Tips to Keep Your Carpool Safe This School Year

BAY CITY, Mich.––It's easy for safety checks to get lost in the mix of homework, new school schedules, sports, errands, and everything else that comes along with the season. However easy safety checks go missing, they're one of the most important things to do at the beginning of the school year, especially if you'll be partaking in a carpool. Not only are you, as a driver, responsible for your own students, but others as well. Follow our tips to keep your carpool safe this school year, and don't hesitate to ask us at Graff Bay City for help.

1. Have your brakes inspected at your next oil change

Your brakes are one of the most important safety components, so having them checked at your next oil change at Graff Bay City will ensure you have the stopping power needed in any situation. Some signs you can look out for if your brakes need service include: a squealing noise when applying brakes, soft or spongy feeling brakes, shaky steering wheel when stopping, and a visibly worn brake pad.

2. Put on new wiper blades and top off your washer fluid

You can do this step right at home with store bought wipers and washer fluid, but we can take care of it at your next oil change if that's more convenient for you! With new wiper blades and a full washer fluid tank, you'll be prepared for any type of weather or dirt that hits your windshield Remember, your wiper blades and washer fluid are there to help you see clearly and can save your life in some emergency situations where visibility is down.

3. Check your tires for damage and inflate them to the recommended level

Doing a basic check for visible damage, like bulging or uneven tread wear, on your tires is a great first step to safe tires. Take it a step further and make sure you have properly inflated tires. You can find the suggested PSI for your tires in your owner's manual or on the sticker on the inside of your driver's side door. Check the PSI level of your tires while they're cold, and adjust as needed. This will help with your vehicle's efficiency and reduce the risk of a popped tire.

4. Have your oil changed every 3,000-5,000 miles

As simple as this may sound, having your oil changed every 3,000-5,000 miles will help your car run its best and eliminate the risk of an overheated engine. Dirty or old oil that has broken down can cause your engine's parts to wear prematurely and can potentially cause your engine to overheat, which can lead to expensive repairs down the road.

5. Check all your external lights and their function

This check takes two people to complete, but it takes less than 5 minutes. Run through each light individually by having one person sit in the car turning the lights on and off, and the other checking the exterior as the lights go on and off. Make a mark of anything that isn't functioning correctly. Your lights are important because they allow other drivers and pedestrians to see you, and are especially important on foggy, rainy, or snowy days.

Use these tips to keep your carpool safe this school year, and to keep your car running smoothly! The routine maintenance pages on our website are there to provide knowledge and understanding of important components on your vehicle. We also offer more vehicle maintenance tips on our Service FAQ page. If you have more specific questions about your vehicle’s maintenance, then contact our Graff Bay City Service Center. Our team of ASE Certified technicians is here to help you and your carpool group get back on the road safe and sound. Schedule your next service center appointment today and have your carpool vehicle inspected.

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we can help you find the perfect vehicle for your weekend getaway! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

Follow us: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

BAY CITY, Mich. – May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. At Graff Bay City, we put safety first. With the warmer weather here in Michigan, one thing all drivers need to be aware of on the road is motorcyclists. Too many accidents happen with motorcycles and usually the cyclist is the one left with more damage and injury. To avoid these accidents, we have a few tips for the drivers and the motorcyclists. It’s not a one-sided job; everyone plays an important role in staying safe on the road.

Tips for Drivers:

• If you’re following behind a motorcycle, leave a good distance between you and the bike. In case you need to slam on your brakes or swerve, you’ll have enough reaction time to do so and not hit the motorcyclist.
• Always, always, always check your blind spots! This is the biggest mistake that drivers make. Since motorcyclists move much faster, and look much smaller in mirrors, it’s easy for you to miss them in your blind spots. Always double-check before switching lanes.
• Think about the road conditions. If you’re on a road with potholes, railroad tracks, or even construction, chances are the motorcyclists will have to slow down a lot more than someone driving in a car. On roads like this, we recommend following even further behind.
• Never share a lane with a motorcyclist. Even if you have a small car, it’s never safe to share a lane. In the case that you have to swerve or the motorcyclist needs to swerve, you may collide and that’s not good for wither of you. Give the motorcycle the space it needs to drive.

Tips for Motorcyclists:

• Wear the right gear to stay safe. This would be a helmet, closed toe shoes, pants, a motorcycle jacket, and gloves. Motorcycle gear can be a little heavier than you’d like it to be when riding, but it plays a key role in keeping you safe. In the case that you ever get into an accident, you’re less likely to get injured with the proper gear on.
• Check the weather! We know Mother Nature can be a little unpredictable in Michigan, but checking the weather before you leave can help you avoid a rainstorm and bad driving weather.
• Be aware of your surroundings and watch for road hazards. As a motorcyclist, you’re a lot harder to see than a normal sized car. Be aware of the other drivers around you. Also, make sure you watch for road hazards like potholes, train tracks, and construction.
• Always use turn signals and headlights. This is a must for cars as well, but as a motorcyclist you want to make sure you’re as easy to notice as possible. Using your lights will let other drivers know where you’re going and help avoid any accidents. 

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, but every month you should be following these tips to stay safe on the road. Keeping you safe on the road is very important to us at Graff Bay City. Another way to ensure your safety is making sure your vehicle get the spring car care it needs this season. Take a look at our website to learn about the maintenance your tires, alignment, and car fluids need. Feel free to schedule a service appointment with our trained technicians online.

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

Follow us: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, YouTube, & Instagram

Tips to Keep Your Schoolchildren Safe

BAY CITY, Mich. - With the school year going strong, school zones are in effect and children are filling the streets as they head to and from class. While many think that predators and bullies are the biggest threat to your child at school, it's actually cars! Due to children being unpredictable pedestrians, vehicles are the biggest threat to your kids safety. To keep your kids safe on their walk to and from school, take a look at a few of our tips to keep your schoolchildren safe.

Children are often walking to and from school 6:30a.m. - 8:30a.m. and 2:30p.m. - 4:30p.m. on weekdays from September to June. It is during this time that drivers should be most vigilant, since kids are unpredictable. While crossing guards help teach children when to cross the road, many still cross between parked cars or dart when the crossing signal says no.

With cars being the biggest threat to schoolchildren, it is necessary to take review some tips to keep your schoolchildren safe so that your child knows how to obey pedestrian laws when walking. First, talk to your kids about using traffic signals and crosswalks. Most injuries happen mid-block (meaning not at a crosswalk), so teach your kids about the importance of using a crosswalk. Also, if there is no sidewalk where they are walking, it is okay to walk facing traffic, as long as they stay as far away from vehicles as possible.

Secondly, teach your kids about looking right and left. This may seem pretty obvious, especially since this is a rule that all parents drill into their children's heads from a young age. However, children now have electronic devices to distract them from their surroundings, making it easy to walk into the street without meaning to do so. So teach your children about looking right and left, and crossing the street without the electronic device to distract them.

Another great tip for crossing the street safely: remind kids to make eye contact with drivers before crossing and to watch out for car that are turning or backing up. Most of all, teach your kids to NEVER dart out into the street or cross between parked cars. This is how most schoolchildren are injured, so warn them about crossing the street where it is not marked as a crossing zone.

While you can only do so much to protect your children when they are out and about, Chevy has a variety of ways to protect your family when they are in the car.  If you'd like to discuss all the safety features available to you, our friendly and informative sales team would be more than happy to go over the details. So stop by our Chevrolet Dealership Serving Caro, MI today and we'll be more than happy to show you our selection of New Chevrolet Cars, New Chevrolet Trucks and Used Chevy Cars For Sale.

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706. For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our websites: www.GraffBayCity.com.

Follow us: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+