march 31, 2016 1d tire tips for parents on the go · 2005 toyota camry 2.4l 16v gasoline auto 83k...

6
(BPT) - A growing num- ber of children are not content to keep all their ef- forts inside the classroom or play video games. They seek out different outlets like sports - especially soc- cer, which makes the largest youth sports organization in America - in order to learn, socialize and have fun. Ac- cording to data from the U.S. Census, nearly six out of 10 children between the ages of 6 and 17 are involved in at least one after school extra- curricular activity. Children are stepping out to stay ac- tive, but they need some help to get there - literally. Even world-class soccer players on English Premier League champion Chelsea FC once needed parents to drive them around. However, before kids can even hit the soccer field, the vehicles that get them there need to run smoothly, espe- cially the tires. “With all the soccer practices and games, parents are putting a lot of extra miles on their tires,” says Pat Keating, senior manager, technical engi- neering for Yokohama Tire Corporation, manufacturer of a variety of tires for pas- senger cars, SUVs, buses and trucks. “Taking just five minutes a month to check your tires can make a world of difference in how well they perform.” “The reason to check your tires monthly is to make sure they are properly in- flated and the tread depth is still good. For example, the Rubber Manufactur- ers Association reports a car can lose up to 2 pounds per-square-inch (psi) each month under normal driving conditions, and up to 2 psi for every 10 degrees F tem- perature drop. A tire that is underinflated by only 8 psi can reduce fuel economy by up to 2 percent, which means higher gas bill at the pump and fewer funds for soccer league fees, new equipment or jerseys.” It’s best to check your tires when they are cold, which means at least four hours since the vehicle was driven. Use a reliable tire gauge and make sure the valve is free of debris and water. The correct tire pres- sure is actually specified by the manufacturer of the vehicle, not the tire manu- facturer. You can find the proper inflation levels on a placard on the inside of the car door or in the owner’s manual. Keating offers more tips for parents so they can get the most out of their tires year-round: • Check your tread depth by placing a penny upside down into a tread groove. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, your tire’s tread has worn down to the legal limit and you need to buy new tires. • Tires must be replaced when the tread is worn down to 2/32 of an inch (the lowest legal limit). It’s best to re- place them before they reach 2/32 depending on your drive (geographically and type of streets). • Rotating your tires regu- larly promotes even wear of the tread. Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. • Check your alignment at least once a year or sooner, especially if the vehicle is pulling to one side. This will help avoid uneven wear on tire tread. Tire balance should also be monitored. “Tires influence braking, steering, comfort, handling and even fuel efficiency,” adds Keating.” You can’t play soccer without a ball, and you can’t drive without tires. They are the only part of a vehicle that actually touches the road so maintaining them well is essential.” Having the right tires is also as important as hav- ing the right equipment in sports, Keating reports. “Certain tires offer specific benefits, so it’s imperative to find the tire that fits your car’s requirements. Case in point would be the GEOLAN- DAR A/T G015, a new tire that’s coming out soon. It’s specifically engineered for SUVs, crossovers, vans and pick-up trucks with its in- creased durability and abil- ity to perform well on a vari- ety of road surfaces.” Help your kids kick off their season right by giving your tires some extra care. Tire maintenance is one ex- tra-curricular activity you can’t afford to miss. For more tire information, care and safety tips visit www.yokohamatire.com/ tires-101 or www.rma.org. (c) 2016 by Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc. Tire tips for parents on the go 1D Thursday, March 31, 2016 Dear Car Talk: The air suspension system on my 2003 Lincoln Navigator seems to work fine -- until the cold weather sets in. The dealer replaced the com- pressor and the right and left front sen- sors, to no avail. In cold weather, the car will lift after driving a few miles, and then it seems to run fine. Are the suspension air bags just old and stiff, and hard to get started on cold morn- ings, like me? -- Bon- nie Yeah, I’m afraid so, Bonnie. The compressor was a good guess. But since that didn’t solve the problem, I’m guessing the bags themselves are old and porous, and are leaking down over- night. So, when you get going in the morning, it takes some time before they inflate completely. I’d ask your dealer what he thinks. He’s probably fixed a gajillion of these things through- out the years. Of course, he al- ready replaced your compressor and sen- sors without fixing the problem. If you’re planning to keep this car, then one way or another you need to get it fixed. You can have the bags replaced, and hope that does the trick. There’s not much else to replace after that. Or you can look into converting the suspension to a more conventional coil spring and strut sys- tem. There are kits for that. Either way, you’re probably looking at a few hundred bucks in parts, plus the labor. Hopefully, like the bags, the prices won’t be too inflated. Good luck, Bonnie. *** Used cars can be a great bargain, and reli- able, too! Find out why by ordering Click and Clack’s pamphlet “How to Buy a Great Used Car: Secrets Only Your Mechanic Knows.” Send $4.75 (check or money order) to Car Talk/Used Car, 628 Vir- ginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. *** Got a question about cars? Write to Car Talk in care of this newspa- per, or email by visit- ing the Car Talk web- site at www.cartalk. com. Air bags in suspension systems can wear out over time with RAY MAGLIOZZI JUST THE FACTS 2016 Chevrolet Impala Chevy’s flagship sedan is no longer the queen of the rental fleet: It’s big, bold, and (more) beautiful, with a spacious, well-trimmed cabin. It also has the lat- est electronics—including an optional Wi-Fi hotspot—and a much improved driving experience with a well-damped ride and respectable handling. Revisions are few from its 2014 intro: The mild hybrid is dropped, the 2.5-liter four gets stop-start technology, and the 3.6-liter V-6 will offer CNG/bi-fuel technology later in the year. Engine Transmission Brakes Horsepower Overall length Fuel consumption 2.5L 4-cylinder 6-speed automatic pwr/4-wheel ABS 196 @ 6,300 rpm 201.3” 21 city/31 highway mpg $27,970 * *Base sticker, prices may vary

