WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE JUMP STARTING YOUR CAR

... let this photo serve as a caution to be careful.  If you mix up the wires...

Jumper cables are one of those essential items every driver should have in his or her trunk. You never know when you'll forget to turn off your headlights or do something else to cause your battery to go dead.

Most times, you can jump-start a dead battery and get at least enough energy to drive home or to a service station. Done properly, this is a fairly simple task. But many car owners don't know how to jump-start a car battery safely. Each year, unsafe jump-starts cause many Americans to suffer serious eye injuries from auto battery accidents.

Car batteries contain sulfuric acid and produce hydrogen and oxygen gases. If you don't jump-start a battery properly, you can cause the battery to explode. If the gases come in contact with a spark, flame or lit cigarette, the battery can explode, sending battery parts and acid flying.

Wait! Don't Jump!

Before you try to jump-start your car, or use your car to give someone else a jump, check your owner's manual. Some new cars have specific instructions or prohibit jump-starting.

If the battery is cracked and liquid is leaking out, do not try to jump-start it. The battery is no longer good and if you try to jump-start it, it will explode. Similarly, do not try to jump-start a battery if your car's fluids are frozen; an explosion could occur.

Also make sure your jumper cables are rust- and corrosion-free and have no exposed wires. And wear a pair of polycarbonate goggles with the designation Z-87 on the frame.

Ready to Jump

If the battery is suitable for jump-starting:

Line both cars up so the batteries are as close as can be. Make sure the cars are in park, are turned off, and are not touching each other. Make sure all lights, signals, radios, and fans are off.

Locate the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals of both batteries. The batteries should be clearly marked.

Clean off any corrosion around the dead battery's terminals with a wire brush. Corroded posts

prevent the power from getting through the cables and into your battery.

To attach the jumper cables correctly:

1. Clamp one cable to the positive (+) terminal of the dead battery. Don't let the positive cable touch anything metal other than the battery terminal.

2. Connect the other end of the positive cable to the positive terminal of the good battery.

3. Connect one end of the negative (-) cable to the negative terminal of the good battery.

4. Connect the other end of the negative cable to metal on the engine block on the car with the dead battery. Don't connect it to the dead battery, carburetor, fuel lines, or moving parts.

5. Stand back and start the car with the good battery.

6. Now start the stalled car.

7. Remove the cables in reverse order as to how you attached them.

Drive the car for 30 minutes so the alternator can recharge the battery.

-- Kenneth Krause

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Fatigue? Don't drive tired

Fatigue is often ranked as a major factor in causing road crashes although its contribution to individual cases is hard to measure and is often not reported as a cause of crash. Driver fatigue is particularly dangerous because one of the symptoms is decreased ability to judge our own level of tiredness.

Fatigue is more likely to be a factor in crashes in rural areas as they can involve long trips and extensive periods of continuous driving, however anyone can be affected by fatigue.

If you don't get enough sleep you go in to sleep debt and you owe yourself more sleep. The only way to repay this debt is by sleeping. Until you catch up on your sleep, you will have a greater risk of having a fatigue related crash.

The facts!

Your eyelids droop and your head starts to nod. Yawning becomes almost constant and your vision seems blurry. You blink hard, focus your eyes and suddenly realize that you’ve veered onto the shoulder or into oncoming traffic for a moment and quickly straighten the wheel. This time you were lucky; next time you could become the latest victim of the tragedy of drowsy driving.

• Research suggests that almost 20% of accidents on major roads are sleep-related
• Sleep-related accidents are more likely than others to result in a fatality or serious injury
• Peak times for accidents are in the early hours and after lunch
• About 40% of sleep-related accidents involve commercial vehicles
• Men under 30 have the highest risk of falling asleep at the wheel

 How do I know if Im fatigued?

Signs of fatigue include:

1. constant yawning
2. drifting over lanes
3. sore eyes
4. trouble keeping your head upright
5. delayed reactions
6. daydreaming
7. difficulty remembering driving the last few kilometres
8. variations in driving speed.

Most importantly if you feel tired, pull over and have a powernap, otherwise you may experience microsleeps which are dangerous while driving. Once you are fatigued the only cure is to stop and take a break.

THINK! Advice

• Plan your journey to include a 15-minute break every two hours. 

• Don't start a long trip if you're already tired. 

• Remember the risks if you have to get up unusually early to start a long drive. 

• Try to avoid long trips between midnight and 6am when you're likely to feel sleepy anyway. 

• If you start to feel sleepy, find a safe place to stop - not the hardshoulder of a motorway. Drink two cups of coffee or a high-caffeine drink and have a rest for 10 to 15 minutes to allow time for the caffeine to kick in. 

• Remember, the only real cure for sleepiness is proper sleep. A caffeine drink or a nap is a short-term solution that will only allow you to keep driving for a short time.

Will You Pledge Not To Drive While Fatigued This November?

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DRINK&DRIVE:I SHOULD HAVE DIED THAT NIGHT

I went out with my friends, and my whole life changed. My friend was taking me home when he crashed into a bridge not even five minutes from the bar. He was four times the legal alcohol limit. I have no recollection of the crash--all I remember is leaving the bar, and the next thing I know, I'm in a hospital. I fractured one hip and dislocated the other, lost three front teeth, and fractured my jaw. They had to wire my jaws, and I had to stop going to school, delaying my chances of graduating from college.

