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PAGE 14-SUPPLEMENT TO McHENRY PLAINDEALER-OCTOBER 3 Keeping mind on driving will keep driver on road Booklet offers tips on how to care for key systems Most of us like to think that we are careful drivers. And, we are, most of the time. Some accidents hap­ pen to drivers who are usually quite careful, but who may have their atten­ tion distracted -- even for just a moment. Here is a check list of some of the most fre­ quently encountered dis­ tractions compiled by the Canada Safety Council: 4 Reaching for some­ thing in the glove com­ partment while driving. Cure: Have everything likely to be needed out of glove compartment before starting out, or, pull off the road and stop. • Trying to read a road map while driving. Cure: If driving on unfamiliar territory, first .find out exactly where you are from street names, high­ way signs, or other land­ marks. Then pull off the road, find the location on your map, and plot out your next move. • Trying to put on or take off a coat or jacket while driving. Cure: Stop the car, out of traffic. How many drivers have been caught with one arm in a coat when a traffic signal turns green? • Trying to locate an object dropped on the car floor. This hazard is especially dangerous to smokers, who are aware of fire dangers from a fallen cigarette, or aware of damage that can be done to car seat or cloth­ ing. Cure: Stop the car, in the case of a cigarette, as quickly as safely possible. Never try to solve this problem while the car is moving. • Having clutter or gar­ bage on the car floor. Cure: Always carry a gar­ bage collector for pop bot­ tles, soft drink cans, or other items that can so easily roll under a pedal. • A bug or other insect in the vehicle. This one is prevalent in summer. Cure: Either take the bite, or stop the car at the first opportunity. Sometimes, driving with windows open can encourage insect to leave -- he's probably just as happy to be out of your car! • Items on the dash. Business papers that can blow away, pencils, cray­ ons or pens that can dis­ appear down the defroster vents, portable radios or tape players that can fall, and similar items should never be kept on the dash while driving. • Storage over the sun visor. Once again, the elas­ tic or whatever secures items can break, causing distractions, or your at­ tention can be momentar­ ily taken while trying to retrieve an item from this position. Cure: For both of these last two items is simple. Just don't do it. There are other places where items can be kept safely. Everything but your gloves To solve the "it's never there when you need it" problem, here's a list of items every motorist should keep in his glove compartment. A flashlight, first aid kit, white cloth to use for Professional mechanics know a lot of tricks to keep your car in shape. With a little effort, the average car owner can learn enough of them to avoid minor repair bills and help prevent major mechanical failures. A new Car Service Man­ ual offered by The Gates Rubber Company is one example of getting this knowledge into the hands of the motorist. The book is described as "the book professionals use." This 132-page, illus- emergency signalling, pa­ per towel, "soap-and-tow- el" packets. Also, coins taped inside the door for an emergency phone call in case of car trouble. LET THERE BE LIGHT If you drive an older car, it's increasingly im­ portant to check the align­ ment of your headlights. As cars get older, they develop sagging springs which can affect aim of the lights. The Borg-War- ner Company suggests get­ ting headlights adjusted every six months. You're paying for a tune-up whether you gel or not. Untuned wasfleM lto2ga Before you think, "They're not talking to me," read the next sentence. 3 out of 5 cars on the road today need a tune-up. ^ That means there's a good chance we are talking to you. Especially if ifs been 10,000 miles since your last tune-up. ^ A tune-up with Champion Spark Plugs can help save you that one to two gallons per tankful (depending on the size of your tank). To say nothing of giving you surer starts and better engine performance all winter. Look-gasoline costs a lot these days. So get your car back in tune. Take it to your mechanic and say "Fill 'er up with Champions." Then you won't have to say "Fill 'er up with gas" nearly as often. To*eOo OH43M1 FHI ter up wHh Champions* trated guide covers every­ thing from servicing air conditioning systems to replacing windshield wiper blades. The book can be ordered by mail from Gates, using the coupon from the Gates ad in this issue. Economy and safety are stressed under such head­ ings as Brakes, Emission Control Systems, and Drive Belts. Many of the maintenance procedures require no tools at all, though the book does cov­ er such subjects as Auto­ matic Transmissions, Dif­ ferentials and Power Steering which assume some mechanical know- how. Imported and domestic cars, both front and rear wheel drive models, are covered. Obviously, a gen­ eral guide can't hit all the details that a factory shop manual would, but factory prepared manuals often cost $15 to $20 or more. The Car Service Manual offered by Gates was orig­ inally written to train service station and garage owners and attendants. It covers automotive main­ tenance services most fre­ quently performed by these firms and includes a complete Safety Inspec­ tion Section. Abundant use of illus­ trations permits the man­ ual to serve as a "picture story" of the service being performed. This visual as­ sistance aids the car own­ er, student or mechanic in quickly developing an un­ derstanding of the prin­ ciples involved, as well as the easiest method of per­ forming the service. "Every car owner has the most versatile inspec­ tion equipment devised: eyesight and brain power," says the manual. "To ef­ fectively use this 'equip­ ment,' however, the motor­ ist must be trained to con­ duct a methodical inspec­ tion, and to evaluate vis­ ual evidence." Here's how the manual covers a typical check­ point: "Flex and examine all brake hoses for cracks, blisters, deterioration. Most cars have three hoses (one at each front wheel; one at rear axle). Cars with independent rear sus­ pension have two rear hoses. Check threaded connections for leakage or looseness. See that metal pipelines are undamaged and are firmly attached to frame or axle." The Gates people obvi­ ously are not trying to turn every car owfljer Jnto a mechanic with thijs l&ok. They want t$ make each motorist more aware of the types of services their car requires and how most of those services are per­ formed. This knowledge will let motorists better appreciate the service they are receiving at service stations and garages. Even if the motorist never makes a single re­ pair described in the book, he or she will know what they're getting when they have a mechanic do the job. The manual's safety Check-list alone could help prevent hundreds of automobile accidents each year. * * * * An enemy who becomes a friend is usually a real friend.