• Take 5: Hassle-Free Ways to Repair or Replace Auto Glass
• Best Cars for Commuters
• Safe Driving Checklist for Newly Licensed Teens
• 10 Ways You Can Be a Safer Driver
• How to Navigate Spring's Slippery Roads & Pesky Potholes
• Show Your Pride With a Pats Plate
• Safety Classes Get You On a Motorcycle
• Take 5: Shopping for a New Car
• Local Towns Earn National Gold Pedestrian Safety Awards
• Beware of Work Zone Pitfalls

Archived Auto & Traffic Safety Stories Outreach Key for Tweeting DOT Chief Car Care and Good Driving Can Maximize Fuel Economy Bay State to Allow Surcharge Appeals for Recalled Vehicles What are 'Move Over' Laws? AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety: Follow Example of Astronauts Pushing for Primary Seatbelt Law Why Car Repair Costs Can Vary from One Shop to Another Talking Traffic Safety Take Care of Your Car Inside and Out Musical Duo Has Kids Singing Seatbelt Safety Staying Safe When You Break Down AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety: Teach Kids To Be Safe Road Users Learn to Talk Tech Before You Take Your Car in for Repairs Talking Traffic Safety at the State House A Mother's Story: How Seat Belts Saved Our Lives Simulator Show Value of Seatbelts Auto Techs Seek the 'Right to Repair' Low Awareness of Danger of Mixing Driving & Meds 9 Ways to Prolong Your Battery Life Choose the Perfect Car Seat To Keep Your Child Safe

The first 15 minutes of a storm are the most dangerous. Take precaution by increasing your distance between cars.

 Snowy, icy driving conditions may be behind us, but now is the time to deal with winter’s repercussions.
“Spring doesn’t only bring flowers,” said AAA Traffic Safety Manager John Paul. “It brings potholes.”
In cold winter temperatures, moisture that has seeped through cracks in the roadway freezes and expands, pushing away underlying dirt and gravel. When the ice thaws, there’s no longer any support for the asphalt and it collapses.
 Driving through the resulting potholes can cause damage to your vehicle ranging from a flat tire to severe engine and transmission trouble. The worst case might be puncturing or breaking an oil pan. This will destroy the engine if the oil leaks out.
 The best way to approach a pothole is to steer around it, Mr. Paul said.  Remember to drive with both hands on the wheel. “It makes it easier to perform quick maneuvers around potholes,” he said,
 If you can’t avoid them, Mr. Paul said: “Slow down as much as you can, and, just as you’re ready to hit the pothole, take your foot off the brake.”
 Why does this help?
 When you brake, the front of the vehicle tips down, Mr. Paul explained. Hitting a pothole at this angle can cause the most severe damage. If you release the brake at the right time, the car evens out and there’s a good chance you’ll sail right over it.
 Beware of puddles as well. “Sometimes a big puddle can hide a big pothole,” he said.
 Another hazard of spring is heavy rain. “Driving in the rain is potentially as dangerous as driving in the ice and snow,” Mr. Paul said.
 If it hasn’t rained a while, the first 15 minutes of a storm are the most dangerous. The rapid accumulation of water draws asphalt oils to the surface making the roadway even more slippery before those oils are washed away.
 Brakes are not as effective on a wet surface. Even new tires do not grip the road well in rain, Mr. Paul said. Increase your following distance in case of hydroplaning — when your vehicle skims the surface of water on the roadway affecting your ability to steer.
 It’s best to lower your speed when there’s water on the road. If you do hydroplane, he said, don’t step on the brake; it causes skidding. Take your foot off the gas and let the vehicle slow until you regain control.
 Winter also leaves behind vehicle maintenance issues, Mr. Paul said. “We do more driving in the spring and warmer months, so make sure your car is in top shape.”
 Check for winter damage. Assess the condition of your tires and have your vehicle looked over for damage caused by salt, ice and snow.
 Replace your windshield wipers. “People forget about windshield wipers until it rains, and when it stops raining, they forget about them again,” he said. Wipers typically last about a year and take a beating in the winter with frost, snow and ice.
 Perform a spring cleaning. Wash and wax your vehicle. Do touchups on chipped paint. Lift the floor mats and vacuum. Take the snow shovels, brushes and other winter necessities out of the vehicle. “There’s no reason to be carrying that extra weight around,” Mr. Paul said.


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 Your car may already have the bumper stickers and window clings, but now there’s a new way for Rhode Island drivers to show their Patriots pride – with the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation license plate.
 The plates feature both the Patriots’ logo and the logo of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation, along with the text “Super Bowl Champions XXXVI, XXXVIII & XXXIX.”
 The license plates cost $41.50 (in addition to regular registration fees). Of this price, $21.50 goes to the state’s general fund, and $20 goes to the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation’s Rhode Island-based programs. The $10 annual renewal fee for the plate also will go directly to the Foundation.
 “New England Patriot fans across Rhode Island can proudly show their support for the hometown team while joining the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation in helping local nonprofit organizations through the purchase of these license plates,” Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri said after signing the legislation for the license plates.
 “On and off the field, the New England Patriots are true champions, and I am confident their fans will join them in their efforts to help the Rhode Island community through this program.”
 The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation has donated millions of dollars to nonprofit organizations throughout New England since it began in 1994. The Foundation focuses primarily on youth and family programs that foster cultural diversity, education, and health and fitness.
 For more information on the Charitable Foundation, and to purchase your Patriots license plate, visit www.patriots.com/community.


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BJ Hill takes a turn on a bike.

 Is riding a motorcycle on your bucket list? It’s certainly on mine, and for my 33rd birthday I committed to getting my license.
 There are two ways to obtain a motorcycle license in Massachusetts – by passing a Registry of Motor Vehicles road test or by taking a state-approved class. Since I had never even sat on a motorcycle, the class was in everyone’s best interest.
 I searched the Internet for riding schools close to Worcester and found the Central Mass Safety Council in West Boylston, a nonprofit that has been offering driver’s education, skid school and motorcycle classes since 1982. A look at their Web site (www.ridercourse.net) told me the class schedule, the RMV checklist and the equipment to bring.
 First, I had to choose dates. I picked the most affordable option – the two-day, 16-hour weekday session.
 Next, it was off to the RMV. I paid $20 to take a permit test on the computer – 20 basic driving questions. Then I paid an extra $15 for a new photo and issuance (once I passed the class) of a new license with the “M” endorsement.
 The first day of class started promptly at 8 a.m. Our teacher was Doug Gilmore, the school’s motorcycle site coordinator. I looked around the room at my classmates – six men and five women. There were folks who had experience riding dirt bikes, but not street bikes. Others owned motorcycles, but were operating on temporary, restricted permits. One woman had a bike, but needed practice time on the track. And about half the class, like me, had no experience at all.
 After introductions, we watched a series of short National Motorcycle Safety Foundation videos on the controls of the bike and dressing for the ride. Doug shared stories from his four decades of riding on three continents. Then, the moment I was waiting for – getting on the bike.
 On the track, we donned our helmets, slipped on our gloves and chose our bikes. I picked a shiny new red Suzuki TU250. We walked our bikes out to the vast cement lot.
 The first hour we covered turning the bike on, using the foot brake and hand brake, propelling forward with our feet and using the clutch. Next were different drills, such as steering and weaving around cones. By the end of the day, we were practicing turns, shifting, accelerating to 20 mph, and making sudden stops.
 The next morning we watched a few more videos on rider visibility, various road surfaces and the dangers of alcohol. The classroom portion concluded with a multiple-choice exam.
 Back in the saddle on the second afternoon, I felt more comfortable. We revved our engines and soon we were learning techniques to avoid wipeouts: driving over objects and swerving around obstacles. We were trained to react automatically to these common road hazards.
 At the end of the second day was the big test. It was a composite of all the skills we had learned thus far. I was most nervous about shifting with my feet, but going through the test, it all came back to me. When the class finished, we received our certificates.
 Afterward, I spoke to Mr. Gilmore about the class. “There are a lot of people who learn to ride from friends who pass on their bad habits, like steering with their bodies, instead of their arms. I learned the hard way and I have the scars to show it,” he said.
 So is there a motorcycle purchase in my future? Perhaps. But even if I’m car-bound, the lessons from the class will make me more safety conscience when motorcycles are sharing the road.


