collision.

Make sure you have at least 10 to 12 inches between your chest and the steering wheel.

When seated properly, you should be able to see the ground in front of your car within 12 to 15 feet and 1 1/2 car widths left and right. Visit www.car-fit.org to assess the safety of your vehicle, find the proper seat and mirror adjustments and more.

Take a refresher course.

No matter how many years a driver has been on the road, a refresher course can help reinforce the basics such as identifying road signs, as well as provide information on updated driving rules and new vehicle technologies.

Talk with your doctor and pharmacist.

2012

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Top 5 driving tips for seniors 1. Prepare for a drive by adjusting your mirrors and seat to ensure you can see properly. Always wear a seatbelt.

Always wear a seatbelt.

2. Eliminate distractions, such as the car radio, which can interfere with your ability to hear emergency response vehicle sirens and other important sounds.

3. Avoid driving in bad weather, heavy traffic or at night.

4. Making left-hand turns can be difficult for people with limited vision. Avoid left-hand turns at intersections with signals by making three right hand turns around the block when possible. 5. Manage slower reaction times by increasing the amount of space between your vehicle and the car in front of you, allowing for more time to react to sudden braking.

Ensure that the medications you take — both prescription and over-the-counter — will not impair your ability to drive safely. In addition, make sure all your medications go through one pharmacy, so the pharmacists on staff can better assess any potential drug interactions.

To help older drivers and their families deal with driving and mobility challenges related to aging, AAA has launched a new website (www.SeniorDriving.AAA.com) to make a comprehensive suite of tools and resources available at the click of a button. From an Ask-the-Expert feature to Roadwise Review — an online screening tool that measures functional abilities (like vision and reaction time) linked to crash risk — and more, all of the features are free to site visitors. The site also offers links and resources to help families find other means of transportation when their loved one is no longer able to drive safely.

Adjust your mirrors and seat to ensure you can see properly.

Tips for family members

If you’re concerned about the safety of a senior family member, look to resources such as their doctor or your local DMV, that can help identify their capacity to drive, and find transportation resources to help them manage daily needs:

If your family member has received two traffic citations, warnings or been involved in two collisions or “near misses” within a two year period, it may be time to look for other forms of transportation.

Make sure your family member speaks with their doctor and pharmacist about prescription and over-the-counter medications that may impair their ability to drive safely.

Talk with family members, friends and neighbors about organizing a car pool to help seniors who need rides find transportation. Look to local public and supplemental transportation options as well.

Read more about assessing your family member’s ability to drive, as well as where to find alternative transportation, at www.SeniorDriving.AAA.com.

Help your car go green By CRAIG W. ARMSTRONG

Save money AND save the planet. Keeping our world green has been a concern for many years., but now keeping money in the bank and food on the table is a concern for millions of Americans as well. A good way to accomplish both is to practice green car care. The most basic way to think about it is that the longer you can maintain your vehicle, the longer you will be able to avoid buying a new one. Spring is the perfect time to get your vehicle inspected and ready for the warmer weather. A few areas that need inspection are the air filter, the oil and oil filter, and the radiator and cooling system. If you are someone who isn’t comfortable under the hood, take your vehicle to an auto shop and let them take a look. If you are not mechanically inclined, there are still some ways to get your vehicle ready for spring and save some money at the same time. Check your tire pressure. Tires that aren’t inflated to the correct PSI (pounds per square inch) create more friction, make the vehicle work harder and use more gas. Keeping your tires properly inflated saves you money at the pump and keeps the planet greener by the use of less gas. The correct pressure will be printed on the tire or found in the owner’s manual. Clean the inside of your vehicle with environmentally friendly products. These products can be purchased or you can make your own. There are many recipes for homemade cleaners that can be found online. Instead of using paper towel to clean the windows, use newspaper. It does a great job and you will be using it to get the news AND clean your car. Determine if your auto shop is green. Ask if they recycle oil and antifreeze. Also find out if rebuilt parts are available. The cost of these parts can be 50 percent less. You’ll be saving money and recycling at the same time. One of the best ways to save money and be green is to be creative. We could all use some extra money and maintaining our planet is something we can all take part in. Spring has sprung and things will be getting green. Do your part and help our planet stay green and keep some green in your pocket at the same time.

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F-150: EPA-estimated 17 city/23 hwy/19 combined mpg, 3.7L V6, 4x2. Class is Full-Size Pickups under 8,5000 lbs. GVWR, Non-Hybrid, Super Duty; Based on Ford drive-cycle tests of comparably equipped 2011/2012 Ford and 2011/2012 competitive models. Calls is Full-Size Pickups over 8,500 lbs. GVWR. 2When properly equipped, Class is Full-Size Pickups under8,500 lbs. GVWR. 3EPA-estimated 22 city/27hwy/24 combined mpg, I-4 manual 4x2 4EPA-estimated 17 city/23 hwy/19 combined mpg. 3.7L V6 4x2. 5Based on Ford drive-cycle test of comparably equipped 2011/2012 Ford and 2011/2012 competitive models. Class is Full-Size Pickups over 8,500 lbs. GVWR. 5Based on Vehicle registration data and latest odometer readings available to R.L.Polk & Co. for 1992 and newer model year full-size pickups still on the road in the U.S. as of 1/1/11. * #34050 Retail trade-in assistance Bonus Customer Cash. **34136Retail trade-in assistance Bonus Customer Cash 1

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