Runde Auto Chat

Here is a link to another inspiring story of a crash that had a miraculously happy ending: Click Here

If you need more examples there are several other videos you can look up. The point is simple: pregnant women get into accidents too. It's something that we don't really want to hear about, but it happens. In 2008, over 27,000 pregnant women were killed in automobile accidents. In fact, statistics show that automobile accidents are the largest cause of pregnant fatalities. What is more terrifying than thinking of your unborn baby going through an accident?

As far as safety goes, the major focus has always been on infant safety and child seats while the specific safety needs of expecting mothers was perhaps overlooked a bit. That is starting to change, however, as the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM), a group of 11 car companies including GM, Ford and Chrysler, has recently taken interest in progressing the safety of pregnant women in their vehicles.

The current focus in the progression of making vehicles safer for pregnant women are computer models, and monitoring the effects of a crash on "pregnant" crash dummies. More intricate systems will take time to implement, but you can plan on seeing specific safety belt instructions for pregnant women in the near future.

In the meantime keep safety in mind as you pick out your family's new vehicle. There are certain vehicles that were created with the family in mind, like the Chevy Traverse. The Traverse provides a comfortable ride, and was rated the "Family Vehicle of the Year" by many different organizations including Kelly Blue book and SEAMO, based on its safety, capacity, ergonomics, and accessibility.

New Year's Resolution for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers? Keep mom and her soon to be baby boy or girl safe.

It's something we all fear on the road: getting into an accident. We look for signs of potentially dangerous situations and try to dodge them and avoid injury to ourselves and the people around us. During winter it's on our minds a bit more: "what if I slide and hit something" or "uh-o, I don't think my car is going to make it up this hill... what if I start slipping backwards..." As much as you try to be a cautious driver, sometimes it's impossible to avoid an accident.

Regardless of whether: your car skidded on ice, or you were text messaging and didn't see that truck in-front of you, or you got hit by someone who doesn't know the meaning of the word "stop" that appears on the red octagon-shaped thingee ... you should always be prepared for the aftermath of an accident. Would you know what to do if you get into an accident on your way home today? If not, follow Runde's accident survival guide and you'll be a little better off when that accident occurs. Print it off and keep it in your glove box if you want to reference it when you get into an accident.

And remember: Being prepared means being ready both mentally and physically.

What Happened??

The first thing to do after the accident occurs is to assess the situation. How bad of an accident is it? Is your car teetering on a median or is it in a safe location? If the vehicle isn't in such a trouble spot, you should move it (if possible) to a location where no further damage can be done. No matter how big or small the accident is, do not drive away. The law mandates that you stay at the accident scene until authorities are properly contacted. If you try to flee the scene you could end up with a very sizeable traffic ticket or a warrant for your arrest.

Who's Hurt Where and Why?

The next step is to check all parties in your vehicle for injuries. Make sure your kids and any other passengers are alright. Identify any injuries. Seriously injured individuals should not be moved unless they are in imminent danger from fire, traffic, raccoon attack etc. Dave, my brother-in-law, witnessed a girl getting his by a truck a couple weeks ago. The truck fled the scene, and Dave stayed with the girl. It was raining so Dave picked the girl up and carried her to the back of his van so she wouldn't get soaked. He said it seemed like the "gentleman" thing to do at the time. However, when the paramedics got there, Dave said they made it clear to him that it was the wrong thing to do. He should have just covered her up with a blanket or his coat and kept her stationary so he wouldn't have risked further injury.

For the most part: If you can get off the road ... GET OFF THE ROAD! Obviously that's not always feasible. A couple of years ago, there was an accident on Hwy 35 just out in front our Runde PreDriven store in Hazel Green, WI. A lady who was diving one of the cars got out of her vehicle and was standing out in the middle of the road in a state of semi-consciousness. During the accident, she had struck her head and she wasn't exactly sure where she was. Al Kloft, one of the salesmen at the PreDriven store, saw the accident occur and went out to guide the lady to safety. The lady's injuries turned out to be very minor, but her vehicle was totalled out so the following week she came back to Runde's and bought a replacement vehicle from Al.

