Waterloo Automotive

In honor of National Bike Month, people across the country are riding bikes to work and school and celebrating the benefits of bike riding in our communities. It is also a great time to address the safety issues that arise with bike riding. Do you know the rules of the road? Since the weather is getting nicer and more cyclists are on the road, now is the time to review the rules. Here are some basic guidelines for sharing the road with cyclists. Keep everyone safe by being aware of these tips. Be aware:
Be on the lookout for cyclists. When passing through intersections and when in traffic, scan for any cyclists. Give them room when you spot obstacles such as potholes or debris. Also, never honk your horn when you are close to a cyclist. This may alarm him or her and cause an accident. Pass carefully:
to leave room between your car and the bike. Check over your shoulder before returning to the lane and always be patient

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You’ve hopped out of the pool, dried off and enjoyed a perfectly chilled drink. It’s been a delightful summer day. Now, to drive home. You head to the car and are welcomed by a blazing door handle and a seat that scorches your bare legs. We’ve all been there. The heat is not only uncomfortable, but it is also damaging to your car. On a 90 degree day, the temperature in a car parked outside can reach up to 140 degrees. The windows turn the car into a sort of greenhouse, trapping heat. Temperatures that high are not good for many things, so I know that your car’s interior will not benefit from soaring heat this summer. Preventing prolonged heat exposure will help you keep your car in good condition. You can make some simple changes to keep your car cool and keep you and your family comfortable all summer. Make some shade
The accordion folded, aluminum foil-like sun shades may not be the most convenient devices ever, but they do a great job. Use
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Distracted driving is an issue of national concern. New guidelines released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last week recommend changes for auto manufacturers. This national safety administration is tightening up their suggestions, reminding automakers and drivers of the importance of focused driving. The NHTSA completed a study to analyze the visual and manual distractions involved when driving. The study found that when drivers engage in visual-manual tasks connected to handheld cell phones and portable devices, the risk of being involved in a crash is tripled. Some of the most distracting tasks that drivers try to complete while on the road include: making a phone call, browsing the Internet and text messaging. Just one text message can keep a driver distracted for 23.3 seconds. These statistics are alarming. Since distracted driving is so dangerous, the NHTSA made sev ... read more

Driving in the city can be stressful. You may be in an unfamiliar area with more cars, more pedestrians and intense traffic. What to do when you find yourself venturing through the city (your own or a new one)? Have a strategy! Be prepared for your city driving excursion, and you’ll make it to your destination with your car in tact and a relaxed attitude. When you’re getting ready to do more city driving, you’ll need some guidelines to make it easier. That’s why we’ve made this list of city driving tips. City Driving TipsPlan your route
Know where you’re going- including the addresses and phone numbers of each location. Instead of just knowing you’re meeting a friend at a sushi place on Marigold Street for dinner, have the details saved somewhere. Write the address on a piece of paper or save it on your phone so you know that you’re heading to “Crazy Sushi” at 124 Marigold Street. The more details, the better. Avoid r
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Are you ready for prom? Last time we started a list about making prom night fun and memorable. It’s so easy to get stressed out when you’re trying to coordinate a group. Where should you take pictures, where will you get dinner, who is driving, and what will you wear?! This year, don’t get freaked out. We’ve already talked about making a schedule for the day and picking a driver for the night. Check out the rest of our tips for a fun prom night! Check out the first three prom night tips.4. Buckle up
We know you don’t want to wrinkle that handsome tux or beautiful dress, but they will hold up fine! Keep your seat belt on no matter who is driving- it’s worth it. 5. Get Your Car Ready
If you do drive, make sure your car is ready. Give it a thorough check. How are the tires, windshield wiper fluid and oil? Have a mechanic give a chec

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Are you counting down to prom yet? We’re betting that you might have the perfect dress already, and maybe you’ve made plans for after prom. Planning for prom is exciting- it’s not only a fun night, but it’s a clue that the end of the school year is near! Prom can be a fun night that you’ll remember for years, but it can also turn into a horrible memory. Every year, newscasters have to share the details of accidents that took place on prom night. Too many young adults lose their life too early because of prom night excitement. This year, make sure prom is a night you’ll want to remember. Prom night can be stressful- planning who you’ll go with, where you’ll have dinner, and what you’ll all do after the dance. Make it fun from start to finish. If you have a plan, there will be less stress. You’ll be able to focus on having a good time. Here are the first 3 tips for making prom night fun. Our next post will cover the rest! 1. Make a Schedule ... read more

As we approach the end of cold weather, it’s important to do some routine after-winter maintenance on your vehicle. Taking the time to ensure your car is working properly is not hard. Proper upkeep of your vehicle can keep you safe. Safety is important all year round, but we want to help by providing you with a checklist for your car’s care: Check your antifreeze. Spring time is usually when you need to do a radiator flush. There will likely still be frosty mornings, car maintenanceso be sure your antifreeze mixture is good to go. Inspect Your Tires. Your tires were working really hard in the winter weather and need some tending to. Rotating these seasonally will extend the life of them. Also, air pressure goes down from the cold, so check your tire pressure and add air if necessary. Wiper Blades. These take quite the beating from the snow. Now is a great time to rep ... read more

It’s important that after you’ve been involved in an accident that the right steps are taken. Here are the correct steps to take: Determine if there are any injuries. Your first reaction might be to panic, but it’s important to try to stay calm. Examine yourselfcar accident information exchange for any possible injuries and determine if you or anyone else in the car needs medical attention. Call the police. Whether the accident is minor or serious, you’re going to need to file a car accident report with the police. Don’t leave the scene of the accident until this is done completely. Be sure to give the authorities very complete and very accurate information. Gather information. Now it’s time to get the names, phone numbers and addresses of everyone involved in the accident. You should also ask for their drivers license number and jot down a quick description of their car and license plate number. (Don’t just assume the license pl ... read more

The following are the documents you will need in the case of being pulled over or if involved in any accident. These should be in your car at all times: Proof of Insurance
This is the first thing you need when you’re in an accident or if stopped by the police. Make your life easier by always having this handy in your car and make sure it’s not expired! Having non up-to-date information will likely result in a ticket or higher fees on an existing ticket. Car Registration
The physical paper document affiliated with your car’s license plate is your proof that your car is registered to you (or your parents). Always keep this in the same safe place, like the glove compartment, near your proof of insurance. Car Title- Not Necessary
We actually recommend leaving this one at home. This is not something you want to carry around or even something you want to leave in your car. Not only is this a hard document to replace, but it’s al


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As a young adult, it’s hard to think about saving and budgeting your money. In high school and possibly the early years of college, you’re most likely making minimum wage or not much more. You may be fortunate enough to get an allowance or have most of your expenses paid for, but it’s still important to learn the value of money. Here are some guidelines to help manage your money effectively. Use a savings account.
If you don’t have one of these, go ahead and open one with the help of a parent. Having your savings in the bank instead of in cash under your bed will make it less tempting to take from. Even adding as little as $10 per paycheck will really pay off when it’s time to start college. Budget your income.
Turn your spending into smart spending. Putting some money away into a savings account is a great way to begin. Next, it’s important to make a budget and stick to it. Plan your monthly spending and compare it to how much you actually

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