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 The snow is off the ground, and you’re ready to shop for a new car. AAA answers your questions about car buying.
 1. What are this year’s hot cars? Small SUVs and crossovers such as the Chevrolet Equinox and Honda CRV are still popular. People like their functionality, decent economy and ability to handle New England winters. Even with Toyota’s recent problems, the most popular “green” car is the Prius. For 2010, it is more powerful, handles better and returns superior miles per gallon. Many members have voiced an interest in the Ford Fusion. The reason, some said, was Ford didn’t take any government money, making it a solid choice over similar General Motors and Chrysler models. The Mazda 3 offers decent room and good handling and is fun to drive. The Volkswagen Golf and Jetta SportWagon share similar traits and combine the newest diesel engine to deliver great fuel economy.
 2. What are some new safety features I can expect to see? Volvo’s City Safety system detects a potential low-speed crash and automatically applies the brakes to minimize or prevent it. Drowsy-driving detectors monitor the driver’s attitude and can tell when he or she is showing signs of fatigue. Lane-departure warning uses a camera to look at the painted lines in the road and sounds a signal when the driver drifts out of the lane. A lane-departure correction system improves on the warning system and will make minor corrections with the braking system to keep the car in lane. Blind-spot warning systems use sensors mounted on the car to detect when a vehicle is in your blind spot and lights an icon in the side-view mirror. Night-vision cameras give the driver a better perspective of a dark roadway or even spot a pedestrian by the side of the road.
 3. Someone suggested AAA AutoMaker could help me find the right car. What is that? This online tool makes it easy for you to research, create and compare any make and model. At AAA.com/AutoMaker, find new car pricing, information on rebates and incentives, reviews and 360-degree views of the vehicle inside and outside. Top 10 lists include the “Coolest Cars Under $18K.” Plus, there’s information on insurance, financing and warranties.
 4. At what point in the car-buying process should I apply for financing? You can secure financing before buying a car, and the pre-approval process tends to be a popular option. Still, if you choose to apply for financing after you find your vehicle, the application process is quick and simple.
 5. What kind of information will I need to provide when applying for an auto loan? The credit application is standard: It requires your name, address, date of birth, social security number, annual income and two years of employment history. During the application process, you’ll be asked about the specific vehicle you’re buying so the lender knows the value of the collateral being financed. In most cases, closing a loan requires no more than a purchase and sales agreement, an insurance binder and a copy of the vehicle title.


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AAA Senior Vice President of Public and Government Affairs Lloyd Albert presents a Gold Award to representatives of the Burlington Police Department.

 Protecting pedestrians in a town with no sidewalks presents a unique set of challenges.
 “No matter where they are,” said Rochester Police Chief Paul Magee, “they’re going to be on the streets.”
 Diligent officers, a multi-tiered approach to traffic enforcement and a campaign called “Every 15 Minutes” have helped Rochester succeed in keeping walkers safe.
 The town was one of six Massachusetts communities AAA Southern New England honored late last year with National Gold Awards for outstanding education, enforcement and engineering programs.
 In “Every 15 Minutes,” a grim reaper pulls a student out of class every quarter-hour, illustrating how often a person dies in a collision with an impaired driver. The student’s family receives a death certificate.
 Rochester Police also work with the local magnet school to keep students driving safely. Instead of police revoking licenses from students who get pulled over, the school takes away driving privileges.
 “To put a high school kid on the bus after driving his own car,” Chief Magee said, “That’s a great enforcement tool.”
Read on for the other gold winners’ shining examples of traffic safety.
Attleboro
 Drivers in Attleboro take note: The police are watching. Crosswalk stings are one of the tools they use to promote pedestrian safety. Undercover officers attempt to cross at a crosswalk. Nearby, another officer monitors the situation.  If a driver doesn’t stop for the pedestrian, police will issue a citation.
Police also want to nip road rage and other dangerous driving practices in the bud. Officers often keep an eye on places where drivers tend to ignore signs.
 “One of the biggest things we want to do is reduce accidents in the city by doing some proactive patrolling,” Sgt. Jeffery Pierce said. “If we can slow people down, the severity of crashes is less.”
 Police also are watching for drivers who don’t stop for school buses, stationed either on the buses themselves or in unmarked cars following close by. If a car doesn’t stop, the license-plate number is noted, or a cruiser is called out to write a citation.
 Any resident can bring problems to the police’s attention by submitting complaints to the department’s Web site.
Burlington
 Safety Town has helped make Burlington a safer town, said Officer Bernie Schipelliti. The annual summer program teaches young children how to be safer bicyclists and pedestrians.
 Officer Schipelliti also runs a school bus safety program, and it isn’t just for students. “Any time we have a chance to educate a group of people, we talk about pedestrian safety,” he said.
 That includes seniors, scouts and anyone who tours the police station. Officer Schipelliti also writes about pedestrian safety for the local newspaper.
 The burden doesn’t lie solely with the pedestrian, he said. “We target drivers, too,” he said. That means speed enforcement, working traffic lights and regularly painted crosswalks.
 “It all goes hand in hand,” he said. “The whole thing needs to go together.”
Mansfield
 When public complaints come in about an unsafe roadway, the Mansfield Police are right on top of it. Whether they receive reports of speeding, running red lights, disobeying crosswalks, or multiple crashes in the same spot, the department will assign officers to monitor the problematic area.
 “When drivers see a cruiser parked, they’ll be less likely to break traffic laws,” said Traffic Safety Officer Lance Lawson.
 Mansfield has implemented mobilizations on weekends and holidays when more people are out on the streets, which means there are additional officers on duty to specifically patrol for hazardous driving.
 “The officers target problematic sections, and simply watch and write tickets,” Officer Lawson said.
Oak Bluffs
 Keeping pedestrians safe is a community effort. That’s why the Oak Bluffs Police work with the highway department, the federal government and residents on its initiatives.
 Police are constantly in touch with the highway department to keep them abreast of any signage problems, including trimming trees when limbs block important traffic signs. Crosswalks are repaired every spring, and pedestrian crossing signs in the middle of downtown roads keep drivers alert.
 Police also join in federal programs like “You Drink, You Drive, You Lose,” “Click It or Ticket,” and “Road Respect.”
 “We participate in any kind of traffic enforcement adding to the safety of pedestrians,” Lt. Timothy Williamson said.
 And if residents complain of aggressive driving in their area, interactive radar signs are put in place. The signs flash red if you’re speeding and collect data to help police spot trends.
 “If there is a problem in that area, then we put people in cruisers to write some tickets,” Lt. Williamson said.
West Bridgewater
 Word gets around in West Bridgewater. Several times a year, the police department, working with the Registry of Motor Vehicles, takes its message of pedestrian safety to the schools. As students and their parents leave the school, they are given safety information.
 Police also check for seatbelts; any time a driver is stopped for a primary traffic violation and is not wearing one, he or she earns a ticket.
 “It’s definitely raised the level of awareness,” Safety Officer Bruce Holmquist said. “It doesn’t take long for word to get around.”
 He credits the city’s lack of pedestrian fatalities to two things.
 “Number 1, we’ve been very lucky,” he said. “Number 2, we have a very proactive, young, progressive chief. It’s done wonders for the town and for the police force.”