Generally they say that follwing an accident, everyone who is capable of moving should get to a safe location and out of the way of passing traffic. If you are severely injured, call 911 for medical assistance or yell for help if a phone isn't available.

Time for the "Men" in Blue

Once you know what's going on, contact the police. They will tell you if their presence is needed at the scene depending on the severity of the incident. Mostly they are needed if the accident involves a hit and run*, if it is apparent that liability will be disputed or if there are injuries.

• *Note* If the accident was a hit and run, be sure to get as much information of the vehicle and driver that hit you as possible. Police will want, at the very least, the license plate number of the vehicle that hit you. If you can get a good look at the individual driving the vehicle and describe him/her to the police it will make it easier for them to catch and identify the perpetrator. In the situation I described above, Dave wasn't able to get the license number or description of the truck that hit the girl. He had the choice where he could have either chased after the truck in his van, or he could have stopped to help the girl lying in the middle of the crosswalk. I'd say that Dave made the right choice.

Take Away Emotion

When the police arrive, they will investigate the scene and talk to the individuals involved. When talking to the police, never admit fault. Tell them exactly what happened without saying "it was my fault." It's natural to want to say "sorry" to the other people involved in the accident but saying things like that could be construed as admission that you were at fault. And if you are truely not at fault, this admission could be used against you if the case ever got to court.

The Next Step is like a Warped Spin on Speed Dating

Give and receive names, addresses, and phone numbers with everyone involved in the accident. Get the year, make, model, license plate number, insurance carrier, and insurance policy number of all vehicles involved. If there were any witnesses get their contact information as well.

Set the Record Straight

Get ahold of your insurance company. If there is any vehicular damage or injuries from the accident report the details ASAP to your insurance company, remember never say you were the guilty party, just the facts ma'am.

Become a Photographer

 Take pictures. If you have a camera available snap shots of the damage of the vehicles, the accident scene, any injuries incurred and the people involved. If you don't just happen to have a "Sony 12 mega-pixel Cybershot DSLR Photo Machine Gun" camera on you, remember that most cellphones come with a built-in camera, if you don't have one ask someone else if they have a phone with a camera. This will serve you well for insurance or court purposes.

Take up Scrapbooking

Remember to document everything that happened as you may be able to get reimbursed for them. If you had to tow your vehicle get the name, location and phone number of the towing company and get a copy of any fees that may incur. Your insurance company may require you to select a pre-approved body shop to repair your vehicle, so record all fees charged.

Preparation is the Recipe for Survival

It's easy for us to say be prepared for an accident, but it's not something that most people think about on a regular basis. However, there are steps you can take so that you'll be ready for almost anything that lifes throws at you as you travel down that ramblin' road. Make sure that your hazzard (flashers, 4-ways, etc.) lights are in working order. Try to check them about once every 6 months -- it only takes 20 seconds to walk around your car. If you don't have a car-charger for your cell phone, then make sure that your phone is fully charged before you set out. If your planning a longer trip in the winter or late at night, make sure that your car is stocked with a few blankets, a working flashlight, and road flares. And if you're travelling alone, try to make sure that someone (a relative or a friend) is aware that your in transit.

I think it's pretty much a universal given that friends and relatives (moms especially) like to call us to make sure that our destination was safely reached. Remember to take care of yourself and your family. No matter what happens in an accident, life goes on, the best thing you can do is try to learn how to avoid future accidents from happening and teach what you learn to ones you love.

So you are planning a two-week visit to your mom's house this winter and she has welcomed you to bring your pet for the visit? Great! Mom lives 5 hours away, a no-sweat trip for most, and your family is all excited for it. Your 6-year-old son can't wait to sink his original baby teeth into Grandma Betsy's world-famous chocolate chip cookies, yum!

But what about Peaches, your 3-year-old rottweiler? This is your first long trip with him coming along and you are worried about how to go about the whole process. Well, let us help get you, your family, and Peaches allready for the excursion.

