Waterloo Automotive

We all like to pretend that a winter driving accident will never happen to us but the truth is these accidents happen every winter to countless people. Rather than doing nothing and hoping for the best, be prepared for the chance that something could happen out on the road. Below you will find a checklist of things you need to prepare for before the bad weather hits. Winter Car Care Checklist Battery & Charging System – Make sure to get your car battery and portable charging system tested by a qualified technician. Have the battery terminals and cables checked to ensure that they are free from any corrosion and that the connection is tight. You want to make sure that your battery is fully charged and ready for the winter months. Car Belts & Hoses – Inspect the drive belts for any signs of cracking or fraying. You also want to have the cooling system inspected to make sure that you don’t have any cracked hoses or loose clamps. Wi ... read more

You can’t just rely on driver’s ed courses when it comes to teenage driving: parent involvement before and after your teen receives their driver’s license is key. In fact, according to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, teenage drivers whose parents establish driving rules and supportively monitor teenage driving are 50% less likely to get in an accident, 71% less likely to drink and drive, 30% less likely to use their phone while driving, 50% more likely to use their seatbelt, and generally less likely to speed. Give yourself a little peace of mind by following our tips for preventing teenage driving accidents. Tips for Parents: Preventing Teenage Driving AccidentsSupplement Required Teenage Driving Education Depending on where you live, your state will have different requirements for teenage driving education. For example, if you live in St. Louis, MO, your teenage driver will need to complete 40 hours o ... read more

Have you brushed up on your winter driving tips? With November here and December just around the corner, colder weather is sure to move in soon. Especially in St. Louis and other parts of the Midwest, snow and ice storms are a normal part of winter. If you’re new to driving or you have a teenaged driver, now is a good time to familiarize yourself with winter driving tips so that you and your loved ones won’t end up stuck in the cold. Winter Driving Tips for Teens The best way to stay safe in winter weather is to avoid driving altogether. However, this might not be possible for you — so you should still learn these winter driving tips for the times when travel is necessary! Winter Driving Tips: Icy Roads Follow these winter driving tips when you’re on icy roads, and you should avoid accidents: Turn your headlights on to ensure other drivers can see you. When road conditions become icy, slow down ... read more

Since the introduction of texting, texting and driving has increased dramatically. The increase in its use has been boosted by its benefits and mobility. However, there has been a growing concern over people who combine texting and driving. When driving, you should always be 100 percent concentrated; after all, your life could depend on it. If you are unsure about why it is so important to avoid texting and driving, educate yourself about its potential for negative ramifications. Dangers of Texting and DrivingPremature Deaths Texting and driving can sometimes result in accidents that can lead to the premature death of you or someone else. It only takes one second of distracted driving for a catastrophic, potentially fatal event to occur. “Each day in the United States, more than 9 people are killed and more than 1,060 people are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver,” said the ... read more

As a parent, one of the most important things you can do for your teen driver is teaching them how to pack an emergency car kit. Chances are your teen will want to drive their car everywhere, even to locations that are just a few blocks down the road. For teens, driving is a matter of independence. As parents, it is your job to stress that this form of independence comes with responsibilities, like creating an emergency car kit. Emergency Car Kit Checklist To keep things simple, Meyer’s Automotive has created a checklist of items your teen should include in their emergency car kit. Spare Tire Having a spare tire in the car may seem like a given, but you would be surprised to learn how many people drive around without this crucial emergency car kit component. In the event that one of your kid’s tires does blow, a spare tire will usually ensure that your teen can get their vehicle to a safe location, where the damaged tire can ... read more

Fourth of July weekend is a time for barbecues, fireworks and family. Many people like to enjoy an alcoholic beverage or two, but this becomes a problem when deciding to get behind the wheel. This holiday weekend has repeatedly been ranked on numerous sources as the deadliest holiday of the year— even more so than New Year’s Day. Sometimes it’s due to alcohol, and sometimes it’s not. Nonetheless, this weekend has repeatedly been considered a very dangerous time to get behind the wheel. You Drink, You Drive, You Lose Saturation Patrols
By now you are probably familiar with the MoDOT slogan “You drink, you drive, you lose.” This is especially true on holiday weekends. If you have had an alcoholic drink, don’t even think about driving. Make plans in advance for a taxi or designated driver if you must get back home. St. Louis area police have announced an increase of sobriety checkpoints and DWI saturation patrols over the holiday weekend starting on July 3r
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Maintaining your car is very important, as it helps in avoiding breakdowns and future problems. With regular maintenance, your car will drive longer and more efficiently. Below are some of the thing you need to know about fluids, filters and tires. Fluids
Fluids like anti-freeze, motor oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, rear end oil, power steering fluid and fuel are basically the lifeblood for a car and have to be maintained at proper levels. Each has its own function to perform. For instance, motor oil normally keeps all the parts of the engine lubricated and without it, your engine will lock up. If your vehicle is older than 2002, you should probably change it every 3,000 miles. Newer cars typically need an oil change every 3,000 miles. On the other hand, coolant is essential in keeping the engine block and cylinder heads cool. Ensure that you have proper lubrication of suspension parts using grease. Filters
The fluid filter, oil filt

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Each year hundreds of thousands of people are arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Be aware of how much is too much according to the law and what kinds of penalties you face if you are caught drinking while driving. How much can I drink? Males
If a man weighs 180 lbs., his BAC will typically be over .08% after four drinks over the course of an hour. Females
Having three drinks in an hour will put a woman weighing 140 lbs. over the legal limit. These are not concrete guidelines. Your BAC level is determined by a variety of things. Your weight, body fat, type of drink, consumption rate and when/what you last ate (among others) are all factors that affect your BAC. Check out a blood alcohol calculator that can give you an idea of what your concentration might be after a period of time or take a look at the tables below provided by the National Highway

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Not only is texting while driving unsafe, but it’s also illegal in Missouri. For drivers aged 21 or younger, it is illegal to use your cell phone to text while driving in our state. Laws do vary, so be aware when you are crossing state lines. MissouriLaw Section 304.820 of Traffic Regulations states that “no person twenty-one years of age or younger operating a motor vehicle upon the highways of this state shall, by means of a hand-held electronic wireless communications device, send read or write a text message or electronic message.” This means that you may neither send texts/instant messages nor surf the web checking websites like Facebook or Twitter. Penalties The Missouri law took effect on August 28, 2010, and permits law enforcement officers to fine novice drivers who are seen texting while driving. A novice driver is considered someone aged 21 or younger. An infraction is deemed a moving violation und ... read more