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Page 1: March 31, 2016 1D Tire tips for parents on the go · 2005 Toyota Camry 2.4L 16v gasoline auto 83k miles Tan/Gray, clean title, $3200. Call (816) 384-8451 Volkswagen 2009 Jetta TDI,

(BPT) - A growing num-ber of children are not content to keep all their ef-forts inside the classroom or play video games. They seek out different outlets like sports - especially soc-cer, which makes the largest youth sports organization in America - in order to learn, socialize and have fun. Ac-cording to data from the U.S. Census, nearly six out of 10 children between the ages of 6 and 17 are involved in at least one after school extra-curricular activity. Children are stepping out to stay ac-tive, but they need some help to get there - literally. Even world-class soccer players on English Premier League champion Chelsea FC once needed parents to drive them around.

However, before kids can even hit the soccer field, the vehicles that get them there need to run smoothly, espe-cially the tires. “With all the soccer practices and games, parents are putting a lot of extra miles on their tires,” says Pat Keating, senior manager, technical engi-neering for Yokohama Tire Corporation, manufacturer of a variety of tires for pas-senger cars, SUVs, buses and trucks. “Taking just five minutes a month to check your tires can make a world of difference in how well they perform.”

“The reason to check your tires monthly is to make sure they are properly in-flated and the tread depth is still good. For example, the Rubber Manufactur-ers Association reports a car can lose up to 2 pounds per-square-inch (psi) each month under normal driving conditions, and up to 2 psi for every 10 degrees F tem-perature drop. A tire that is underinflated by only 8 psi can reduce fuel economy by up to 2 percent, which means higher gas bill at the pump and fewer funds for soccer league fees, new equipment or jerseys.”

It’s best to check your tires when they are cold, which means at least four hours since the vehicle was driven. Use a reliable tire gauge and make sure the valve is free of debris and water. The correct tire pres-sure is actually specified by the manufacturer of the vehicle, not the tire manu-facturer. You can find the proper inflation levels on a placard on the inside of the

car door or in the owner’s manual.

Keating offers more tips for parents so they can get the most out of their tires year-round:

• Check your tread depth by placing a penny upside down into a tread groove. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, your tire’s tread has worn down to the legal limit and you need to buy new tires.

• Tires must be replaced when the tread is worn down to 2/32 of an inch (the lowest legal limit). It’s best to re-place them before they reach 2/32 depending on your drive (geographically and type of streets).

• Rotating your tires regu-larly promotes even wear of the tread. Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles.

• Check your alignment at least once a year or sooner, especially if the vehicle is pulling to one side. This will help avoid uneven wear on tire tread. Tire balance should also be monitored.

“Tires influence braking, steering, comfort, handling and even fuel efficiency,” adds Keating.” You can’t play soccer without a ball, and you can’t drive without tires. They are the only part of a vehicle that actually touches the road so maintaining them well is essential.”

