Highway Safety Tips and FREE Roadside Assistance!

It's the last half of Summer, and everybody is trying to get in that last road trip / vacation before school starts. Here are some tips from us on how to stay safe on the highway getting to and from your destination, or just with every day driving:

Put the cell phone DOWN!
Texting and driving, and even distracted driving by cell phones, is becoming a big killer on the roads. It's not worth it.......if you have to text or talk, PLEASE pull over!

What To Do If I Get A Flat?

Before leaving, make sure your trunk has a jack, lug wrench and other tools you'll need to change a tire. When you get a flat tire, or have a blowout, the first thing you need to do is stay calm. Do not slam on your brakes! - this can cause you to lose control. Pull to the side of the road and out of traffic, and slowly bring your vehicle to a stop. DO NOT try to drive on a flat tire! This will cause damage to your rim, and can also cause you to lose control. Watch a video on tips when changing your tire on our  YouTube channel. We are always available if you want to learn how to change your tire with the jack designed for your specific vehicle; just come on in during regular business hours! You can also watch our blog for our next FREE Women's Auto Care Workshop, where we will teach you how to change your tire. Through ACDelco we are also offering FREE roadside assistance for all of our 2012 customers! Check out the details HERE.

What should I check before heading out on a road trip?

It is always a good idea to look your vehicle over before heading out on a road trip. Here are a few things you should look at:

• Tire pressure: Making sure you have adequate tire pressure can not only help prevent a blowout, but can also help you in your gas mileage. (Don't forget to check your spare tire as well!) Watch a short video on our YouTube channel how to check your tire pressure.
• Tire tread: Driving on bald tires is the main cause of flats and blowouts. Rotating your tires during your regularly scheduled maintenance helps your tires to wear evenly all the way around, and not just on one side. (Don't forget to check your spare tire as well!) Watch a short video on our YouTube channel on how to check to see if your tire tread is too low.
• Major fluids: Make sure to check your oil, windshield washer fluid, radiator fluid and ??. You can watch short videos on our YouTube channel on how to check your oil and windshield washer fluid. If you have any questions on how to check your fluids, stop by during regular business hours and we can help you with that. 
• Wiper Blades: Make sure your wiper blades are not old and worn out. Driving in a rainstorm with worn wiper blades will cause decreased visibility. 
• Lights: Make sure that your headlights, high beams, brake lights and turn signals are all in working order.
• Belts and Hoses: Make sure your belts and hoses don't have any visible cracks or kinks. 

Emergency Kit

Being prepared before an emergency happens is the best way to handle an emergency situation. Read through our list of suggested emergency kit essentials, and adjust the contents according to the current season. You can also find more road trip tips and other items to make sure you have with you on our Road Trip Tips post. 

FREE Roadside Assistance for all of our customers!

If you have been to our shop and have a work order dated any time from 2012, you can receive free roadside assistance (up to $75) through ACDelco. You MUST call the ACDelco number before contacting roadside assistance, so make sure to have that on hand! You can read all the details HERE.

A Few more reminders before leaving on a road trip:

• Make sure you have a working flashlight with extra batteries, emergency reflectors, sunglasses and a first aid-kit
• Take your driver's license, vehicle registration and auto and medical insurance cards
• Carry a spare set of vehicle keys
• Plan your route and leave a copy of your itinerary with a relative or neighbor
• Bring any special medications and prescription information
• Take your doctor's phone number
• Take your eyeglass prescription
• Bring a cellular phone or a sign that tells passersby to “Call Police” in case of trouble
• Have any repairs or vehicle maintenance performed before the trip—see your vehicle's owner's manual for vehicle maintenance schedules.

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Gines Auto Service is located at 4261 So 5415 W in Kearns, UT. We just celebrated 50 years in business!