Travel Safely with Your Pet this Holiday | Wolf Motors

It is time to start gearing up if you plan to bring your furry friend with you this holiday season. Millions will take to the roads over the Christmas period, making it one of the busiest times of year to travel. Many of us have our families spread far and wide and will be taking a trip over the festive period to share time with our loved ones.

As dog owners we don’t want to leave our furry family member alone for Christmas, as a family celebration it wouldn’t feel right not to have him involved in the festivities. Finding someone to feed your dog whilst you’re away is extremely difficult over this period, most people are too busy celebrating and enjoying their families company to pop over and feed, water and walk the dog. For many of us the only option is to take our four legged friend with us at Christmas.

Every summer we are reminded of the dangers of taking or leaving a dog in a hot car however literature on travelling with a dog in the winter is a lot less common. If you’re travelling with your dog this winter remember to consider the following to ensure he is as comfortable and safe as possible.

Keeping Warm

Whilst you and I will wrap up in hats, scarves, gloves and coats dogs only have a slightly thicker coat in the winter to keep the cold out and the heat in – winter can be bone chillingly cold. You may have the heat on in the car but the boot area where you keep your dog will be cooler than the rest of the car. Invest in a dog jacket like this fleece lined one, if you have a smaller dog or a dog who is more sensitive to heat purchase a blanket for the back of your car that he can use if he needs to.
Protecting your Dog (And You)

We’ve all heard the warnings, if you don’t wear a seatbelt and you have an accident you could injure the person in front of you or go through the windshield. Whilst most of us are sensible enough to wear a seatbelt now that we fully understand the dangers and fines have been introduced, cars don’t come fitted with a doggy-belt and his safety is as paramount as yours. Ensure you purchase either a dog car cage, dog safety harness (like a seat belt) or a dog guard. These products will not only ensure your dog’s safety but will also protect you from being distracted by your dog climbing into the front of the car – or onto your lap.

Protecting your Car
Whilst your dog may be the calmest of dogs at home, a car journey can be both exciting and traumatic for your pup. Your dog could get travel sick, away from his usual surroundings he may be unable to let you know he needs the bathroom and he may get over excited and scratch and chew at the fixtures. In order to prevent this it is best to purchase a waterproof car protector for any journey’s you take with your dog. Allow your dog to spend some time in the car protector in the house before you first take him in the car, place a couple of the dogs toys or blankets in the car protector on your first journey – the smells and toys will be familiar comforting him and making the journey less traumatic for your dog.

Things to Remember

• Antifreeze is an essential to the winter and also delicious but highly dangerous for your dog. Keep dogs away from bottles or antifreeze you may usually keep in your trunk.
• Cars in the cold do the opposite of cars in the heat – instead of an oven your car becomes a refrigeration unit. If you leave a dog in the car in the winter the temperature can plummet dangerously low.
• Do not feed your dog a large meal before taking him in the car.
• If your journey is longer than two hours make sure you stop every two hours for him to stretch his legs, use the bathroom and drink some water.
• Take your dog for a long walk before an extended drive, this will tire him out and he will be more inclined to rest and possibly sleep for the journey.

Source: http://www.petguide.com/insurance/dog/tips-for-travelling-with-your-dog-over-the-christmas-holidays/

Driving Safely after the Time Change | Wolf Motors

As Fall Back looms around the corner, it is time to remember safety tips for the driving in the dark.

Drive more slowly at night because you cannot see as far ahead and you will have less time to stop for a hazard. Make sure you can stop within the distance lighted by your headlights.

Use your low-beam headlights at night when it rains. Do not drive using only your parking lights.

Use your high-beam headlights whenever possible in open country or dark city streets, as long as it is not illegal. Do not blind other drivers with your high-beam headlights. Dim your lights when necessary. If another driver does not dim his or her lights:

• Do not look directly into the oncoming headlights.
• Look toward the right edge of your lane
• Watch the oncoming vehicle out of the corner of your eye
• Do not try to "get back" at the other driver by keeping your bright lights on. If you do, both of you may be blinded.

When you drive at night, remember:

• Pedestrians and bicyclist are much harder to see at night; stay alert6 for them
• Motorcycles are also harder to see at night because most have only one taillight.
• Highway construction can take place at night. Reduce your speed in highway construction zones.
• When you leave a brightly-lit place, drive slowly until your eyes adjust to the darkness.
• Drive as fa the the right as possible, when a vehicle with one light drives toward you. It could be a bicyclist or motorcyclist, but it could also be a vehicle with a missing headlight.

It is time to take stock of what's in your car in case of a roadside emergency. | Wolf Motors

CREATE YOUR OWN ROADSIDE EMERGENCY KIT

• Spare tire, properly inflated – check every 6 months!
• Car jack and lug wrench – fits your car and you know how to work it!
• Preprogram your cell phone with 800 number for auto club roadside service
• Call CHP or local law enforcement for assistance to get you off the highway to safety

KIT BASICS:

• 12-foot jumper cables
• Four 15-minute roadside flares
• Emergency Red Reflector Triangle
• First aid kit
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Tire pressure gauge
• Rags
• Roll of duct tape
• A HELP sign, at least 8 inches
• Energy bars (change yearly)
• Bottled water (change yearly)
• Blanket
• Extra vehicle fuses
• Small tool kit
• Heavy duty nylon bag to keep the small items together
• Nylon rope, at least 12 feet
• Plastic tarp

NICE-TO-HAVE EXTRAS:

• Tire inflator (such as a Fix-A-Flat)
• A quart of motor oil
• Anti-Freeze
• Spray bottle with washer fluid
• Pocketknife
• Ice scraper
• Paper Towels
• Pen and paper
• Bungee cord - 12"
• Rain poncho
• Cable ties
• Work gloves
• Small fire extinguisher (ABC rated)

Source: http://www.ots.ca.gov/roadsideemergencykit.asp

Regular Car Checks Recommended During High Summer Temperatures

Staying on top of your car's systems during the height of summer can help ensure a comfortable and safe ride.