Having the right tires is also as important as hav-ing the right equipment in sports, Keating reports. “Certain tires offer specific benefits, so it’s imperative to find the tire that fits your car’s requirements. Case in point would be the GEOLAN-DAR A/T G015, a new tire that’s coming out soon. It’s specifically engineered for SUVs, crossovers, vans and pick-up trucks with its in-creased durability and abil-ity to perform well on a vari-ety of road surfaces.”

Help your kids kick off their season right by giving your tires some extra care. Tire maintenance is one ex-tra-curricular activity you can’t afford to miss.

For more tire information, care and safety tips visit www.yokohamatire.com/tires-101 or www.rma.org.

(c) 2016 by Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman

Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Tire tips for parents on the go

1DThursday,March 31, 2016

Dear Car Talk:

The air suspension system on my 2003 Lincoln Navigator seems to work fine -- until the cold weather sets in. The dealer replaced the com-pressor and the right and left front sen-sors, to no avail. In cold weather, the car will lift after driving a few miles, and then it seems to run fine. Are the suspension air bags just old and stiff, and hard to get started on cold morn-ings, like me? -- Bon-nie

Yeah, I’m afraid so, Bonnie.

The compressor was a good guess. But since that didn’t solve the problem, I’m guessing the bags themselves are old and porous, and are leaking down over-night.

So, when you get going in the morning, it takes some time before they inflate completely. I’d ask your dealer what he thinks. He’s probably fixed a gajillion of these things through-out the years.

Of course, he al-ready replaced your compressor and sen-sors without fixing the problem.

If you’re planning to keep this car, then one way or another you need to get it fixed. You can have the bags replaced, and hope that does the trick. There’s not much else to replace after that.

Or you can look into converting the suspension to a more conventional coil spring and strut sys-tem. There are kits for that.

Either way, you’re probably looking at a few hundred bucks in parts, plus the labor. Hopefully, like the bags, the prices won’t be too inflated. Good luck, Bonnie.

***Used cars can be a

great bargain, and reli-able, too! Find out why by ordering Click and Clack’s pamphlet “How to Buy a Great Used Car: Secrets Only Your Mechanic Knows.” Send $4.75 (check or money order) to Car Talk/Used Car, 628 Vir-ginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

***Got a question about

cars? Write to Car Talk in care of this newspa-per, or email by visit-ing the Car Talk web-site at www.cartalk.com.

Air bags in suspension systems can wear out over time

withRAY MAGLIOZZI

JUST THE FACTS2016 ChevroletImpala

Chevy’s flagship sedan is no longer the queen of the rental fleet: It’s big, bold, and (more) beautiful, with a spacious, well-trimmed cabin. It also has the lat-est electronics—including an optional Wi-Fi hotspot—and a much improved driving experience with a well-damped ride and respectable handling. Revisions are few from its 2014 intro: The mild hybrid is dropped, the 2.5-liter four gets stop-start technology, and the 3.6-liter V-6 will offer CNG/bi-fuel technology later in the year.

EngineTransmissionBrakesHorsepowerOverall lengthFuel consumption

2.5L 4-cylinder6-speed automaticpwr/4-wheel ABS196 @ 6,300 rpm 201.3”21 city/31 highway mpg

$27,970**Base sticker, prices may vary

Page 2: March 31, 2016 1D Tire tips for parents on the go · 2005 Toyota Camry 2.4L 16v gasoline auto 83k miles Tan/Gray, clean title, $3200. Call (816) 384-8451 Volkswagen 2009 Jetta TDI,

Thursday, March 31, 2016Section D, Page 2 GUIDON

Page 3: March 31, 2016 1D Tire tips for parents on the go · 2005 Toyota Camry 2.4L 16v gasoline auto 83k miles Tan/Gray, clean title, $3200. Call (816) 384-8451 Volkswagen 2009 Jetta TDI,

Thursday, March 31, 2016 Section D, Page 3GUIDON

Lots/Acreage/Farm Land for Sale

Handyman needed in exchange forroom/board. Painting, repairs, gardening.

Experience req., retiree ok, for 15-20hrs/wk. Lynchburg-area furnished apt.utilities incl. Temp position, prepping

to move. Ref. req. (417) 668-0055

Acura 2004 TL, Sedan, 83698 mi., 4 dr.,Automatic, good cond., Gray ext.,Anti-Lock Brakes, Leather Interior,

Moonroof, Navigation System, PowerLocks, Power Steering, $3004.

