5 Tips For Everyday Defensive Driving

Whether you’re a new parent or a have been doing it for years, car seats are everchanging and although they are getting safer they are getting more complicated. However, making sure your car seat is properly installed and you are taking the proper precautions, like making sure your child is rear-facing and not turning them around to early are extremely important. And although many of us follow the car seat directions word for word, we can make minor mistakes that we don’t even know about, but they can have major consequences. We know that every car seat is different and that’s why it is important to have your car manual and car seat instructions with you at all times, but this week we want to give you some helpful tips to keep in the back of your mind and look out for to make sure your little love bugs are safer than ever inside your Chevy! And if you think it’s time to upgrade your ride to a more family appropriate vehicle, browse our inventory and stop in today! Car Seat Do Tips: Make sure the harness-retainer clip is level with your child’s armpits. If they are in the wrong place, the straps could end up sliding off. Take your car-seat to a local inspection site so a professional can ensure the installation is correct. Choose a car-seat with a five-point harness. If you have a forward-facing seat, place the harness straps on your child’s shoulders to ensure the most protection in the event of a collision. If your child has outgrown a car-seat, try using a high-back booster seat. Studies have shown these are safer than backless ones in the event of side-impact collisions. Tighten the harness straps so they are tight enough for you to only fit one finger underneath. Safety-belts should be tightened enough so the seat is only able to wiggle less than one inch from side to side. Find The Perfect Ride For Family

Spring has officially sprung and as the cooler weather rolls out and the warmer weather rolls in, many of us will be hitting the road for getaways and joyrides, but even if the weather is nicer it doesn’t mean you should forget about safety. Hopefully, the snow is gone for good but the roads can still be dangerous. Spring weather brings rain which can make the road slippery, but apart from weather conditions, the warm weather brings more people out and about which means you need to be more vigilant to watch out for pedestrians, bikers, and motorcycles. Since it’s been a while since the weather has been really nice we want to give you a reminder of what to keep an eye out for. Check it out below Be On The Lookout For Potholes: Winter weather takes a big toll on our roadways, which leads to some pretty nasty potholes. If your speeding down the road and don’t slow down in time and hit a pothole, then chances are that your vehicle is gonna have some damage, serious damage. Damage can include a punctured tire, bent rim, suspension damage, poor alignment, and exhaust system damage. Slow Down For Spring Showers: Did you know that roads are most slippery when it first starts to rain? This is caused by the rainwater mixing with contaminants on the road, such as oil and grease. Make sure to increase your following distance to allow for proper braking. Watch For Animals On The Move: Animal activity is up when the weather starts getting nicer. That means keep an eye out and drive slow especially for animals like deer that are known to be out at dusk and dawn. Watch For Pedestrians: Similar to animals, people tend to be out and about more when the weather starts getting warmer. Whether that means there are more walkers, cyclists or kids play hopscotch. Be sure to slow down especially in residential neighborhoods and busy streets. Share The Road With Motorcycles: Spring is when the motorcycle riders come out, and because of their speed and size, they may come in and out of your blind spots quickly. Be sure to listen to the sound of their bike and take a few extra seconds before switching lanes. If you are following a motorcycle, remember to leave a good amount of space in between. Maintain Proper Tire Pressure: During the winter months, your tires lose air due to the cold temperatures, this cause your tire to be under-deflated. Vice-versa, warm weather will cause them to be over-inflated. Each situation can lead to increased wear and poor handling. Inspect Your Tires: Spring will bring the showers and when that happens making sure your tire tread is in shape is important to the quality of your driving. Just like snow, rain makes the road slippery and having good tires will make or break your driving experience. Remember to use easy tricks the penny test to check your tire tread and regularly check your tire pressure if your vehicle doesn’t display it for you. Pay Attention In Construction Zones: When the snow washes away and the spring days are here to stay, construction will start up again. One thing to keep in mind is that construction zones ask you to slow down for a reason, do it. Remember to... Be attentive. Construction workers and equipment may suddenly enter the roadway. Traffic patterns can change daily to accommodate the work being done. Understand and follow the signs. Make safe lane changes. Solid lines in construction zones mean that you should stay in your lane. Slow down. Fines may be doubled in construction zones. In addition, slowing down can save a life. Find Your Dream Ride Here!

Your vehicle’s blind spot can cause you a lot of issues, luckily today, a lot of newer vehicle have Blind Spot technology that will actually alert you that someone is in your blind spot. But if your vehicle doesn’t have this feature, or you’re a new driver trying to learn the basics, you might need a little help on what you should look out for. First off, the blind spots in your vehicle is an area around the vehicle that cannot be directly seen by the driver, even in their mirrors. Regardless if you drive a car, truck, or SUV, blind spots happen in all vehicles and tend to be a big issue when you are turning or changing lanes. For Chevy drivers, many of their new vehicles, whether it be a car, truck, SUV, or even van, have Side Blind Zone Alert. This technology provides side mirror alerts to help the driver potentially avoid crashing into a moving vehicle detected in their side blind zone during a lane change maneuver. So if you’re stressed about your blind spots, stop into Galles Chevrolet and allow us to help you find your dream vehicle with this advanced safety technology! Schedule your test drive today or stop onto Galles Chevrolet now! Pedestrians and Blind Spots: Avoid being in a vehicle's blind spot, especially trucks and buses. Make eye contact with the driver. Otherwise, assume the driver cannot see you. Be alert at intersections, even when you have the right of way, e.g. on a green light or pedestrian crossing signal. Pay attention to the turn signal lights used by vehicles at intersections. Do not cross behind a vehicle as it could back up without noticing you. Be visible: wear bright clothing, reflective strips, etc. If you are trying to make your presence known, keep in mind that the driver cannot hear you. Walk on the sidewalk, or, if there isn’t one, on the side of the road, facing traffic. Cyclists and Blind Spot Avoid being in a vehicle's blind spot, especially trucks and buses. Make eye contact with the driver. Otherwise, assume the driver cannot see you. Pay attention to the turn signal lights used by vehicles at intersections. Be visible: wear bright clothing, reflective strips, etc. Never pass on the right near an intersection. Motorists, Motorcyclist and Blind Spots: Avoid being in a large vehicle's blind spot Do not cut off a larger or heavy vehicle Never pass a heavy vehicle on the right at an intersection Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the heavy vehicle in front of you Pay attention to the turn signal lights used by vehicles at intersections. Find You Ride With Side Blind Zone Alert At Galles!