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Proceed with caution whenever you approach a work zone.

 Work zones need your undivided attention.
That’s the theme of this year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week, held April 19 to 23 — the time of year when road construction projects kick into high gear.
 Each year, nearly 1,000 motorists and workers are killed and 40,000 injured at road construction sites, according to the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse.
 Here are some tips for navigating these sites safely:
 • Know the work zone signs. Orange warning signs are there to help you and other drivers move safely through roadway construction zones.
 • Obey flaggers. Flaggers are trained to move traffic safely through work zones, so pay attention to their direction.
 • Obey posted speed limits. Speeding through work zones is a major cause for accidents and injuries. Many states have significantly increased fines for speeding. Pay attention for reduced speed limits and slow down.
 • Pay attention to other drivers and objects. Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and traffic barriers, trucks, construction equipment and workers. Watch out for sudden stops, merging traffic and other work zone dangers.
 • Stay focused and avoid distractions. Do not use cell phones or text while driving. Avoid eating and other activities that may take your focus from the road.
 • Expect the unexpected. Stay alert for lane or road surface changes, possible mobile work zones and erratic driver behavior.
 • Keep your cool and be patient. Work zones are necessary to improve the roads for everyone and to meet community needs.


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Driving habits have the most impact on fuel economy.

 One of the most common questions I hear is, “Can I do anything to get better gas mileage out of my car?” Whether you drive a hybrid, a Hummer or anything in between, there are some things you can do to improve fuel economy.
 Start with maintenance. If you’re driving with a “check engine” light on, you’re wasting gas. Computers monitor the car’s engine system and signal a malfunction by turning on this light.
 Still, don’t assume the car is perfect because the light is off. You need to follow a maintenance schedule. Change spark plugs and filters. An out-of-tune engine could lose up to 5 percent of its fuel efficiency. A faulty coolant or oxygen sensor could easily reduce fuel economy by 25 percent.
 Something as simple as tire pressure can affect mileage. Properly inflated tires are safer, allow for better handling, last longer, and can improve your gas mileage by 3.3 percent, according to the EPA. Check tire pressure at least monthly. Find the correct pressure in your owner’s manual or on the driver’s door placard.
 In my cars, I switched to synthetic oil to take advantage of its superior lubricating properties and noted a slight fuel economy benefit. Whether or not you go synthetic, use the correct oil specified for your engine. Studies show you can improve gas mileage by 1 to 2 percent by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. Using the wrong one can lower your gas mileage by up to 2 percent.
 Weight is the enemy of fuel economy: Don’t use your car as a storage locker. Each season, remove unnecessary items. A large cargo box is handy for carrying extras for the family vacation but can reduce fuel economy by up to 20 percent.
 All these tips can help you maximize your fuel economy, but how you drive can make the biggest impact. The old adage of “drive like there is a raw egg between your foot and the gas and brake pedals” still holds true.
 Going easy on the pedals — avoiding “jack-rabbit” starts and hard braking — is the single biggest thing you can do to not waste gas. To get your car up to speed requires energy; any time you brake quickly, you are wasting that energy. Focus your attention down the road to anticipate changing traffic conditions.
 On the highway, cars tend to be most efficient between 55 and 65 miles per hour. Stay at the speed limit: Driving faster doesn’t just increase your chance of getting a ticket, but it also wastes gas.
 When your car idles, it gets zero miles per gallon. Skip the long line at the drive through, park and get out — the exercise will do you good. When stuck in traffic for extended periods, consider shutting the car off; it works for hybrids.
 Don’t buy premium fuel unless your car requires it. It will not make your car run better and will just cost you more.
 When planning trips, think of your car on a bus route going logically from one stop to the next. If you have more than one vehicle, use the one the gets better fuel economy to run errands.
 Finally, if possible, don’t drive. Carpooling can have a dramatic effect on your yearly fuel bill. And if you can walk, ride a bike or take public transportation, you might get a little healthier, too.



Things That Don’t Work

 Tailgate up/tailgate down. Some believe driving a pickup truck with the tailgate down will increase fuel economy. In wind-tunnel and real-world testing, this actually reduces fuel economy.
 Fuel-saver devices. All the studies I have seen show add-on gadgets and gizmos do nothing to improve fuel economy. In fact, some of these devices and additives can reduce fuel economy and damage your car.
 Buy gas in the morning when it is cooler. The theory: Cooler gasoline is denser, so you get more gas for the money. Since gas is underground in insulated storage tanks, the temperature varies little based on time of the day.
 Drive with the air conditioner on or the windows open? Your best fuel economy will come with the air conditioner off. But, there is only a slight difference in real-world numbers — not enough to be uncomfortable on a hot day.

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 Massachusetts insurance regulators will allow some Toyota drivers who were involved in accidents linked to unintended acceleration to appeal insurance surcharges assessed by their carriers.
 The move follows Toyota’s decision to recall 4.2 million vehicles with potentially dangerous gas pedal mechanisms.
 Any driver who has unsuccessfully appealed their surcharge can request to have a re-hearing, if they were driving a vehicle subject to the recall. Appeals are also allowed for drivers who have been determined to be at-fault by their insurer but did not appeal that decision to the state.
 Request for rehearings must be filed by April 1.
 Hearings will be limited to issues involving unintended acceleration. Drivers will be required to demonstrate that the vehicle involved in the accident is one of the models and types recalled by Toyota and that the accident was related to the acceleration problem outlined in the recall notice.
 While the recent recall was issued by Toyota, it covers several Lexus models as well the Pontiac Vibe.

