Get Your Car Ready for Winter

October 20, 2008

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Profile America — Monday, October 20th. Our cars and trucks have become so reliable that its easy to overlook routine maintenance. But with colder weather creeping in to much of the country, this is a good time to make sure your car is set for the coming winter. The checklist should include anti-freeze, windshield wiper blades and tire treads. It’s also a good idea to review how to jump-start a car with a dead battery, since an explosion could result if this is not done properly. A well-maintained car not only looks and runs better, it can actually prevent accidents. Each year, there are more than 39,000 fatal highway accidents, almost 60 percent of them involving just one vehicle. Experts say poor maintenance contributes to many of these accidents. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Statistical Abstract of the United States 2008, t. 1073
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2008edition.html