(915)247-8981

Buick 1991 LeSabre: starts and runs good,but needs some work. Asking $900 orbest offer. Please call 417-830-1545

ûûûûûûûûûûûûûûûûûûûû

Chevrolet 2013 Sonic, Sedan, 39,250 mi.,4 dr., Automatic, Turbo, Leather interior,

Great cond., Red ext., Black int.,04 Cylinders, FWD, If you are looking, thiscar is a must see, $10,799. (417)894-5461

Ford 1990 Thunderbird Supercoupe 35thAnn. Editi, 4000 Mid, 18 mi, Stored sincenew, still in plastic as delivered, Original

owner, $15,395 OBO 417-881-6733

2005 Toyota Camry 2.4L 16v gasoline auto83k miles Tan/Gray, clean title, $3200.

Call (816) 384-8451

Volkswagen 2009 Jetta TDI, 43K mi.,6-speed auto, cold weather package,

$12,500. û 417-771-5124 û

Lincoln 1994 Mark VIII, used excellentcondition, Over $26,000 paid for completerestoration. Engine rebuilt with less than

3,000 miles. û Call for Details! û$6,500. (417) 337-1990

Awesome 2010 Cadillac Escalade, SUV,4 dr., l, Black ext., Black int. CaptainSeats, Sunroof, AWD, $26,899.(417)987-4767

GMC 2011 Terrain, SUV, 60,000 mi., 06Cylinders, SLT2 417-466-8188 or

366-3079, $18000.

Chrysler 2006 Town & CountryMinivan, 66,000 mi., Silver, Gray interior,

û Great Condition! û $4,775/OBOCall/text Ned: 417-754-1279

Springfield, Single Family Home, quietcul-de-sac, 3 bdrm, 2 ba, 1500 sq. ft., builtin 2000, fncd yard w/ fire pit, frpl, laundry

rm, $129,900. (417)773-0603

10.22 Acres Well, Electric, Wooded,$35,000 with $3,500 down, $299.98 permonth 9.26 acres Wooded, with $500down, $257.13 per month5 Acres open and trees, large pond,with $900 down, $276.17 per month5 Acres, Wooded, with $300 down,$201.89 per month 3 acres, Open andWooded, fenced, with $500 down,$209.51 per month.Mobile homes OK on all!Call Deborah @ 417-860-8846

Marshfield û 703 East Jackson St.3 BR 1 BA ranch, hardwood floors,

lg fenced yard, shed, many updates.OPEN HOUSE SUN 4/3, 3-5pm

û $64,900 û 417-860-3612 û

the MOST coverage

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Buy, Sell, or Trade. Call 1-800-695-1870 to place your classified ad today!

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Page 4: March 31, 2016 1D Tire tips for parents on the go · 2005 Toyota Camry 2.4L 16v gasoline auto 83k miles Tan/Gray, clean title, $3200. Call (816) 384-8451 Volkswagen 2009 Jetta TDI,

Thursday, March 31, 2016Section D, Page 4 GUIDON

Toyota Financial Ser-vices (TFS) recognized today 100 high school students who overcame considerable hardships on their paths to college, presenting them with $1 million in scholarships. This is the first year in which TFS has expand-ed its Making Life Easi-er scholarship program to $1 million. The pro-gram provides scholar-ships to underserved students through Boys & Girls Clubs of Amer-ica, as well as other TFS nonprofit partners.

To celebrate their achievements, volun-teer work and future

success, more than 30 students and their fami-lies joined TFS associ-ates at a Community Day event today in Tor-rance, Calif., featur-ing retired NBA player and philanthropist AC Green. Green is a Boys & Girls Clubs alumnus, and he spoke to the youth about his experi-ences, the importance of mentors and moral character. Among those in attendance was Hel-en Yuan, a past scholar-ship recipient and now TFS intern.

“My journey with Toy-ota Financial Services has definitely helped

shape the person I am today,” Yuan said. “TFS provided me the finan-cial stability to make my college life easier, and now they are help-ing me establish the foundation for my ca-reer.”

As one piece of TFS’ national giving efforts, the Making Life Easier scholarships program allows economically disadvantaged youth to attend higher educa-tion by providing up to $20,000 for university, college, trade or voca-tional school tuition and fees.

Since 2007, TFS has

provided $2.4 million in Making Life Easier scholarships to more than 500 deserving stu-dents.

The scholarship pro-gram originated with the Boys and Girls Clubs of East Los An-geles and expanded to include Chandler Edu-cation Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Amer-ica Youth of the Year awardees, Boys & Girls Clubs participating in the TFS-sponsored col-lege readiness initiative Diplomas to Degrees (d2D), and select non-profit partners across the nation.