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 If “Move Over” laws exist in most states, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, but awareness still remains low. In a national poll, 71 percent of Americans said they have not heard of these laws.
 What are they? “Move Over” laws require motorists to change lanes and/or slow down when approaching emergency vehicles such as police cars, fire trucks and ambulances — or roadside assistance vehicles such as tow trucks — that are stopped on the side of the road with their lights flashing. This practice provides the margin of safety these responders need to do their jobs.
 Workers and vehicle occupants are vulnerable while stopped on the roadside. ResponderSafety.com reports an average of two emergency responders are struck each day.
 Laws vary from state to state, but here are some general answers to key questions to help keep you and roadside workers safe.
 What should I do if I see an emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the road with lights flashing? First, slow down so you can assess the situation. If you’re on a multi-lane highway and it’s safe to do so, move over by changing lanes away from the emergency vehicle. Leave at least one vacant lane between you and the emergency vehicle to provide a safe zone for vehicles or workers performing their jobs in the area.
 What should I do if I’m unable to safely change lanes away from the emergency vehicle or I’m on a two-lane road? You should slow down to at least 20 mph below the posted speed limit and approach with caution.
 If I cannot change lanes safely, should I stop my vehicle in the roadway? No, you should slow down while maintaining a safe speed. Do not stop in the roadway or block the flow of traffic unless directed to do so by emergency personnel.
 How can I avoid becoming involved in a crash when traffic slows? The single most important thing you can do to protect yourself and others is to pay attention behind the wheel. By scanning the roadway for incidents that lie ahead of you and being aware of activities of vehicles around you, you will be able to anticipate problems and react safely.

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J. Peter Kissinger President and CEO

 If you ever read an account of the early space program, you’ll learn that one of the highest priorities for the first astronauts was having a window in their capsules.
 They faced a tough fight over this: Rocket scientists designing early spacecraft didn’t see the need, especially since windows would be an expensive design feature that would push tight budgets up. Besides, they argued, the astronauts would have ample information from the control panels in front of them.
 But the seven Mercury astronauts stood firm. All experienced pilots, they understood the importance of seeing and interacting with the environment outside their vehicles, and they knew — from experience and instinct — that even the best control panels cannot provide all the information a pilot might need.
 They also knew that good pilots never allow themselves to become passive observers. That meant they must have a view of the outside to remain fully engaged in the operation of their spacecraft.
 They got their windows, and their persistence paid off. Time and again, astronauts using visual input have helped missions return home safely.
Unfortunately, too many drivers are missing the lesson the astronauts knew so well. With video screens that provide feedback around and behind cars, warning signals and proximity sensors, advanced cruise control and other features, some people are letting their vehicles “drive themselves,” rather than remaining engaged in the task of driving.
 Some technologies give the illusion of being in control, when, in fact, they’re actually distracting from the task of driving safely.
 Programming navigational devices, setting climate controls or even adjusting seats can seem like part of the driving experience, but they’re really tasks that should take place before you get on the road.
 Other technologies in today’s cars make it particularly tempting to pay attention to the control panel, rather than the road.
 Aside from the distraction that radios, CD players and phones cause, some cars now feature DVD players, Internet connections and audio-visual interfaces where users can read restaurant reviews, find movie times and gather other non-driving information.
 Many of these technologies are helpful and convenient. But, learning to use them appropriately is critical to safe driving. Following the astronauts’ lead can offer some great advice:
 • Set your systems in advance — Just as no space launch takes off without careful adjustment of all controls, drivers should set their in-car controls, such as mirrors, seats, steering wheel, environmental settings, music and other options, before you start your trip.
 • File your flight plan ahead of time — Pilots plan their trips in advance, marking their maps and setting their controls before they set out. Drivers should use the same approach with their trip-planning and GPS settings.
 • Use your crew — Pilots flying spacecraft (and planes) rely on others around them to handle non-essential tasks, such as climate settings, navigation and communication. Drivers should do the same, having passengers take on those tasks.
 • Focus on your mission — Whether you’re flying to the moon or driving to the grocery store, your primary responsibility as a driver is conducting your vehicle from Point A to Point B safely. Make that your top priority and leave everything else — including entertainment, food and talking on the phone — to another time.
 • Use your windows — Take a lesson from the astronauts and look out your windows. Keep your eyes and head moving as your drive, so you can scan everything around you and anticipate conditions.
 • Don’t “space out” — Keep yourself engaged with driving and don’t allow yourself to become “hypnotized” by the road, especially on long, boring trips.  If the astronauts can stay focused all the way to the moon, you can remain alert on the turnpike. Take breaks and pull off to a safe spot to rest for a few minutes when you feel your attention flagging.
 Following the astronauts’ example of safety and focus is a good way to help make your driving safer. Staying engaged and focusing on the task of driving can help make your next trip safer.
 For other “out of this world” advice, visit www.aaafoundation.org.

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Wearing a seatbelt is the best protection for car occupants.

 It’s time for more Rhode Islanders to buckle up, and enacting a primary-seatbelt law in the Ocean State could spur drivers to do so.
That’s the message AAA is sending state legislators as it pushes this session for legislation that governs all drivers.
 “The time has come: 31 states across the nation have passed primary-seatbelt legislation, and critical mass has been achieved,” said Lloyd P. Albert, AAA Southern New England’s Senior Vice President of Public and Government Affairs.
 While state law requires all drivers to wear seatbelts all the time, enforcement as a primary offense – where police can stop drivers who aren’t wearing their seatbelts and cite them – affects only junior operators, those under age 18.
 In Rhode Island, drivers 18 and older can be cited for failure to wear a seatbelt as a secondary offense, when they are stopped for another reason and an officer finds they’re not wearing their seatbelts.
 AAA has sent a fact sheet of information on the state’s seatbelt-use rate to state lawmakers. AAA representatives plan to meet with them to show how primary-seatbelt laws can save lives and money and to advocate for swift passage of the law.
 In Rhode Island, statistics show seatbelt-usage remains consistently lower than the national average, at 74.7 percent compared with 84 percent in 2009, Mr. Albert said.
 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates belt usage would increase by about 10 to 12 percentage points if Rhode Island were to pass a primary-seatbelt law.
 In addition to increasing use, Mr. Albert said having a primary-seatbelt law could result in:
 • Three lives saved each year;
 • 86 serious injuries prevented annually; and
 • $21 million in catastrophic-injury costs saved.
 In 2000, crashes in Rhode Island cost $767 million, or about $732 per resident, according to statistics provided by Mr. Albert.
 “The research, science and data so overwhelmingly point to the fact that’s conclusive, that seatbelts save lives and mitigate cost to society,” he said.
 Traditionally, people have opposed a seatbelt law, saying it violates their personal freedom or could lead to racial profiling.
 Yet minorities are among those most at risk, he said. And despite improvements in cockpit design, an occupant’s best protection in a crash is the seatbelt that’s in use.
 “People who don’t use belts are hoping they’ll survive without it,” said John Paul, AAA’s Traffic Safety Manager. “They don’t think they’re going to get into a crash. But relying on airbags or hoping you’re not going to get into a crash is not going to help: Airbags, head-restraint systems and other measures all rely upon the seatbelt system to keep you in your seat.”
 According to AAA’s most recent Public Affairs survey of Rhode Island members, the public pendulum has swung to support such legislation – 58 percent of Rhode Island members favor passage of a primary-seatbelt law.
 Such a law would enable law-enforcement officers to stop a vehicle solely because occupants aren’t wearing seatbelts and issue a ticket to the driver.
 “We routinely hear heart-wrenching stories about tragic loss of life involving an unrestrained motorist,” Mr. Albert said. “We hope lawmakers will agree that the time has come to pass this life-saving legislation.”

