Check “The Safety TMiangle" For Safer Driving (NAPSA)—Preventing and avoiding accidents is easier if dri- vers take a few simple steps to keep their vehicle’s safety system in top condition. The Car Care Council reports 5.2 percent of all motor vehicle accidents could be avoidedif drivers practiced proper vehicle main- tenance—this includes regular oil changes and once-a-year checks of what is referred to as The Safety Triangle. According to Bob Bondurant, a leading authority on advanceddri- ving skills and auto-safety, The Safety Triangle is a key safety system in any vehicle and con- tains the components that are most important in avoiding accidents: shocks, brakes andtires. “Braking and stopping quickly compresses a vehicle’s shocks and “The bouncetest” is a wayfor springs, and expands the front drivers to check their vehicles’ shocks from home. let you stop safely,” Bondurant road. To check a vehicle’s shocks, tire patches. Properly working shocks give you good traction and explains. “That’s why it’s so important to get your shocks and the push down on the front and rear bumpersandlet go. If the vehicle checked by an ASE-certified bounce, the car is probably fine. If miles.” In addition, Bondurant suggests that if vehicle owners find mechanic. Brakes—Stop ForSafety. rest of The Safety Triangle mechanic every year or 12,000 they need to replace any compo- nents of The Safety Triangle, they use only namebrandparts. Recently, Bondurant teamed up with the makers of Monroe shock absorbers to spread the word about The Safety Triangle. They hope to make drivers aware of the link between vehicle maintenance andvehicle safety. Bondurant recommendsthefollowing tests as an easy way for drivers to test their vehicles’ Safety Triangles at home: Shocks—The BounceTest. Shocks are key to vehicle safety. Theyplay a crucial role in keeping a vehicle’s tires in contact with the comes up quickly and does not the vehicle bounces more than once, it may be time to see a The same amount of pressure applied to the brake pedal should stop a vehicle smoothly and evenly every time it is pressed. If a driver notices that the brake pedal requires more pressure to stop the vehicle than usual, it may be a good idea to takeit in for inspection. Tires—Don’t Take Treads Lightly. Drivers can inspect their vehicles’ tires at home by inserting a dimeor a nickel into the treads at various points on the tire. The tread should come up to at least half of the coin’s height. Also, Bondurant recommendsreg- ularly inspecting tires for bulges or uneven wear.
