SAFE DRIVING

By GM Canada Goodwrench

Buckle up: The most important tip to keep your family safe while driving is to always use safety belts and proper child restraints. Children are safer when placed in the rear seat in the appropriate infant, child booster seat, or safety belt - appropriate for the size and age. Never place a rear facing infact restraint in the front seat of a vehicle equipped with an active air bag.

Both Hands on the Wheel: The first car safety tip is to always drive with both hands on the wheel. The best place for your hands are at the nine and three o'clock positions, which help provide greater control when steering.

Lights On, Please: With your safety in mind, all new GM vehicles come equipped with daytime running lamps. To help with safe driving, turn on your lights in rainy or snowy weather to make sure that your headlamps, taillamps and other exterior lamps are on. Even if your visibility is good, other drivers will have a better view of your vehicle.

Snow on the Roof: Don't let snow pile up on top of your car or truck. Peaks of snow increase drag and decrease gas mileage. And snow piled in your pickup's bed can obstruct both your view and the view of other drivers.

Quick Manoeuvring: If you need to veer suddenly to avoid hitting an object in your vehicle's path, before turning, make sure you look in the direction you'd like to head towards to make sure the path is clear.

Alcohol is a Factor in Many Traffic Fatalities: These visual signs may help you spot an impaired driver.

• Stopping problems (too far, too short, or too jerky)
• Straddling a lane line
• Swerving or drifting
• Weaving across lane lines
• Accelerating or decelerating for no apparent reason
• Slow response to traffic signals
• Turning with a wide radius
• Driving without headlights at night
• Varying speed
• Stopping in a lane for no apparent reason
• Failure to signal or signal inconsistent with action

Let An Expert Inspect: Making sure your vehicle is in peak condition is another excellent way to help you drive safely. Stop by Jim Tubman Chevrolet and let a Goodwrench technician give your GM vehicle a Goodwrench Multi-Point Vehicle Inspection. Our technicians check many areas (27 points in all) that can assist in safe driving - including wiper blades, windshield cracks, tire wear, brakes, steering, suspension and taillamps - and offer expert Goodwrench services if you need them.