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Auto technicians should always go over the bill with you.

 You checked the owner’s manual and noticed that your car is due for a timing-belt replacement at 90,000 miles.
 You stop into a couple of repair shops and ask how much the repair costs. One shop has a posted price and hands you a brochure with prices listed. In another shop, they look up the job online and give you a written estimate. In a third shop, they give you a vague estimate on the back on a business card.
 You have decided to go with the shop that gave you the written estimate. According to the estimate, the job will take about four-and-a-half hours, plus the cost of the parts, with a total of $495. You like the shop and they seem professional, so you set up an appointment.
 You bring the car in with your favorite book and decide to wait for it to be repaired. To your surprise, three-and-a-half hours later, someone hands you your keys and says you are all set. You know the shop charges $92 an hour for labor and the job took an hour less than the time estimated, so it looks like you saved enough money for a nice dinner at your favorite restaurant.
 You go to see the cashier and get a bill for nearly $500. You are thinking you were ripped off — what happened?
 Repair shops use several methods to price out repair work. Some charge by the hour: The technician starts a job, and you are charged by the clock hour.  If the job takes three hours, you are charged three hours. If the same job takes six hours, you are charged six hours. This may seem fair, but it also means you could be charged for phone calls, coffee breaks, idle time waiting for parts or what could amount to on-the-job training.
 Many shops use menu pricing. In this case, they estimate an average cost of repairs for “most” cars. If you drive a Buick Regal and want front brake pads replaced, theoretically the repair would be the same as for a Toyota Camry.  In this model, the shop assumes that “most” vehicles will take about the same time for a repair and the parts generally cost about the same. In the law of averages, the less expensive parts make up for the more expensive parts and the job that is simple makes up for the one that is more labor intensive.   For the consumer, this system may offer a savings for some repairs, but not always.
 Finally, there is flat rate or book time. Flat rate is the price you pay for a specific repair. These repair times are calculated based on time studies performed by the industry on nearly every service job. The calculations are based on an “average” technician working in a typical shop environment. The customer advantage to flat rate is you pay the same price regardless of how long the job takes.
 In the case of the timing belt repair, a technician who is competent but not as proficient may take six hours to complete the repair. The advantage in this case is you still pay for the labor rate based on four-and-a-half hours to complete the repair.
 Conversely, the technician that is very proficient or perhaps even specializes in this type of repair may be able to “beat the book.” If this is the case, the technician may be paid a bonus for being competent and efficient. The customer benefits by having the service completed faster. Since time is money to both you and the repair shop, you both benefited. Although you didn’t save any money and will have to skip your favorite restaurant, you got your car repaired professionally at the price you were originally quoted — and were certainly not ripped off.
 Remember, a quality repair shop will always provide an estimate, post their labor rate and call you if the scope of the repair is going to change. For a complete listing of AAA Approved Repair shops, go to AAA.com.

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 AAA Southern New England President and CEO Mark A. Shaw (right) met with Massachusetts Senate President Therese Murray (second from right) at the Statehouse to discuss traffic safety initiatives of mutual interest. Joining the conversation were AAA Senior Vice President of Public and Government Affairs Lloyd P. Albert and Director of Legislative Affairs Mary Maguire.

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To maintain your car’s value, wash it roughly every two weeks.

 When many motorists think of vehicle maintenance, the first things that comes to mind are oil changes and other engine upkeep.
 However, the steps to maintaining a vehicle — and its resale value — extend beyond what is under the hood.
 AAA recommends the following maintenance tasks:
Vehicle Interior
1. Vacuum regularly and lightly shampoo the carpets as needed. Dirt remaining in the carpet greatly accelerates wear, but be careful not to soak carpets with too much moisture.
2. Use floor mats to protect carpet. Carpeted floor mats will collect dust and dirt and are best for dry climates, while protective vinyl floor mats are recommended in wet and snowy areas. However, don’t stack winter mats on top of carpeted mats because this could interfere with the accelerator pedal.
3. Wipe dusty or soiled surfaces with a damp cloth. Follow with a UV-protective coating on vinyl and rubber surfaces. A solution with a matte or semi-gloss finish is preferred on the dashboard to reduce reflections in the windshield. Be careful not to apply petroleum-based products to plastic surfaces, especially clear ones. If the interior has leather, use products designed for cleaning and maintaining this material.
4. Clean stains from seats and other surfaces promptly to prevent them from setting. Use a cleaner recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer to prevent fabric, vinyl or leather damage. Test any non-approved product in an inconspicuous spot before use to be sure it’s safe.
Vehicle Exterior
1. Wash the vehicle roughly every two weeks and wax it twice a year. More frequent washing and waxing could be advisable depending on climate and driving conditions. A good coat of wax looks great, protects the finish from contaminants and contains filtering chemicals that help reduce paint fading from the UV rays in sunlight.
2. When washing the vehicle, be sure to rinse out the wheel wells and accessible areas of the undercarriage. This is especially important where salt is used on roads in the winter as it will help prevent rust.
3. Have small windshield chips repaired to prevent them from becoming cracks that require complete windshield replacement. Most such repairs can be made easily by a AAA Auto Glass technician coming to the vehicle’s location.
4. Consider headlight restoration if the headlight lenses have developed a frosted yellow surface. This process restores a clear finish to the lens, which improves both vehicle appearance and nighttime vision. You can buy restoration kits at auto parts stores for about $20. Commercial services will typically do the job for between $50 and $100.

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Ilene Altman and Tamara Hey say parents need to model seatbelt safety to get their children to follow suit.

 Kids love to sing. And sing. And sing.
 But what are they singing about?  The latest top-40 radio hits?  Couldn’t they learn something while they sang?
 How about a tune that teaches them the virtues of wearing a seatbelt? And, really, would it be too much to ask that it doesn’t offend the ears of anyone older than 6?
Leeny and Tamara to the rescue!
“Climbing in the back seat/Safety first, before you turn the key/Listen for the click/Make it nice and tight/When everybody’s buckled up/We’ll drive, drive, drive, drive, drive.”
 “Put On My Seatbelt” is the opening song on “Sharing the Same Stars,” a 14-song album that spans topics from safety to breech babies to the importance of vitamin C.
 The album is the result of a musical reunion between Ilene Altman and Tamara Hey — college friends who hadn’t written music together since they were students together at Berklee College of Music.
Ms. Altman, a Massachusetts-based children’s musician, and Ms. Hey, a New York-based folk-and-rock musician, are full of goofy stories, sound advice and even geography facts.
 “Parents are always suggest­ing song ideas,” Ms. Altman said. “One of the themes … is struggling to get kids in the cars, buckled in and ready for trips.”
But it’s not just about kids, Ms. Hey said. Sometimes, parents will take every precaution in the world with their kids, then hop in the car and take off, unbuckled.
 “I’d imagine the song” – and listening to your kids singing it — “makes it less attractive to parents to drive without seatbelts,” she said.
The pair offers free use of the song for organizations involved with child-passenger safety.
 Ms. Altman and Ms. Hey are concerned about safety, but there’s still plenty of fun in the song, reminiscent of Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.”
 “It’s not something to preach about,” Ms. Altman said.
The rest of the album bears the same philosophy – fun. There’s the girl-group-inspired “Little Sister” and the 1950’s, Buddy Holly-esque “Ladybug, Ladybug, Ladybu-u-ug,” which is used by the Lost Ladybug Project, which tracks ladybug populations.
 Sure to be a hit: “Hold It,” on a subject every kid can identify with. “Astronauts are cool/They go in their suits/Maybe that’s/because/There aren’t any bathrooms on the moon.” (Remember this summer’s mishaps with the International Space Station toilets?)
 The album’s final song will be a favorite for travelers. Ms. Altman had the idea for “Across the USA” while working on her first album, “Be Nice,” written with Steve Equi.
 She wanted a song with a line about every state. AAA’s TripTik Travel Planner inspired it, she said. She wants to visit all 50 states.
She hasn’t yet made the tour, but you and the kids will learn a little something as you sing along.
 Fun, educational music you can grow with.
 “It’s an album about feelings, about respect for yourself and the world around you,” Ms. Hey said. And, just as important, Ms. Altman reminds us, “It totally rocks!”
 Find information about using the songs for educational purposes, as well as buying a copy for your kids at www.leenyandtamara.com.