Summer can be tough on cars, especially during high temperatures when heat can destroy batteries and stress the cooling system and tires. As a precaution, these vehicle components should be checked periodically during summer to help avoid breakdowns and car problems, according to the Car Care Council.

Excessive heat and overcharging shorten the life of a battery. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, which then damages the internal structure of the battery. A malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage regulator, allows too high a charging rate, which will eventually destroy a battery.

To get the most life out of a battery, the council recommends having the electrical system checked to make sure it is charging at the correct rate. If your car's battery is the type that needs to be topped off, check it often, especially in hot weather and add distilled water if necessary. Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt can become a conductor, which drains battery power. If corrosion accumulates on battery terminals, it becomes an insulator and inhibits the current flow.

The cooling system also works harder during hot temperatures to prevent overheating of the engine. To keep the cooling system working effectively, the coolant and distilled water mixture for a vehicle's radiator should be 50:50. As a reminder, never open a hot radiator cap when checking the coolant level in the reservoir.

As a rule of thumb, the coolant should be changed annually on most vehicles. This will keep the cooling system fresh and clean inside, which helps prevent corrosion and assures that the coolant has the proper boiling point and protection. A pressure test, thermostat test, a cooling fan test and a visual inspection for leaks and corrosion should also be done annually. Hoses and drive belts should be checked for cracks, bulges or frayed edges.

The radiator should be kept clean by periodically using a garden hose and a soft brush to carefully remove bugs, dirt and debris.

Tires also need special care in warmer weather as high temperatures put added stress on them. To maximize tire life and safety, check the tire condition and inflation pressure monthly, and have the tires rotated every 6,000 miles. Summer heat will cause the pressure within a tire to rise, therefore, it's important to check the pressure when tires are cold. The owner's manual includes the recommended air pressure for your vehicle's tires.

"It takes very little time and money to make sure your car runs properly during summer, and although breakdowns happen, they can definitely be minimized by taking a few extra preventive maintenance steps," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.

The council reminds motorists that the vehicle's exterior also can be damaged by sunlight, UV radiation, acid rain, salt, dirt and air pollution. To protect the paint and finish, vehicles should be washed weekly and waxed every six months.

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the "Be Car Care Aware" consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For a copy of the council's Car Care Guide or for more information, visithttp://www.carcare.org/.

Source: Car Care Council

Safety Tips for those Late Night Drives | Wolf Motors

Take Extra Precautions when traveling in the Dark 

Driving after dark brings extra dangers. When you can’t see far ahead, you have less time to react to an obstacle in the road, whether that’s another car, a person, or an animal. But reduced visibility isn’t the only concern.

Even though there’s much less traffic at night, almost a third of traffic fatalities occur between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. The worst times to be on the road are weekend nights, when a lot of people are partying.

In 2012, more than half of the drivers who were fatally injured between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. were legally intoxicated at the time. This suggests that you have a good chance of sharing the road with drunk drivers at some point. Even if they are a small percentage of your fellow travelers, it’s another good reason to take sensible precautions, like leaving a wide berth between your car and the other guy.

Fight glare. A lot of people are sensitive to nighttime glare, from wet roadways and other cars’ headlights. Glare sensitivity gets worse with age. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a 55-year-old takes eight times longer to recover from glare than a 16-year-old. Ask your eye doctor for advice if you find nighttime driving getting harder for you.

Don’t be afraid of your high beams. High beams usually throw light much farther down the road than low beams do, giving you more time to react to hazards. But most people don’t use their high beams as much as they should. Thankfully, more and more new cars have automatic high beams that dip themselves to low-beam when they sense oncoming traffic or tail lights ahead. They work well, and spare you the inconvenience of turning the high beams on and off manually. 

Clean glass(es). To minimize glare, wash your windshield inside and out regularly. If you wear glasses, keep them clean as well. When you get new glasses, consider an anti-reflective coating.

Avert your gaze. To keep from being dazzled by oncoming headlights, switch your gaze to the lower right, toward the lane marker or road shoulder.

Adjust mirrors. AAA recommends the following trick for adjusting the outside mirrors to minimize both glare and blind zones: Move your head to the left-side window and adjust the left mirror so you can just see your car’s rear corner. Then move your head to the center of the vehicle and adjust the right-hand mirror so you can just see the right rear corner.

Inside mirror. Many inside mirrors automatically adjust for nighttime conditions. Others have little lever you flick for the night setting. Get used to using it if you don’t already. It really helps keep you from being dazzled by the cars behind you.

Headlight aim. If your headlights are mis-aimed or misaligned, that not only affects how well you can see, but they can also pose a real problem for other drivers.As a quick after-dark check, position your car 25 feet from your garage door or another convenient target at the same level as your car, and turn on your low beams. The two beams should be at about the same level and no higher than they are immediately in front of the car. You can use a yardstick or tape measure to find the distance from the ground to the middle of your headlight reflectors.

If the headlights don’t seem right, ask a local mechanic or franchised dealer if they have the right equipment for correctly adjusting your car’s headlights.

Resource: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/03/5-steps-to-keep-you-safe-on-the-road/index.htm