Page 3 - AAA Schuylkill County – AAA Now! – July/August 2018

AAA
Volume 30, No. 3
HEADQUARTERS OFFICE
340 South Centre St., P.O. Box 990 Pottsville, PA 17901 Telephone: (570) 622-4991 1-800-666-SCMC
OFFICE HOURS
Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - Noon
OFFICERS
DAVID J. HOLLEY - Interim Chief Executive Officer GEORGE URITIS - Chairman of the Board DAVID J. HOLLEY - President RONALD DERENZO - Solicitor
DIRECTORS
Wayne S. Hamilton........................Orwigsburg David J. Holley...................... Schuylkill Haven John Levkulic........................ Schuylkill Haven Lowell P. Martin ............................... Frackville Robert Mills ....................................... Pottsville John D.W. Reiley ............................... Pottsville George Uritis...................................... Cressona
JOHN T. GARCIA - Editor HANS FRUST - Creative Director ANGELA ILICH - Director of Production LORRIE MULHALL - Regional Editor
AAA Now! (ISSN 08988552; USPS 002-243) is published four times a year (Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, July/Aug, Nov/Dec) by AAA Schuylkill County., 340 South Centre St., Pottsville, PA 17901. Periodicals postage paid at Pottsville, PA 17901 and at additional mailing offices. A subscription price of $1 per year to primary members is paid through dues.
POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to AAA Now! Schuylkill County, 340 South Centre St., Pottsville, PA 17901.
AAA does not endorse any product or service advertised in this publication other than AAA club services and products. The publisher of AAA Now! Does not endorse or make any representations or warranties concerning any service or product advertised in this publication. The published is not liable to any advertiser or reader for any errors or omissions in advertising or editorial copy appearing in this publication, provided, however, that the publisher will print a correction after the publisher has been notified of an error or omission.
TM
IN THIS EDITION:
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Mature Drivers Course Recognition for Excellence AAA Visa TravelMoney Card is the On-Campus Solution Are Your Boat, Bike and Collector Car Covered?
10 Questions to Ask
Your Insurer
Is Your Car Ready for the Hot Summer Temperatures? Approved Automobile Repair Directory
Making a Good B-E-T
A quick checklist will help drivers avoid roadside headaches
GEORGE A. URITIS
Chairman of the Board
Picture this scenario: You and your family are ready to hop into your car for a road trip. Bags are packed, snacks are stocked and the GPS is
set for your destination. As you start your journey, however, you are slowed down by car trouble.
In 2017, AAA rescued more than 30 million Americans on
• Tire – damages severe enough to require repair or replacement. Check all four tires for tread depth and tire pressure, and be sure you have a spare tire.
When these three systems are in working order, AAA data shows the likelihood of a serious breakdown is greatly reduced.
No matter the age of your vehicle, a professional inspection can help reduce the chance of a serious breakdown. AAA helps you take the guesswork out of finding a trusted repair facility through its Approved Auto Repair program.
AAR facilities adhere to a strict set of standards
and are inspected annually to ensure fair pricing
and quality service. To locate a facility, visit AAA.com/AutoRepair. Drivers also should consult AAA.com/AutoRepair to estimate the cost of a repair or to verify the quote received for their vehicle.
the roadside because of a host of problems that could have been avoided through proper car maintenance and a quick vehicle check.
Before embarking on your next road trip, especially if you drive a car 10 years or older, put the odds back in your favor by making a good B-E-T or checking your vehicle’s battery, engine and tires. Issues to watch out for include:
• Battery – A good tip is to use the AAA Mobile Battery program, which offers members free testing of their vehicle’s battery and electrical system. Don’t forget to ask for a check your starter and alternator as these parts can leave you stranded as well.
• Engine – cooling system repairs, such as the radiator, thermostat and water pump, or engine parts such
as the timing belt. If you find fluids such as coolant pooling beneath your vehicle when it’s parked, it might be a sign of potential issues.
Effective Recorder
Black box assists with vehicle performance and crash investigation
You might have heard of an aircraft flight data recorder, or “black box,” but did you know that your car might be equipped with something similar? Ninety-five percent of new vehicles have an onboard event data recorder that captures and stores vehicle data for several seconds before, during and after any crash where an airbag is triggered or there is an excessive rate of vehicle deceleration.
Compared to their airplane counterparts, EDRs
have limited capabilities. The latest digital flight data recorders capture more than 700 pieces of information and the plane’s position, while the companion cockpit voice recorder stores the last two hours of flight crew communications. EDRs, on the other hand, generally gather data for a minimum of 15 parameters, including speed, acceleration and braking, and do not record vehicle location or audio data.
EDRs first appeared in vehicles in the mid-1970s as a way for automakers to monitor airbag performance and aid in making modifications to improve their
effectiveness. Since then automakers, researchers and law enforcement have used EDRs for a variety of purposes, including crash reconstruction.
Following a collision, drivers might not recall all of
the events, but information gleaned from the EDR can provide a reliable snapshot of what the vehicle and driver were doing just before and after a crash. Information from the EDR is then used in conjunction with other crash analysis techniques to provide investigators with a full picture of what happened.
So, how do you know if your car is equipped with an EDR? Their appearance and locations vary widely in vehicles, so it’s important to consult your owner’s manual. Federal law requires that all cars built
after Sept. 1, 2012, include a notice in the owner’s manual if a vehicle has an EDR. The manuals for cars built before that date might or might not contain
a notice, however, lists of car models with EDRs
can be found at http://bit.ly/2CkKUNG and http://bit.ly/2h0zwNc.
JULY/AUGUST 2018
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Now!