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 The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety offers the following tips for staying safe in the event your car breaks down in winter weather:
 • Stay in your car and out of the way of other cars that may be sliding on slick roads.
 • Stay warm and dry to avoid hypothermia. Keep blankets and extra warm clothes with you. Huddle with other passengers to maintain body heat.
 • Call for help on your cell phone, if you get stuck. Never talk on the phone while you’re driving in bad weather.
 • Run your engine and heater for a few minutes every hour, if you have enough gas. (Check to make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t blocked first.)
 • Keep a window cracked for fresh air, in case doors and windows freeze.
 • Set flares outside your car and tie bright-colored rags to your antenna so rescuers can spot you.
 Learn more about driving safely, and find out how you can help support the AAA Foundation’s work on traffic safety through charitable giving at www.aaafoundation.org.

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J. Peter Kissinger President and CEO

 From the moment your parents bundled you into the car to come home from the hospital as a newborn, you began interacting with the complex world of people, vehicles, roadways, conditions and other factors that will surround you all your life.
 These days, many hospitals won’t release newborn “road users” until they’ve confirmed parents have proper child-safety seats installed. This is a great way to start people off in life with safety in mind, and it helps ensure that from the very first trip, children stay safe.
 For too many families, though, the safety-consciousness of that first trip fades into the background. While most keep their children in car seats until they properly fit the seatbelt — as they are legally required to do — they don’t give enough thought to teaching their children to be safe road users throughout life.
 At the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, raising this awareness is part of the comprehensive effort to foster a “traffic safety culture,” where safety is the highest priority for every road user. The Foundation believes families cannot start early enough to show children safety is a virtue everyone should value above any other aspect of transportation. 
 That first car ride should be the start of a dialogue you continue with your children into adulthood. Even when they are babies, tell them with smiles and a pleasant tone of voice that you’re putting them in the seats that keep them safe. As you put your seatbelt on, tell them about that, too. They’ll begin to understand that keeping everyone safe in the car is an important thing that makes you happy.
 As children get older, you’ll have countless opportunities to teach them about traffic safety. Start by teaching them to be good passengers. Talk to them about buckling their seatbelts, keeping hands and feet (and everything else) inside the car at all times, and looking to make sure it’s clear before opening a car door or stepping into the street. Make sure they understand these aren’t just your rules for your car, but values they should take into every vehicle.
 Instead of yelling at them when they misbehave, pull over to discipline them, so they know safety is so important, no trip can continue without it. Explain that when passengers distract drivers it can cause crashes. They’ll get the message that this isn’t just a matter of adults being no fun, this is a safety issue.
 You also can enlist children in keeping your trips safe by giving them “jobs” inside the car, like setting the navigation system, changing CDs, folding maps and keeping younger children quietly occupied, so Mommy and Daddy can stay focused on driving. Not only will that teach children that avoiding distraction is vital to safety, it will make your trips safer and more pleasant, since you won’t be as distracted.
 Be sure to point out dangerous situations, so children can begin gaining experience in assessing risks. For example, if a ball rolls into the street, explain that you’re stopping because other kids often run out to chase balls without looking for cars. That helps plant the seeds for safe driving when they become licensed themselves and will demonstrate why they must always look before running into the street.
 Or, when someone is honking at you and you dismiss it with a light, “I guess he’s got a problem!” as you move over, children will learn that aggressive drivers just aren’t worth engaging. Tell them people sometimes do silly, or even angry, things when they drive, but that’s their business. Keeping yourself safe is yours.
 Above all, be a good role model. If kids see you put on your seatbelt, avoid distraction and drive in a courteous, safe way, they’ll get the message this is the way things should be. You’ll help build a strong safety culture that your children will value and perpetuate. It’s an important gift that will last their entire lives.
 To learn more about traffic safety and find tips for children, visit the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety at www.aaafoundation.org.

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Ask questions if you hear jargon you don’t understand.

 A trip to the auto repair shop can feel like visiting a foreign country for some motorists — they do not understand the language and are worried about being taken advantage of by the locals. However, a trip to the repair shop can be much easier — and less stressful — if you select a quality facility and learn to speak “auto tech.”
 When communicating with an automotive technician, AAA recommends motorists do the following:
• Before taking the vehicle to a repair facility, write down notes on the vehicle’s symptoms and performance so important information is not overlooked or forgotten. Include any observations, even if they seem silly or irrelevant.
• Describe to the technician the symptoms rather than solutions. Explain what has been seen, smelled, heard and felt while driving the vehicle. For example, does it vibrate or pull to the left? Explain under what type of driving conditions the problems takes place and how long ago they started.
• Try to be precise. Explain that a rattle under the hood starts at 40 mph or an issue occurs only on cold days after the engine has been running for 10 minutes.
• When describing symptoms, refer to the driver side and passenger side instead of the right or left side of the vehicle.
• Whenever possible, test-drive the vehicle with the technician.
• Resist the temptation to use technical jargon unless you’re sure what it means. Explain what is being experienced in terms that do not direct the technician to a single solution. This will help eliminate unnecessary or ineffective work being performed due to misinterpretation or misdiagnosis.
• If the vehicle has been serviced recently, bring copies of the previous repair orders rather than try to explain what work was done.
There also are some things motorists can do to help protect themselves from unexpected charges or unneeded repairs. AAA recommends motorists:
• Ask questions if the technician uses jargon that is not understood or if something is not clearly explained. A quality technician should be willing to take time to clearly explain the problem in advance of the repair and the proposed solution. If the technician does not explain the problem and the remedy in a clear and convincing manner, or suggests the repair is too complicated to explain, consider seeking a second opinion from another shop.
• Always read the repair order before signing it and authorizing any work. Look for specific instructions detailing the maintenance to be done, or the condition to be corrected and work to be performed. If the language is vague or unclear, such as “fix engine noise,” ask that it be rewritten. In some cases, it makes sense to ask that a diagnosis be performed and an estimate provided before a final repair is authorized.
• Read over the bill, and question any charges that are not clear. Insist that descriptions of parts, not just the serial numbers, be listed on the final invoice. In some cases, motorists might want to specify in advance that the shop will show them the parts that are to be removed and replaced on the vehicle.
• Before authorizing a repair, be sure to obtain a written description of the warranty the shop provides, including the warranty on parts and labor. Most repairs should carry a warranty of at least 12 months and 10,000 miles.
 To better understand some of the technical terms associated with auto repair, check out AAA’s Auto Repair Dictionary at AAA.com/ PublicAffairs.