“I should have died that night.”

I was unable to move for a week and was on crutches for three months. I am slowly getting back to normal through physical therapy, though I will have jaw surgery and braces. I should have died that night, but I didn't. I will never take life for granted.

SHARE THIS STORY. YOU COULD SAVE A LIFE

A TRUE LIFE STORY: DRINKING & DRIVING

I went to the party and remembered what you said. You asked me not to drink alcohol. So I drank a Sprite. I felt proud of myself, as you said I should feel. You said I should not drink and drive, contrary to what some friends told me. I made a healthy choice and your advice was correct, as all you give me forever.

When the party finally ended, people began to drive without being able to do so. I went to my car with the certainty that he would return home in peace. I never imagined what awaited me, Mom. Now I'm lying in the street and I hear the policeman say: "The kid that caused this accident was drunk." Mom, his voice seems so distant. My blood is spilled everywhere and I'm trying with all my might not moan. I can hear the doctors say, "This girl is going to die." I have the certainty that the young man, who ran at full speed, decided to drink and drive, and now I have to die.

Why do people do this, Mom, knowing that this is going to ruin many lives? The pain is cutting me like a hundred knives. Tell my sister not to cry, tell Daddy to be strong. And when I go to heaven, I'll be watching for you all. Someone should have taught that boy, its wrong to drink and drive. Maybe if his parents would have said, I would not be dying now. My breath is getting weaker, more and more. Mom, these are my last moments and I feel so desperate. I wish I could hug Mom, while I'm lying here dying. I wish I could tell you how much I love you, Mom. So .. I love ... y. .. goodbye ... "

(These words were written by a reporter who witnessed the accident. The girl, as she died, I was saying these words and the reporter wrote down ... very overwhelmed. The journalist started this campaign, if you read this note, please click " share ", so more people can be aware. Therefore, I ask one small gesture, send it to your friends, family and loved ones)

Get Dunlop & Get rest of mind.

 

Dunlop tyres now come with a seal of authentication/warranty card.  So every Dunlop tyres you buy from Xpress Rims & Tyres, carries a 5-years warranty against any manufacturing defect, valid from date of manufacture. So hurry, call us today on 07011311444 and get the best of Dunlop technology!

Wheel alignments. Why are they so important?

Wheel  alignments. Why are they so important? Why should you spend more money on this service when you buy a set of tires?

The simple answer is, because you don't want this to happen to your N10,000+ set of tires within a few months:

See the right side of the picture? That shiny stuff? That's the steel belts that are part of the inside of the tire. You are not supposed to see that. Ever. See how deep the tread is on the left side of the picture? If this vehicle were aligned properly, the tread on the right side of the picture would be the same as the left. 

So ensure you go for a wheel alignment often to prolong your tire life.

  

How To Check Your Tires For Signs Of Wear And Tear

Responsible car owners must check their tires for signs of wear and tear at least once a month. In addition, they must also inspect their tires before and after they go on a long road trip. In doing so, the car owner will be able to determine whether they need to buy new tires, have their wheels aligned, or change their driving habits.

How To Inspect Your Tire Treads

The tire tread is the outline on the rubber circumference of the tire which is in constant contact with the road. The tread enables the best response time for stopping, speeding, turning, and stopping the car. They are designed with deep groves known called sipes. These groves pull water away from the tread so that it is always in contact with the road and prevent hydroplaning. If it is in excellent condition, it will quicken the response time and accuracy; thus ensuring your safety while on the road.

For this reason, it is essential to take the time to inspect your tire treads for any signs of wear. Tires that have lost their tread are very dangerous as this increases your risk of getting into an accident. Some states even issue a citation for having such tires. It is essential to check your car frequently and make sure that the tires still have adequate tread. Here are some signs of wear and tear you need to watch out for:

• Both edges are worn out: 
  

When you observe that both the edges of the tread are worn, it is due to underinflation. The best way to address this problem is to add more air to your tires. It is also essential to check for any leaks.

• One-sided wear:

This type of wear is due to poor tire alignment. The best remedy for this problem is to have your wheels re-aligned. 

• Worn out center treads: 

The tire treads will have worn out centers if the tires are overinflated. To address this problem, you need to let some air out according to the manufacturer’s specifications. 

• Uneven worn out treads with scallops and bald spots: This usually happens when the wheel is imbalance or if it is not aligned properly. The best thing you can do is to balance the wheel and align them. 

• Only the edges of the front tires are worn out: This happens when you usually take curves too fast. The best solution to this tire problem is to slow down.

It is advisable to inspect your tyres on a monthly basis, for tread wear and damage. If you find serious cuts, or nails and other foreign objects embedded in the tyre, have the tyre repaired or replaced immediately. Even wear across the whole thread is to be expected, but be on the lookout for irregular wear

Buy your new genuine tyres @ Xpress Tyres. We offer competitive price for passenger car, suv, van and truck tyres by the leading names including Dunlop, Goodyear, Michelin, Pirelli, Bridgestone, Firestone and Continental. SMS ur size to +2347011311444