“Toyota Financial Ser-vices is committed to reaching more commu-nities and more promis-ing students through our national philanthropic efforts and partner-ship with Boys & Girls Clubs of America,” said George Borst, president and CEO of Toyota Fi-nancial Services.

“This year’s program expansion will allow these students to fur-ther their education and build on their individual experiences, providing them with better oppor-tunities and a brighter future.”

“All of us at Boys &

Girls Clubs of America appreciate Toyota’s ef-forts to help prepare students for higher edu-cation and fill the finan-cial gaps they face for tuition,” said John Mill-er, national vice presi-dent of organizational and executive develop-ment for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

“These young people overcome immense challenges in pursuit of their education, and programs like Diplomas to Degrees and Making Life Easier give a need-ed boost for greater accomplishments and stronger communities.”

Toyota Financial Services expands student scholarship program

(BPT) - As you hit the road for this year’s va-cation, you may see an increasing number of vehicles on the sides of the highway broken down either with me-chanical problems or flat tires. Don’t derail your travel fun by being one of them. A few sim-ple steps will help you avoid being stuck on the side of the road - or at least be prepared in the event it happens.

Get your vehicle road-ready by doing sev-eral easy maintenance checks before you hit the highway. Routine review of the basics can save you expensive vehicle repairs, should damaged parts go unde-tected.

• Check your coolant level and inspect for cracked hoses, broken belts and leaks. To help keep engine tempera-tures low, try using a ra-diator coolant additive like Purple Ice from premium synthetic lu-bricant manufacturer Royal Purple. Purple Ice is a radiator con-ditioner that reduces coolant temperatures, improves performance and provides maximum protection.

• The most important safety feature on your vehicle is your brakes. When you hear them squealing, however, it’s not necessarily a sign that they need to be re-placed. You should be concerned about your

brakes when you hear a scraping or grinding noise. Brakes should be replaced when the lin-ing on your brake pad or brake shoe has worn down past the minimum thickness specified or

required by state law. Allowing the scraping or grinding sound to go on for too long without an inspection could re-sult in costly repairs.

• Replace your wind-shield wiper blades be-

fore you get caught in a rain storm. If your wipers are leaving streaks or they do not clear away light rain in one pass, you need to replace them. A quick visit to an auto parts store will get you the right blades for the make, model and year of your vehicle. If the store does not offer in-stallation, carefully reading the instruc-tions and observe the

way the original blades were attached before making the change.

• Have an emergency kit handy in your trunk, in case you do break down on the road. These can either be purchased

as an assembled kit or you can put your own together. Items to in-clude are: jumper ca-bles, jack and tire iron, water for the radiator and you, emergency flares and reflectors, gloves, screwdrivers and wrenches in vari-ous sizes, a quart of oil, blanket, towel and flash-light. Always have your emergency roadside service numbers handy in your wallet and in the glove box.

Being stuck on the side of the road can be a hassle and can be expen-sive. Taking the time to do simple maintenance checks and being pre-pared in the event of an emergency will save time and money.

Take precautions to make sure your car’s safe on the road

Page 5: March 31, 2016 1D Tire tips for parents on the go · 2005 Toyota Camry 2.4L 16v gasoline auto 83k miles Tan/Gray, clean title, $3200. Call (816) 384-8451 Volkswagen 2009 Jetta TDI,

Thursday, March 31, 2016 Section D, Page 5GUIDON

From the Missouri Department of Revenue

WEAR THE RIGHT GEAR

When you ride, your gear is “right” if it pro-tects you. In any crash, you have a far better chance of avoiding seri-ous injury if you wear:

• An approved hel-met.

• Face or eye protec-tion.

• Protective clothing.HELMET USECrashes can occur

— particularly among untrained beginning riders. And one out of every five motorcycle crashes result in head or neck injuries. Head injuries are just as se-vere as neck injuries — and far more common.

Crash analyses show that head and neck in-juries account for a majority of serious and fatal injuries to motor-cyclists. Research also shows that, with few ex-ceptions, head and neck injuries are reduced by the proper wearing of an approved helmet.

Missouri law requires all motorcycle or motor-tricycle operators and passengers to wear pro-tective headgear at all times the vehicle is in motion on the highways of this state.

