"Here comes Charlie's Legacy!"

Stay Safe This 4th of July!

Prepare Your Car Before the Snow Hits

Everyone loves a good scare on Halloween, but not when it comes to the safety of those little trick-or-treaters. There may be fewer ghosts, witches, and superheroes wandering along the roads this Halloween looking for candy and treats due to COVID-19 restrictions, but it's important that drivers remain vigilant and keep an eye out for costumed children darting into the road, crossing parking lots, or strolling along the streets. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that Halloween is consistently one of the top three days for pedestrian injuries and fatalities, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that children are four times more likely to be struck by a motor vehicle on Halloween than any other day of the year. Because excited trick-or-treaters often forget about safety, motorists and parents must be even more alert. Top Tips for Trick-or Treaters The tips below are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Department of Transportation. Parents should accompany children younger than 12 years old. Children should walk—not run—from house to house. Children should stay on sidewalks instead of walking between cars or on lawns, where there could be tripping hazards. Parents should remind children to look for cars when crossing driveways. Pedestrians shouldn't assume they have the right of way, because motorists may not see them. Go trick-or-treating before it is truly dark, especially with young children. Parents and children should consider choosing costumes that are lighter in color, which make it easier for drivers to see them. Adding reflective material to the front and back makes a costume easier to pick out. It can even be built into the design. Avoid costumes that make it more difficult for a child to see, especially ones that include costume masks. Of course, due to the pandemic, children and chaperones should wear masks that cover the nose and mouth and practice social distancing if possible, even when walking on sidewalks. Give children a flashlight to walk with in the dark so they can be more easily seen by drivers. Glow sticks can help, too. Top Tips for Drivers Drivers can find Halloween to be especially difficult, because children often behave unpredictably and can be difficult to see after dark. These tips are from NHTSA and the Department of Transportation. Halloween is especially dangerous for drivers and pedestrians. Drive slowly in and around neighborhoods and on residential streets. Don't drink and drive. Drunk driving incidents increase on Halloween. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 41 percent of all people killed in motor vehicle crashes on Halloween night from 2014 to 2018 were in crashes involving drunk driving. About one-third of all crash fatalities in the U.S. involve drunk drivers, according to NHTSA. Watch for children who may dart out into the street, and always yield to pedestrians. If you see one child, there are likely more ready to cross. If you're driving children around for trick-or-treating, make sure they're buckled up appropriately in a child car seat or with a seat belt. Make sure they buckle up each time they enter the car, and check to make sure they're secure before you drive to the next stop. Parents transporting kids for Halloween activities may be tempted to buckle them in wearing their costumes. But some costumes may have added padding or hard surfaces that will make it difficult for the car-seat harness or vehicle seat belt to properly fit the child. Consumer Reports advises buying or making costumes without padding or hard surfaces; or have your child change into their costume after arriving at their destination. Pull over at safe locations to let children exit at the curb and away from traffic. Use your hazard lights to alert other drivers of your car. Try to park in a spot where you won’t need to back up. But if you must, have an adult outside to make sure no children are in the way of your vehicle when you do. Don't use a cell phone or other mobile device while driving. Pull over safely to check voice messages or texts, if necessary. By being cautious and mindful of safety this Halloween, you can make sure the holiday is fun for all.

Rear-end crashes are the most frequently occurring type of collision. About 29 percent of all car crashes are rear-end. A lot of different factors can play into a rear-end collision, whether you are on the receiving or delivering end. It is important to be aware to ensure that you are not subject to any of these factors, or any other conditions that might cause you to be involved in a rear-end accident. However i'ts not always easily avoided and when your vehicle gets dinged up just slightly it can still cause hidden damage that may place your safety at risk later on. Although the cosmetic damage to your vehicle may seem negligible, the dirty little secret about rear-end collisions lies beneath the surface. What you can't see matters. When you’ve been involved in a minor front-to-rear accident, these are some of the hidden problems it could cause: Trunk Damage Impact to the back of your car can mess up the trunk’s locking mechanism and seal. Left unaddressed, you could have trouble opening the trunk, water could leak into the storage compartment, or the trunk lid may even pop open while you’re cruising down the highway. Alignment Issues Following a rear-end collision, it is not unusual to notice a difference in the way a vehicle handles. This is usually due to an alignment problem and a misaligned vehicle can cause premature wear and tear to your tires, brakes, suspension and other parts that results in poor handling issues. Frame Damage A rear end accident could cause damage to the frame of the vehicle. When the frame is bent or otherwise damaged, it can be hard to diagnose without taking the vehicle to a proper auto body shop. If the person doing the repair is not a certified collision expert, they may miss this damage. Damage to the frame of a vehicle can cause a lot of serious issues with the vehicle. It can throw off the alignment of the vehicle and make it impossible to correct. It can also create problems with the tires ability to maintain traction during driving. This can pose issues with maintaining proper control of the vehicle. The frame can also cause issues with the doors and other body parts of the vehicle. The doors may not close properly or have gaps between them and the frame. Other body parts may seem to not line up as well as they previously did. Even if the bent frame does not pose immediate issues, it can create problems down the road. A bent frame can put more stress on the suspension system of the vehicle. This can cause the struts, shocks, and other suspension parts to wear out more often. Another major problem of a bent frame is that it compromises the overall safety of the vehicle. The vehicle is designed to handle various impacts and accidents. The frame plays a major role in providing this safety for those inside the vehicle. If the frame is damaged, the vehicle may not be able to hold up as well in the next accident.