April 23, 2010, Ottawa – May is Car Care Month and Car Care Canada has developed an effective stress control strategy for Canadians and their cars. With the May long weekend and summer driving coming up, there is an opportunity to let go of some stress and have some fun. But before you engage in your own stress release, this is a good time to de-stress your vehicle.
Like dominos falling down, failing to maintain your car can turn small problems into larger ones, putting a serious dent in your automotive budget and causing emotional and financial stress as well as lost time.
“The penalties of procrastinating on vehicle maintenance can range from an unsteady wiper blade to a cancelled vacation or worse,” says racecar driver and Be Car Care Aware spokes-driver Kelly Williams.
Car Care Canada’s Be Car Care Aware campaign offers the following checklist to help Canadians de-stress their cars and their lives so they can enjoy the road ahead.
Keep it Filled:
Nothing spoils the party like an empty gas tank. Always make sure the fuel gauge never dips below one-quarter.
Keep it Clean:
A daily trip to work can be pretty stressful in a cluttered car. Add in the kids, the snacks and the luggage and it can be downright scary. Keeping the car clean is as simple as always these tips:
1. Have a home for loose change
2. Buy a snap on trash bag for your car, or even have a stash of plastic bags
3. Keep the glove box, lean and clean
4. Have baby wipes and kleenex available for quick cleaning
5. Change the car air freshener once a month
6. Take something inside the house every time you leave the car
Car Cleaning Group Effort
For those who have their hands full all the time, perhaps number six (above) won’t work. For this, it is recommended that you pick a time once a week, (and certainly before a trip) and devote ten minutes to do a quick sweep of your car so it does not become an overhaul much later on. Doing this as a family is a great way for kids to take some responsibility and earn their allowance. (Perhaps they can even find their allowance in the form of loose change.)
Keep it Together (Remember the essentials with a checklist and all documents):
One major stressor is having to turn around and go home for forgotten items. Always create a list with essentials and ensure you have an up-to-date license, insurance, ownership and license plates and ensure you have contact information for your auto-club membership.
Driven to Distraction:
There are many temptations that should be avoided to ensure stress-free and safe driving. Here is a list of things to avoid:
Cellphones are Illegal in some provinces if you’re not hands free. That being said, several recent reports suggest that Bluetooth devices are no safer than handheld phones because it's the distraction of the conversation that presents the danger. (See the Myth Slayer Guide at www.carcarecanada.ca Myth 10: Hands-free headsets are safer than cell phones)
Overall, the best rule is don’t use a cellular phone while driving at all. If you must, do the following:
• Pull over and stop;
• Allow a passenger to operate the phone;
• Use voice mail and respond to the call at a safer time;
• Let someone else drive, freeing yourself up to make or receive calls.
Other Distractions to avoid:
• Avoid playing with the music, whether ipod, radio or CD (set it and forget it, at a sensible level of volume)
• Avoid typing addresses into your GPS device
• Steer clear of all reading (whether maps or novels, your eyes should be on the road)
• Stay away from changing clothes, taking off your coat, etc
• Avoid shaving, makeup, combing, and even flossing (yes, you can wait until you have arrived before grooming)
• Never eat or drink while driving
Stress Free Driving (here are some easy driving tips to relieve stress whether in the city or on the highway):
• Set the clock in your car three-to-five minutes fast
• Try to leave yourself at least five extra minutes to get where you’re going
• Plan your route and print out all maps and directions
• Have a passenger help with navigation if possible
• Don’t sweat the small stuff
• If somebody cuts you off, don’t worry, you will probably never see them again
• Yield and let someone in once in awhile
• Avoid speeding, tailgating, and erratic lane changing
Plan your Road Trip and always do a 10-minute road-trip checkup:
“Getting the car ready for family travel can take as little as 10 minutes, and relieve a world of stress” says Kelly Williams. “Here is a quick 10-minute check-up to help drivers ensure vehicle safety and reliability before heading out on a road trip.”
1. Check all fluids
2. Check hoses and belts
3. Check the tires
4. Check lighting
5. Check the wiper blades and make sure the windshield wipers are working properly
The perennial Be Car Care Aware Family Road Trip Guide, which includes the “10-minute Road Trip Check-Up, is available online at www.carcarecanada.ca at no charge. It helps Canadians prepare their vehicles for Spring and Summer driving and includes tips for saving gas, protecting the environment and ensuring safety, as well as in-car games for kids and meal planning.
Feel like you’re Running on Empty? Automotive Shops will help Canadians “Fill up the Tank”
Most of our lives are filled with family, work, and community obligations, and at some point we feel as though we are "running on empty." Car Care Canada wants to help consumers take a deep relaxing breath and "fill up the tank!"
As part of this campaign, Be Car Care Aware automotive shops across the country will be participating in a contest to help their customers de-stress with a great prize package to win a stress buster "Spa Package" for their car as well as a $100 Home Depot Gift Card for the guys or a $100 Way Spa Gift Certificate for the ladies.
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About Be Car Care Aware and Car Care Canada
Be Car Care Aware is a campaign to inform Canadian drivers about the benefits of regular, vehicle care, maintenance and repair. The campaign's purpose is to empower drivers to make sensible decisions about their vehicles and avoid costly repairs due to neglect. Be Car Care Aware is spearheaded by Car Care Canada and built around three key themes: safety, environmental protection and maximizing value for money spent on vehicle maintenance and repairs.
Car Care Canada is a non-profit advocacy group that offers research, consumer education and information about the Canadian automotive aftermarket industry. For more than 15 years, Car Care Canada has been working to advance the motoring public's understanding of the vital importance of regular vehicle maintenance and how, by taking a preventative approach to vehicle care and driving habits, motorists can lower their maintenance costs and improve safety.
To learn more, visit the Be Car Care Aware website at http://www.carcarecanada.ca
For more information or to arrange an interview:
Terance Brouse Senior Consultant, Xposure PR
(647) 274-5249, terance@xposurepr.com