• Some folks might say consult your vet before taking your pet on a trip. I'd just say make sure that you remember to take along plenty of pet food. What you don't want to happen is that you get 3 hours down the road and realize you forgot to feed the pooch and, moreover, you forgot to bring a bag of his/her food. I remember we took our beagle, Mittens, on a 7 hour trip across Iowa when I was a kid and my folks forgot to bring the dog food. Dad made the mistake of stopping at McDonald's and bought a cheeseburger for Mittens. About thirty miles after that, dad pulled over to clean dog vomit off of the back seat carpet. That was before the invention of Fabreeze, and it made the rest of the trip very pleasant (not!) on our noses.
• Also bring along a good stock of any medication that your pet might take. It's a good idea to bring along some of the more common medications, including flea and tick control as well as heartworm medicine.
• Take along important documentation, including: license numbers, tattoo numbers, microchip numbers and vaccination records. It's best to be prepared for anything.
• You might take along a kennel or carrier for your dog to ride in on the trip. Some vehicles, especially SUV's, have a "dog fence" you can put in the cargo area (see picture to right). Whatever you go with, be sure that you can protect your pet and keep him/her under control when needed. My sister takes her current Beagle wherever she goes and transports him in his kennel that sits in the back of their van.
• If you're planning to stay in a hotel, call ahead to make sure that the town that you're planning on stopping in overnight has a hotel that takes dogs -- many don't and you don't want to be stuck driving around Po-Dunk, Nowhere at 11pm looking for a hotel that'll lodge you and your four-legged friend.
• Say bacon-cheese-burger! Take a picture of your pet before you go and print it out in case Fido runs away. An up-to-date photo will help you describe him to others.

There you have it, you should be ready to go! Gotta love the holidays, gotta love it even more when everyone you love, including your pets get to share it together. Stay tuned next week for some practical tips you can use to be safe on the roads as winter starts to approach us. We'll make sure you get to see Grandma Betsy instead of a ditch this winter! :)

Small vehicles are starting to become mainstream. What's not to like about them? They are cute, fun, and best of all - great on fuel economy. But before you go and give your kids one of these for their graduation gift, take this video into consideration:

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 It's true that smaller cars generally get better gas mileage but like the man says near the end of this video: there are larger vehicles out there, like the Ford Fusion Hybrid, that get as good, if not better gas mileage than several smaller vehicles. Remember: just because you might be saving some money on gas doesn't mean you are investing in you, or your families health. Be sure to do research before buying a vehicle to make sure they get great safety ratings and are proved to be reliable in case the worst scenario happens.

Sometimes, good things have to come to an end. Not so long from now winter will fall on us and we will be left cold, leaving nothing but memories of nice walks and swims. Seasons change, some people like the change and others don't. Regardless of what season you like, you should always keep in mind one thing - check your tires.

With a change in temperature comes a change in tire pressure. Air will compress as the temperature gets colder and will expand once it gets warmer. With a tire low on pressure, the sidewall of the tire begins to flex, causing handling problems, wear and reduced fuel economy. Too much air will cause the tire to wear and possibly even pop, so it's very important to know when to check your tires and how full the tires should be.

How to tell if your car doesn't have enough PSI:

If your car is pulling to one side, making a "squeaking" noise or getting noticeably worse fuel economy, your tire might not be filled to the right amount of air.

To check and fill your tires:

• Get out your owners manual and read the limits on your tires. If you cannot find it in the manual, you can check on the side of the tire where it will usually tell you what the PSI (pounds per square inch)limit is for that tire.
• Be sure to check the current PSI of your tire with a properly working tire gauge ($2 at Walmart). If the readout is below what your tire should be, fill it up, but not exceeding the maximum tire pressure for that tire. If the readout is above the maximum PSI limit, you can typically release the air with the opposite end of the tire pressure gauge or gas station pump hose tip.

Just remember, check those tires. Especially when there is a change of season and you go from "nice" to "cold" to and to "hot" again. Be sure to keep ahead on tire maintenance and you will be sure to have a smoother ride, better gas mileage and a safer trip.