Auto Tips For Autumn Driving (NAPSA)—For parents trekking the kids around town, often in stop-and-go traffic, the following tips can improvethe health of their vehicles and help them stay safe on the road. Take the car in for routine maintenance. A Jiffy Lube Signature Service Oil Change includes replacing oil with up to five quarts of quality motor oil; replacing the oil filter with a quality filter; visually inspecting brake fluid and antifreeze/coolant reservoir levels; inspecting the air filtration system, wiper blades and lights; checking the condition of belts; vacuuming interior floors; clean- ing exterior windows; lubricating the chassis (when applicable); checking and setting tires to the proper pressure; and checking and topping off transmission/transaxle fluid, differential fluid, power steering fluid, windshield washer fluid and battery water. Makesure all passengers are buckled up. According to a survey from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, seatbelt use among high school students is lower than other occupants. Even when adults are driving and using belts, many teens riding with them aren’t buckling up. Teens often follow by example. The study reported when teenagers were being taken to school by adults who were buckled up, half of them also used safety belts. However, when adult drivers did not use seat belts, only eight percent of teens used theirs. Make sure to know the proper safety seat practices for your child. For infants (from birth to one year andless than 20 lbs.), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommendsinfant-only or rear-facing convertible seats with harness straps at or below shoulder level. The NHTSAsays toddlers (more than one-year old and between 20-40 lbs.) should be placed in convertible/forward-facing seats with harnessstraps at or above shoulders. For young children (four-to-eight years old and more than 40 lbs.) use a forwardfacing, belt-positioning booster seat with the lap belt fitting low and tight across the lap/upper thigh area and the shoulder belt snug across the chest and shoulder. All children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat. Talk to children about where they walk outside of schools. Tell them to always use school crosswalks and sidewalks and be alert at all times. According to the Safe Routes to Schools organization, 33 percent of youth pedestrian accidents are due to dart-outs— entering traffic mid-block, often between parked cars. Prepare for fall showers. As part of a Jiffy Lube Signature Service Oil Change, a technician will check windshield wipers and tire pressure for greater safety in wet conditions. For more information on car maintenance and safety, visit www,jiffylube.com.
