Category: Auto Body Blog

Summer is upon us, which means long trips in the car with friends or family. Such trips can be really rough on a vehicle. Since nobody wants to end up stranded in the middle of nowhere, be sure to check all of the following before you hit the road:

Engine Oil: Are your levels right? Are you due for a change? This is one of the easiest ways to foster a well-functioning engine.
Transmission Fluids: Many people forget about their other important oils, like the ones that lubricate your transmission. If you’re due for a change in your transmission fluids, seek out an oil-change professional.
Engine Coolant: If you have a reasonably new care, your coolant should be good for between 100,000 to 150,000 miles. Check your coolant reservoir to see if you need to be topped off.
Tires: Be sure that your tire pressure is at a proper level, and that your treads are not too worn down.
Brakes: Do your brakes squeal when you apply them? It’s time for a change. Be sure to take care of this before any long drives.
Battery: If your battery is over a couple years old, check that the terminals are secure and corrosion-free.

If you have any more significant problems with your car, take it into Greenwood Collision’s auto body shop in Seattle.

Do you find yourself feeling a little drowsy behind the wheel as you drive sometimes? You might not think that this is too big of a deal, but it is a good way to get into an accident. According to a study coming from a research team at Virginia Tech, fully twenty percent of all automotive accidents could be linked to sleepiness on the part of at least one driver involved.

You don’t need to actually drift off to sleep in order to get into a crash. Just being a little drowsy can impair your reflex time and judgement. When you’re traveling at highway speeds, it only takes a second or two of lost focus to end up in a disastrous accident.

If you do regularly drive drowsy, there is really only one true solution: You need to get more sleep. For most adults, this means getting about seven or eight hours of sleep every night. Should you find yourself on the road at a bad time, consider getting a friend to take over or pulling over to catch a quick nap. If the worst should happen, consider bringing your vehicle to our Seattle auto body shop for quick and reliable repairs.

Though driving is not generally considered a physically-demanding activity, it does still require a certain amount of movement. Some people, particularly as they reach advanced age, can benefit from doing some warm-ups before they begin to drive, in much the same way they might warm up before participating in an athletic activity. In this way, they can be better prepared to react quickly and avoid muscular fatigue while out on the road.

The big muscle groups to focus on when warming up before a drive include your neck, your torso, and your shoulders. Start by rotating your torso one way, then the other. Stretch your neck by trying to touch your chin to your chest, then rock it back and forth, pushing your ear down towards your shoulder. Finally, link your fingers behind your back so that you feel a healthy stretch in your shoulders.

If your best efforts should fail you and you end up in a collision, bring your vehicle down to Greenwood Collision in Seattle. Our auto body shop will get you back on the road quickly and reliably.

Aggressive driving and road rage represents a significant risk for the driver, his or her passengers, and the other people on the road. Be on the lookout for the following symptoms of aggressive driving that may indicate that you or your driver is heading for trouble:

• Mentally condemning other drivers, or having violent thoughts directed at them.
• Expressing a condemnation of other drivers out loud.
• Disregarding driving safety rules because you do not agree with them.
• Following too close in an effort to get the other driver to speed up.
• Braking suddenly to discourage tailgaters.
• Passing other drivers, then slowing down out of spite.
• Excessively honking or flashing headlights at oncoming traffic.
• Speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, cutting between vehicles to change lanes, or otherwise engaging in reckless driving practices.

In the event that road rage gets the better of you or another driver, and you need to have repairs done on your vehicle, consult Greenwood Collision. Our auto body shop in Seattle can get you back on the road quickly and efficiently.