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Car Accident Advice

What to do in an accident

We all hope it'll never happen to us but, at some time, many of us will unfortunately experience a car accident of some sort.

If you're involved in an accident then here are some important things that you should do at the accident scene.

  • If somebody has been injured in the accident, you must call the police - and make sure an ambulance is on the way if it's serious.
     

  • You must never just leave the scene of an accident, it is a criminal offence.
     

  • Make sure you have the full name and address of the other party involved and of any eye-witnesses.
     

  • Exchange names and addresses of insurance companies with the other party. Policy numbers are also very useful, if you happen to have them with you.
     

  • Always take down the other vehicle's registration number.
     

  • Tell your insurers about any statement made at the scene by any of the parties. Do not discuss whose fault it was. If you do, you could create problems for you and your insurers in the handling of your claim.
     

  • If you've had an accident, you must tell your insurers as soon as possible - even if you don't intend to make a claim. This is a condition of your policy.
     

  • Remember, if you bump a parked car, even if the owner is nowhere to be seen, you are legally obliged to leave a note with your contact details on the windscreen.

 


A 350 MPH School Bus?

by Bryan Usrey

With school about to get under way, what better way to show up on the first day than on a bus with fire coming out of the back? This may not be the safest way to travel, but it does make the school bus journey be fun again while eliminating the torturous normal journey that it usually is.

Paul Stender and IndyBoys Inc created this fire-shooting school bus and it packs a whopping 42,000 horsepower from its GE J-79 jet engine that is used on F4 Phantoms. Sadly, the bus did lose some of its hauling capacity, as only three people can sit inside. Not to mention it shoots 75-foot flames out of the back.

According to the IndyBoys website, the bus was able to hit 350 miles per hour, but we can't imagine anybody would be willing to actually hit that sort of speed.

The Telegraph quoted Stender as he explained the reason for the bus. "I built the bus for two reasons. The first is to entertain people because, come on; it's a jet bus. The second is to keep kids off drugs. Jets are hot, drugs are not."

Well done sir.




d

This is a colorful community, and the home to a manufacturer of popular, nontoxic art supplies for children. Which of these towns is home to the Crayola crayon company headquarters?

Harrisburg
Bethlehem
Easton
Reading




 


Ask the Car Doctor

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Driving Tips To Keep Your Family Safe

Buckle Up
The most important tip to keep your family safe while driving is to always use safety belts and proper child restraints. Children are safer when placed in the rear seat in the appropriate infant, child, booster seat, or safety belt - appropriate for the size and age. Never place a rear facing infant restraint in the front seat of a vehicle equipped with an active air bag.

Both Hands on the Wheel!
The first car safety tip is to always drive with both hands on the wheel. The best place for your hands are at the nine and three o'clock positions, which help provide greater control when steering.

Lights On, Please
With your safety in mind, all new vehicles come equipped with daytime running lamps. To help with safe driving, turn on your lights in rainy or snowy weather to make sure that your headlamps, tail lamps and other exterior lamps are on. Even if your visibility is good, other drivers will have a better view of your vehicle.

Snow on the Roof
Don't let snow pile up on top of your car or truck. Peaks of snow increase drag and decrease gas mileage. And snow piled in your pickup's bed can obstruct both your view and the view of other drivers.

Quick Maneuvering
If you need to veer suddenly to avoid hitting an object in your vehicle's path, before turning, make sure you look in the direction you'd like to head towards to make sure the path is clear.

Alcohol is a factor in 39% of traffic fatalities in the U.S.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), these visual signs may help you spot an impaired driver:

  • Stopping problems (too far, too short, or too jerky)

  • Straddling a lane line

  • Swerving or drifting

  • Weaving across lane lines

  • Accelerating or decelerating for no apparent reason

  • Slow response to traffic signals

  • Turning with a wide radius

  • Driving without headlights at night

  • Varying speed


Let An Expert Inspect

Making sure your vehicle is in peak condition is another excellent way to help you drive safely. Stop by and let a technician give your vehicle a inspection. Your technician checks many areas (27 points in all) that can assist in safe driving - including wiper blades, windshield cracks, tire wear, brakes, steering, suspension and tail lamps - and will offer expert services if you need them.

Make sure that your automobile is up to date on its service schedule. 


z

Easton

Located in Easton, the Crayola company attracts visitors to the town. Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith were the inventors of the Crayola crayon, the first nontoxic child's crayon. The company specializes in manufacturing art supplies that are nontoxic and appealing to children. Interestingly, the company's original trade when it was first founded was manufacturing industrial pigment supplies under the name Binney & Smith. When the company produced the first non-toxic crayon in 1903, the innovation changed the company's business entirely. The name "Crayola" was suggested by teacher Alice Binney, who was also Edwin's wife. Mrs. Binney invented the name by combining the French words "craie" ("chalk") and "ola" ("oily"). The result was a brand name that is universally known for its art supplies aimed at children's creativity. The company has done a huge part of its manufacturing in Pennsylvania, having it's headquarter branch in Easton, and another manufacturing center at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.