Sharing Safety with Michelin - #SharingSafety

(Disclosure:  This post has been sponsored by  Michelin Tire Company- however, all thoughts and opinions are my own - unless you want to share yours)  

Living in the middle of nowhere - when I say nowhere, I mean surrounded by dirt roads and limited cell service - we have to take vehicle safety serious.   We have a breakdown, wreck, or any kind of vehicle problems; it very well could be a mile or two hike until we can make a phone call.

Fifteen or so years ago (we don't really want to know how old I am) I took off for town one Tuesday morning.  My then Chevy Lumina had been acting funny - I am a girl, I mentioned it to my dad, but again I am a girl - I got a little over a mile down the road and my car just quit going.  The only option I had was to leave it on the side of the road and start hiking back home - did I mention that I lived down a dirt road in the middle of nowhere.   I hiked about 5 mins and along came a neighbor that I barely knew - they offered me a ride and I took it - fortunately for me my neighbor was not a bad person, cause I am still here today to tell the story.

Come to find out my car was really sick - when I say sick, I mean $1500 later sick - my transmission went out that morning.  The scary part is my transmission had been going out for a while and I had been driving my car everywhere at all times of the day.

Thinking back on that crazy day and the days leading up to it makes me think about all the things I wish I had known.  While my story ended semi-good (it did cost me a ton of money); it could have ended really bad.

Here are the things I wish I had known: 

When your vehicle is acting funny do not let people just brush you off.  You know your vehicle, you know the way it drives, when it makes a funny noise be sure they take that serious.

Do not take off across country if your vehicle is not running right - while I was only a mile or so from home when the car broke down - just 3 days before it broke down I had been 40 miles from home at 4 am in the morning - it is scary to think what could have happened.

Vehicle maintenance is important - there is more to keeping your car up then changing your oil.  You have to have everything serviced, so minor issues can be found and dealt with.  

Vehicle issues or problems can cause car accidents - while I was lucky and was on the dirt road going only a few miles an hour, I could have been on a major highway doing 70 mph when my transmission went out - that would have been really bad.

Did you know....

Car crashes remain the No. 1 killer of teens, with 2,614 teen drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes in 2013, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - I could have been one of those statistics.  

Many accidents could have been prevented if people (especially teens) had a better understanding of how important vehicle maintenance is and how to react in certain driving situations. 

Michelin Tire Company is helping America become more informed on vehicle safety - they are looking for your vehicle safety stories.  They are asking for you to share tips on what you have been taught (and learned the hard way) over the years by using the hashtag #SharingSafety on social media.   

They are also (drumroll please)  GIVING AWAY a $600 Gift Certificate for  Michelin Tires!  Oh Yes!  Who couldn't use that right before winter weather hits!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rather we are old, young, or somewhere in between (like me); we all share the road so let's keep it SAFE.   

Accident Safety - What to do when you drive up on a car wreck at night?

I drive at night a lot - a lot more than I like to admit to myself.  On a normal night I see a few deer,

maybe a possum or two, and a lot of white and yellow lines.

However, last night as I topped the hill I saw a man standing in the middle of the road - dancing.  My first thought was "oh boy, this should be good" then I noticed his car was parked dead center of a giant tree and was not going anywhere any time soon.

It was just a few minutes after midnight, and I knew I may be the only person traveling that particular highway for hours, so I knew (for my own conscious) I had to stop.  

While I won't go into details of the accident, because frankly I know very few, I will share a few tips on how to stay safe and still do your civil duty to help a fellow citizen in need.

- Do not get out of the car - while I could see the gentleman's car was definitely messed up, I did not know this guy, nor did I know what he was capable of.   I stayed inside my car and directed the man to stay 3 foot away from the window of my car - I told him if you come  close I will leave.  

- Do not give them your name - you are not required to introduce yourself to the person you are helping.  I rolled my window up when I was speaking to the 911 dispatch officer - I gave her my name and phone number, and requested that she stay on the line with me until someone else arrived on the scene of the accident.

- Do not offer to help - I never asked the gentleman if I could help him.  I instructed him that I was calling 911 to get some help, but I never offered any assistance to him.

- Do not roll your window all the way down - I know it seemed rude, but I kept my window cracked (about an 1 1/2) with my finger on the button when I needed to speak to him - the rest of the time it was completely up.

- Do not let them know if you have any weapons - letting someone know what you have on you, could only make them want what you have.  It is okay to protect yourself, but keep your tools to yourself.  

- Ask if they are alone - see if there is someone else in the car, you need to let the authorities know, but also you need to know so you can protect yourself.

- NEVER assume you are safe - for me it was a gentleman who honestly was not completely with it - could have been under the influence of something, but even if it had been a woman and children I would would have treated the situation the same.  They may seem okay, but you do not know what you cannot see - it could always be a trap.

Remember, while it is always good to help someone else, you are still the most important person in your own life.  

Summer Car Tips from GearHeads Auto Repair

 By:  GearHeads Auto Repair

A few summer car care tips....
After the mechanic gives your car a once-over before summer, take the time to pack some backup items:

One gallon of 50% coolant to 50% water.
2 spare quarts or oil.
One Gallon of windshield washer fluid
A good flashlight with spare batteries
A disposable camera in case of accident or a good photo opportunity
A piece of carpet or a door mat, in case you have to kneel down on the ground in bad weather
Drinking water. People always get thirsty.
Sunblock and insect repellant.

These are just a few items that can make your life a littler better when out on the road this summer. And remember when driving long distances, take breaks ever couple of hours and stretch. Enjoy your summer!

Gearheads Auto Repair is my personal mechanic, and owned by Amy & Carlos that also have kids of their own.  While car repair is their business, I have found my safety seems to be very important to them also.  You can follow GearHeads Auto Repair on Facebook or give them a call at 573-204-3422...note they are in the Jackson, MO area.