Consider the follow-ing facts:

• An approved helmet lets you see as far to the sides as necessary. A study of more than

900 motorcycle crashes, where 40% of the rid-ers wore helmets, did not find even one case in which a helmet kept a rider from spotting danger.

• Most crashes happen on short trips (less than five miles long), just a few minutes after start-ing out.

• Most riders are rid-ing slower than 30 mph when a crash occurs. At these speeds, helmets can cut both the number and the severity of head injuries by half.

No matter what the speed, helmeted riders are three times more likely to survive head injuries than those not wearing helmets at the time of the crash.

PREPARING TO RIDE

What you do before you start a trip goes a long way toward deter-mining whether or not you’ll get where you want to go safely.

Before taking off on any trip, a safe rider makes a point to:

1. Wear the right gear.2. Become familiar

with the motorcycle.3. Check the motorcy-

cle equipment.4. Be a responsible

rider.WEAR THE RIGHT

GEAR• Meets U.S. Depart-

ment of Transportation (DOT) and state stan-dards. Helmets with a label from the Snell Me-morial Foundation give you an added assurance

of quality.• Fits snugly, all the

way around.• Has no obvious de-

fects such as cracks, loose padding or frayed straps.

Whatever helmet you decide on, keep it se-curely fastened on your head when you ride. Otherwise, if you are involved in a crash, it’s likely to fly off your head before it gets a chance to protect you.

EYE AND FACE PRO-TECTION

A plastic shatter-re-sistant faceshield can help protect your whole face in a crash. It also protects you from wind, dust, dirt, rain, insects, and pebbles thrown up from cars ahead. These problems are distract-ing and can be painful. If you have to deal with them, you can’t devote

your full at-tention to the road.

G o g g l e s protect your eyes, though they won’t protect the rest of your face like a f a c e s h i e l d does. A wind-shield is not a substitute for a faceshield or goggles. Most windshields will not pro-tect your eyes from the wind. Neither will eyeglasses or s u n g l a s s e s .

Glasses won’t keep your eyes from wa-tering, and they might blow off when you turn your head while riding.

To be effective, eye or faceshield protection must:

• Be free of scratches.• Be resistant to pen-

etration.• Give a clear view to

either side.• Fasten securely, so it

does not blow off.• Permit air to pass

through, to reduce fog-ging.

• Permit enough room for eyeglasses or sun-glasses, if needed.

Tinted eye protection should not be worn at night or any other time when little light is avail-able.

P R O T E C T I O N CLOTHING

The right clothing protects you in a col-

lision. It also provides comfort, as well as pro-tection from heat, cold, debris, and hot and moving parts of the mo-torcycle.

• Jacket and pants should cover arms and legs completely. They should fit snugly enough to keep from flapping in the wind, yet loosely enough to move freely.

Leather offers the most protection. Sturdy synthetic material pro-vides a lot of protection as well. Wear a jacket even in warm weather to prevent dehydration. Many are designed to protect without getting you overheated, even on summer days.

• Boots or shoes should be high and stur-dy enough to cover your ankles and give them support. Soles should be made of hard, durable slip resistant material. Keep heels short so they do not catch on rough surfaces. Tuck in laces so they won’t catch on your motorcycle.

• Gloves allow a bet-ter grip and help protect your hands in a crash. Your gloves should be made of leather or simi-lar durable material.

In cold or wet weath-er, your clothes should keep you warm and dry, as well as protect you from injury. You cannot control a motorcycle well if you are numb. Riding for long peri-ods in cold weather can cause severe chill and fatigue.

A winter jacket should resist wind and fit snug-ly at the neck, wrists, and waist.

Good-quality rainsuits designed for motorcy-cle riding resist tearing apart or ballooning up at high speeds.

KNOW YOUR MO-TORCYCLE

There are plenty of things on the highway that can cause you trou-ble. Your motorcycle should not be one of them. To make sure that your motorcycle won’t let you down:

• Read the owner’s manual first.

• Start with the right motorcycle for you.

• Be familiar with the motorcycle controls.

• Check the motorcy-cle before every ride.

• Keep it in safe rid-ing condition between rides.

• Avoid add-ons and modifications that make your motorcycle harder to handle.

THE RIGHT MOTOR-CYCLE FOR YOU

First, make sure your motorcycle is right for you. It should “fit” you. Your feet should reach the ground while you are seated on the motor-cycle.

At minimum, your street-legal motorcycle should have:

• Headlight, taillight and brakelight.

• Front and rear brakes.