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House Speaker Robert DeLeo and AAA President Mark A. Shaw spoke at the State House.

 AAA Southern New England’s traffic safety initiatives highlighted the agenda when auto club President and CEO Mark A. Shaw met with House Speaker Robert DeLeo at the Massachusetts State House recently.
 With seatbelt usage in the Bay State significantly lower than the national average, Mr. Shaw articulated his club members’ support of a primary seatbelt law and explained how AAA is part of a broad-based coalition advocating for passage of the law before year-end.
 He cited recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics indicating that 27 lives could be saved and $260 million in catastrophic health care costs eliminated in Massachusetts each year through passage of comprehensive seatbelt legislation.
 In anticipation of a national Distracted Driving Summit in the nation’s capital hosted by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray Lahood, Mr. Shaw also discussed the urgent need for a texting-while-driving ban in the state. He shared with the Speaker statistics showing that texting is one of the most dangerous – and deadly – activities engaged in by motorists. The passage of texting bans in all 50 states by 2013 is one of AAA’s major public policy goals, said Mr. Shaw.
 A brief discussion of the new AAA-RMV partnership concluded the conversation. Mr. Shaw updated the Speaker on the status of a pilot program – drawing rave reviews across eastern and central Massachusetts – that lets AAA members renew their auto registrations and drivers’ licenses at the Newton and Worcester AAA offices. This public-private partnership affords members shorter lines, Saturday hours and a valuable alternative to doing business at a state RMV office. At a time when state revenues are declining, the expansion of this successful program may prove to be an extraordinary win-win for the state and its 4.7 million motorists.

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Thanks to seatbelts and car seats, Courtney Palek and her children were not seriously injured — though their car was.

 The first patent for a seatbelt was issued in 1849. In 1949, the first factory-installed seatbelts appeared in a few cars. In 1966, the Highway Safety Act and National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act were passed, giving the federal government the authority to require seatbelts in all cars. In 2001, seatbelt usage hit 73 percent.
And in 2009, seatbelts and child restraints likely saved the lives of Courtney Palek and her three young children, four of the hundreds of thousands of lives that have been saved by seatbelts since the1960s, according to the National Institutes of Health.
 Ms. Palek wasted no time turning a near-tragedy into an educational tool; days after the February crash, she called the Hingham Police to see how she could spread the word about the importance of safety belts and child restraints.
 The week after the accident, Ms. Palek said, “We were still shaken. And then the bruises started to appear.”
 Little bruises on her little passengers showed up where their safety straps had prevented them from flying out of their seats.
 “The bruises drove home the point that we were all so fortunate,” Ms. Palek said. “If we were not buckled in, who knows what might have happened?”
Ms. Palek was driving her infant and two toddlers the few miles home from their grandmother’s house, a little before 7 p.m. Feb. 19. As she approached the top of a hill, she could see a driver coming toward her at what turned out to be twice the speed limit.
 “His headlights were all over the place,” Ms. Palek said.
 “The driver, allegedly drunk with a previous drunk-driving conviction, was driving 60 to 70 mph in a 30-mph zone,” said Sgt. Steven Dearth of the Hingham Police Department.
 Since Ms. Palek saw the oncoming car, she was able to do some maneuvering to avoid a head-on collision, instead directing the brunt of the impact into her front passenger side – where no one was sitting.
“I’m so thankful that I was paying attention,” she said. “I wasn’t on my cell phone or changing the station.”
 The impact threw her minivan into the oncoming traffic lane – luckily, she said, there were no cars. The other driver’s car flipped over, landing on its roof. He, too, was wearing a seatbelt and was not seriously injured.
 Pictures of the aftermath suggest that, as Ms. Palek said, the outcome could have been much worse than it was. The front right side of the van is demolished, a door hangs tentatively from the body of the vehicle, and the windshield is warped and shattered.
 When asked if the crash could have been deadly, Sgt. Dearth said simply: “It was bad. It was a head-on collision, as far as we’re concerned. Courtney’s van was struck, spun around, off the road and onto the sidewalk.”
 And no one died. There were no broken bones. That’s the message Ms. Palek and Sgt. Dearth have been trying to spread. You’ve heard it many times before, but you can see it in this mother and her three children: Seatbelts save lives.

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State Trooper Steven J. Haynes and the DOT’s Dan DiBiasio used dummies to show what happens in a rollover.

   The car body twirled around, mesmerizing the crowd that had gathered.
   It was no accident the Rhode Island State Police were on hand – they brought their rollover simulator to AAA’s Providence Headquarters parking lot to show how harmful it can be not to buckle up.
   “It’s amazing,” said Harry Hunt, whose son James is a member of Warwick’s Wolf Pack 4, one of the many scouting dens, packs and troops attending the seatbelt-safety event.
   AAA’s Traffic Safety Education Specialist Diana Imondi Dias organized the demonstration to help reinforce and increase seatbelt use in the Ocean State.
“When a car rolls over and the people inside aren’t wearing their seatbelts, what happens?” Ms. Imondi Dias asked to open the program.
“People fly,” a boy answered.
   “That’s right. People fly around and can be ejected,” Ms. Imondi Dias said.
Before Trooper Steven J. Haynes began the simulations, she shared a story about a friend who wore her seatbelt “99 percent of the time.”
   “She was in a hurry this one morning and thought she would put it on at the stop sign at the end of her street, before she got to the highway,” Ms. Imondi Dias began. “The only problem is she never made it to the end of her street – she hit a big patch of black ice. She had an SUV and skidded up on an embankment, and it rolled over.
   “It wasn’t traveling fast, and she survived, but she had a lot of serious injuries,” Ms. Imondi Dias said. “Afterward, she said it was the first time in years she had not worn her seatbelt. So, remember every trip, every time, you have to buckle up.”
   The rollover simulation gave a glimpse at how the laws of physics play out during a rollover, when force and motion can be catastrophic for occupants.
In the first round of the demonstration, dummies were belted in to show how secure a driver and passengers are during a rollover if they’re wearing their seatbelts.
   In the second part, seatbelts were unbuckled, and people saw how the lifeless bodies flopped around the vehicle – a child’s falling out of an open window in the back and onto the pavement.
   Rhode Island Department of Transportation Highway Safe­ty Program Coordinator Dan DiBiasio asked the group how many play video games.
When several children rais­ed their hands, he asked them what they do if something crashes or goes wrong in the video game.
   “Hit the reset button,” many shouted.
   “There’s no reset button in life, guys,” Mr. DiBiasio said. “This isn’t a game. It’s serious.”
   
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AAA’s Traffic Safety Manager and Car Doctor John Paul spoke in favor of proposed “Right to Repair” legislation.

