Local Auto Repair Shop Offers Safety Tips

John O'Connor, owner of , in Morristown, provides tips for safe fall driving in the press release below:

With autumn here, cooling temperatures, less daylight hours, and leaves on the roads can cause some unpredictable driving conditions. Drivers need to be more vigilant this time of year, if safety is to be maintained. The automotive repair experts at Shade Tree Garage provide a checklist of items to watch for when driving.

"Fall weather is often unpredictable and requires a little extra preparation before hitting the streets," states John O'Connor, owner at Shade Tree Garage. He adds, "The best place to start is with a quick driveway inspection to make sure things like your tires are in good condition, fluids are topped up, signal lights and headlights are working, and windshield wipers are functional and provide excellent visibility. After that, drivers need to be aware of some of the hazards they may find on the road." Here's John's list of things to watch for with Fall driving:

1.   In the morning, make sure all windows are cleared of frost before driving.

2.   Remember that bridges freeze before the rest of the road.

3.   Frost can also be on the roads so take caution when driving over bridges, down tree-lined streets or anywhere that shadows cross dew-laden roadways.

4.   Black ice is invisible so it's important to be careful in areas where it may be found like below overpasses, on bridges, in shaded areas and where water runs across the pavement.

5.   Fog can be a concern this time of year, especially in low places or in areas surrounded by trees.

6.   This time of year streets will be covered with leaves.  They can be slippery, especially when wet, so hard acceleration, braking or sudden turns should be avoided when driving over leaves. 

In addition to taking more care when driving, this time of year is a good time for getting cars ready for winter driving. Handling some basic auto maintenance now will go a long way toward making sure a vehicle is safe and dependable for when the temperatures drop and severe winter weather strikes. The trusted experts at Shade Tree Garage are well-equipped to handle car maintenance and repair issues and will conduct a 27-point safety inspection with every visit to alert car owners to potential safety or repair issues.