• Turn signals.• Horn.• Two mirrors.

What you need to do before you take off on a motorcycle

From the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

1. What is alcohol-im-paired driving?

What many people refer to as “drunk driv-ing” is better described as “alcohol-impaired driving.” The first criminal laws targeting this problem prohib-ited intoxicated driv-ing, encouraging the notion that the problem was restricted to driv-ers who were visibly drunk. In fact, many al-cohol-impaired drivers do not appear drunk in the stereotypical way. Even small amounts of alcohol can impair the skills involved in driv-ing, but the persistent notion that the problem is predominantly one of drunk drivers has allowed many drink-ing drivers to decide they are not part of the problem. For these rea-sons, the term “alcohol-impaired driving” is a more accurate and pre-cise description of what is commonly referred to as drunk driving.

2. What does blood alcohol concentration (BAC) measure?

A BAC describes the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood, ex-pressed as weight of al-cohol per unit of volume of blood. For example, 0.08 percent BAC indi-cates 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.

3. What BAC is con-sidered illegal for driv-ers?

All 50 states and the District of Columbia have per se laws mak-ing it a crime to drive with a BAC at or above 0.08 percent. In all 50 states, drivers younger than 21 are prohibited from operating a ve-hicle with any detect-able blood alcohol. Most states define this as a BAC at or above 0.02 percent.

4. What is the effect of alcohol on crash risk?

In general, the prob-ability of a fatal crash increases steadily with increasing driver BAC. Fatal crash risk in-creases substantially after 0.05 percent BAC and climbs more rap-idly after 0.08 percent.At all BACs, the fa-tal crash risk is much higher among 16-20 year-old male drivers

than among 16-20 year-old female drivers or drivers 21 and older. At a BAC of 0.08 per-cent compared to a zero BAC, the likelihood of involvement in a fatal crash is 17 times as high among 16-20 year-old male drivers; the likeli-hood is about 5 times as high among 16-20 year-old female drivers, driv-ers ages 21-34 and driv-ers 35 and older.

The likelihood of in-volvement in a crash of any severity also in-creases steadily with increasing driver BAC. Gender differences are small, but the risks for drivers younger than 21 are much higher than the risks for drivers 21 and older across the range of BACs.

5. How many drinks does it take to become significantly impaired?

The effects of alcohol-ic drinks vary greatly because the rate of ab-sorption and the BAC attained varies from person to person due to factors such as weight, amount of fat tissue, and stomach contents. Some people can be substantially impaired after two drinks. In ad-dition, women can at-tain higher BACs and become more impaired than men who weigh the same and consume the same amount of alcohol because alcohol is pro-cessed differently by women and men.

Various organizations have developed charts intended to help people estimate their BACs based on the number of drinks consumed. These tables can be used to es-timate BACs, but they are subject to error.

6. Are beer and wine less impairing than hard liquor?

Impairment is not de-termined by the type

of drink but rather by the amount of alcohol ingested over a specific period of time. There is a similar amount of al-cohol in such standard drinks as a 12-ounce glass of beer, a 4-ounce glass of wine, and 1.25 ounces of 80-proof li-quor.

7. What proportion of motor vehicle crashes involves alcohol?

The most reliable in-formation about alco-hol involvement comes from fatal crashes. The proportion of fa-tally injured drivers with BACs at or above 0.08 percent has re-mained about a third since 1994 after declin-ing from nearly half in 1982. Such statistics do not mean that a third or more of all fatal crash-es are caused solely by alcohol, because al-cohol may be only one of several factors that contribute to a crash in-volving drinking driv-ers. An Institute study estimated that 13,452 deaths in 2005 were di-rectly attributable to alcohol.

8. How has the prev-alence of alcohol-im-paired driving changed over time?

The prevalence of alcohol-impaired driv-ing has been reduced but remains a major problem. In 2007, the National Highway Traf-fic Safety Administra-tion (NHTSA) under-took a national roadside breath survey in which data were collected during weekend nights. Patterned after 1996, 1986, and 1973 surveys, the 2007 survey found that 2.2 percent of driv-ers had BACs at or above 0.08 percent. This compares with 4.3 per-cent in 1996, 5.4 percent in 1986, and 7.5 percent in 1973.7 According to

NHTSA, the percent-age of drivers with any detectable alcohol in their systems declined almost as much from 1973 to 2007 as the per-centage of drivers with BACs at or above 0.08 percent.