   Barry Steinberg may preside over a chain of automotive repair facilities, but when he encountered a problem with his own Audi, he had to bring it back to the dealer.
   Despite investing thousands of dollars in equipment to read the sophisticated computer codes on today’s vehicles, Mr. Steinberg could not access the information he needed to figure out what was happening with his oxygen sensor.
   “It’s kind of embarrassing,” he said. “I’m a disgruntled consumer.”
   Mr. Steinberg shared his story with the Massachusetts’ Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure in a recent hearing at the State House. He was one of dozens to speak in favor of proposed “Right to Repair” legislation.
   If passed, the law would guarantee repair shops and consumers access to automotive service information and tools. It would prohibit the current practice of auto manufacturers restricting access to repair information.
   AAA Southern New England supports “Right to Repair” because it would let consumers choose where to have their cars fixed and because proper maintenance equals better vehicle safety, said John Paul, AAA’s Car Doctor and a certified master automobile technician.
   “I believe a person who owns a car owns everything in the car, including the technology — not trade secrets, but the information needed to get the car repaired,” Mr. Paul said.
   When he first entered the business 35 years ago, a typical vehicle repair manual was the size of a typical big-city Yellow Pages that any shop could follow. Today, on the popular online database ALLDATA, there are millions of pages of technical information on repairing and servicing cars. But even at that, car manufacturers hold the easy secrets to unlocking many computer codes that control everything from tire pressure to oil changes and ignition keys to brakes.
   “I get e-mails from all over the country from people who can’t get their cars fixed at an independent shop,” Mr. Paul said. “The lack of information seems to be a problem.
   “Can a local repair shop fix a car with enough time?” he added. “Sure, but time is money, and the consumer ends up paying for it.”
   
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Ask your doctor if a medication could impair your driving.

   Most motorists older than 55 are not aware of the potential danger of combining medications and driving, according to a recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
   The study found that while 78 percent of respondents in that age group take medications, just over one in four did not know about the possible impacts on driving.
   “Health-care professionals need to educate patients about their potentially drive-impairing medications to help them make safe driving decisions,” said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger. “One of our goals is to help older drivers stay mobile as long as safely possible; so, it is imperative that we do a better job of educating drivers on known risks, such as the side effects of medications.”
   According to the study, 95 percent of respondents have one or more medical conditions and 78 percent use one or more medications; yet only 28 percent indicated some awareness of the potential impact on driving performance associated with those medications.
   Few respondents — 18 percent — had received a warning about potentially driver-impairing medications (such as ACE inhibitors, sedatives and beta blockers) from a health-care professional.
   Further, the study found that such warnings do not increase with additional numbers of medications or medical conditions.
   Previous research indicates that use of a single potentially driver-impairing medication and use of multiple medications increases the risk of being in a crash.
Study participants ranged in age from 56 to 93, and the level of awareness of potentially driver-impairing medications decreased with age; in contrast, the number of prescription medications people were taking increased.
   Of those surveyed, 69 percent use one or more potentially driver-impairing prescription medication, and 10 percent use five or more potentially driver-impairing prescription medications.
   With the number of drivers aged 55 years and older expected to increase by more than half, this issue will only continue to grow unless measures are taken to increase awareness about medications that can impact safe diving.
   For more information or to see the full report, visit www.AAAFoundation.org.
   
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   Batteries have an average life of three to five years. Simple care and maintenance can keep your battery performing reliably throughout its life.
1. Keep your battery case and brackets free of corrosion. If you see cracks/oozing on top of the case, replace the battery.
2. Corrosion and deposits interfere with the flow of electric current. Have your battery terminals and posts cleaned regularly by a trained technician.
3. Inspect brackets. If they are heavily corroded, replace them or have them replaced. Also make sure they secure the battery firmly. Loose brackets will allow the battery to vibrate, shortening its life and possibly damaging other components.
4. Tighten any loose cables.
5. Check the tension and condition of your fan belt. A loose fan belt can affect the battery’s ability to recharge. If a fan belt is frayed or cracked, replace it or have a professional do so.
6. Turn off accessories before turning off your vehicle. Leaving on your radio, car alarm, wipers, headlights, navigation device and inside lights can drain your battery.
7. Keep your battery fully charged when your car is not in use, especially if you won’t be using it for two weeks or more. Use a AAA Battery Tender to keep the battery charged.
8. Jump-starting a battery may restart your car and get you back on the go, but it doesn’t fix the reason the car didn’t start. If your car needs a jump, have the battery and electrical system checked.
9. Watch and listen for warning signs. If your headlights dim when you idle but brighten when you rev the engine, it could signal an electrical problem. If you hear grinding/clicking when cranking the ignition, the battery may be weak.
   
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   Read. Read. Read – and then read some more.
That’s the advice AAA Public Affairs’ Fran Mayko has for parents looking for the perfect car seat for their newborn or the first forward-facing car seat for bigger babes.
   “There’s no right or wrong way to choose a car seat,” she said. “You have to research car seats, and once your homework is done, the best car seat is the one that fits your child, that fits your car and that fits your pocketbook.”
Infants
   The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all infants ride rear-facing starting with their first ride home until they are at least 1 year of age and weight at least 20 pounds.
   There are two types of rear-facing car-safety seats – infant-only seats and convertible seats.
Ms. Mayko recommends infant-only seats, which are small and have carrying handles. Many come with a base that can be left in the car.
   “First, it fits the child perfectly,” Ms. Mayko said. “Second, it’s convenient – it’s easier to handle a newborn in a carrier, and they’re making these to go to higher weights.”
   Convertible seats can be used rear-facing then converted to forward-facing for older children.
   While this means the seat can be used longer, these seats are bulkier than infant- only seats and don’t come with carrying handles or a separate base.
Forward-Facing
   Once your child has reached the highest weight or height allowed by the rear-facing seat manufacturer, the child can ride forward-facing in a convertible seat.
However, it’s best for him or her to ride rear-facing to the highest weight or height allowed by the seat manufacturer.
   While some state laws might permit children to move to a forward-facing position after 1 year and 20 pounds, this is the minimum requirement, and Ms. Mayko recommends parents keep their children rear-facing as long as possible.
“If you saw the crash-dynamic videos and realized how it affects the human body – let alone an infant, before the spinal cord and neck have developed – you, as an adult, would want to ride rear-facing,” she said.
   Several types of car-safety seats can be used forward-facing:
   • Convertible seats – converts from rear-facing to forward-facing seats.
   • Forward-facing toddler seats – can be used forward-facing with a harness for children who weigh up to 40 to 65 pounds or without the harness, as a booster, up to 80 to 120 pounds.
   • Combination forward-facing/booster seats – can be used forward-facing with a harness for children who weigh up to 40 to 65 pounds or without the harness, as a booster, up to 80 to 120 pounds.
   • Integrated child-safety seats – forward-facing seats come built-in in some vehicles such as Mercedes and BMWs. Weight and height limits vary.
   “The ability to change a baby to forward-facing all depends on the seat requirements, and each seat is different,” Ms. Mayko said. “When the baby is the appropriate weight and height, parents can turn them forward-facing.”
   
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