Although the road-side surveys suggest that the prevalence of alcohol-impaired driv-ing has gone down over time, the proportion of fatally injured drivers with BACs at or above 0.08 percent has re-mained about a third since 1994 after declin-ing from nearly half in 1982.

9. Does alcohol-im-paired driving differ by gender?

Crashes among male drivers are much more likely to involve alco-hol than those among female drivers. Among fatally injured male drivers of passenger vehicles in 2010, 37 percent had BACs at or above 0.08 percent. The corresponding pro-portion among female drivers was 22 per-cent. Alcohol impair-ment in fatal crashes was highest for males ages 21-40. In 1982, the proportion of fatally injured passenger ve-hicle drivers with BACs at or above 0.08 percent was 56 percent among males and 33 percent among females.

Male drivers are sig-nificantly more likely to have illegal BACs than female drivers (2.6 per-cent versus 1.5 percent) according to the 2007 national roadside alco-hol survey.7 Compared with 1996, a lower per-centage of male drivers had illegal BACs than in 2007 (3.5 percent in 1996). The percentage of female drivers with illegal BACs did not change between 1996

and 2007.10. When do alcohol-

impaired driving crash-es occur?

They happen at all hours, but alcohol in-volvement in crashes peaks at night and is higher on weekends than on weekdays. Among passenger ve-hicle drivers who were fatally injured between 9 p.m. and 6 am in 2010, 59 percent had BACs at or above 0.08 percent compared with 18 per-cent during other hours. Forty-five percent of all fatally injured passen-ger vehicle drivers on weekends (6 p.m. Friday to 6 am Monday) in 2010 had BACs at or above 0.08 percent. At other times the proportion was 25 percent.

11. Who qualifies as a “hard-core drinking driver”?

The term was coined to refer to people who repeatedly drive while impaired and are resis-tant to changing their behavior despite pre-vious sanctions, treat-ments, or education. The underlying prem-

ise is that many, if not most, of these people are problem drinkers. The term is not precise-ly defined, although two criteria commonly used to identify hard-core drinking drivers are prior alcohol-impaired driving convictions and very high BACs (0.15 percent or higher) at the time of arrest for al-cohol-impaired driving.

12. Are most alcohol-impaired driving crash-es caused by repeat of-fenders?

No, although people with prior convictions for alcohol-impaired driving are overrepre-sented among drivers in fatal crashes.

According to a federal study, drivers convict-ed of alcohol-impaired driving during the past three years are at least 1.8 times as likely to be in fatal crashes as driv-ers with no prior convic-tions during the same time period and are at least four times as likely to be in fatal crashes in which drivers have high BACs (0.10 percent or higher).

Q&A: All about alcohol and driving, from IIHS

References1Zador, P.L.; Krawchuk, S.A.; and Voas, R.B. 2000. Alcohol-related relative risk of driver fatalities and driver involvement in fatal crashes in relation to driver age and gender: an update using 1996 data. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 61:387-95.2Peck, R.C.; Gebers, M.A.; Voas, R.B.; and Romano, E. 2008. The rela-tionship between blood alcohol concentration (BAC), age, and crash risk. Journal of Safety Research 39:311-19.3Lund, A.K.; McCartt, A.T.; and Farmer, C.M. 2007. Contribution of alcohol-impaired driving to motor vehicle crash deaths in 2005. Proceed-ings of the 18th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (CD-ROM). Oslo, Norway: International Council on Alcohol, Drugs, and Traffic Safety.4Borkenstein, R.F.; Crowther, R.F.; Shumate, R.P.; Ziel, W.B.; and Zylman, R. 1964. The role of the drinking driver in traffic accidents. Bloomington, IN: Department of Police Administration, Indiana University.5Farris, R.; Malone, T.B.; and Kirkpatrick, M. 1977. A comparison of alco-hol involvement in exposed and injured drivers. Report no. DOT HS-400-954. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.6Blomberg, R.D.; Peck, R.C.; Moskowitz, H.; Burns, M.; Fiorentino, D. 2005. Crash risk of alcohol involved driving: a case-control study. Stam-ford, CT: Dunlap and Associates, Inc.7Compton, R. and Berning, A. 2009. Results of the 2007 National Road-side Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers. Report no. DOT HS-811-175. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.8Simpson, H.M. and Mayhew, D.R. 1991. The hard core drinking driver. Ottawa, Ontario: Traffic Injury Research Foundation.9Fell, J.C. 1991. Repeat DWI offenders: their involvement in fatal crash-es. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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