How To Protect You and Your Car
Even the most careful driver can be faced
with an emergency situation. Use your common sense and these tips to help
protect yourself from danger:
If your car should break down and you're
not near enough to one of your safe spots, follow these steps:
- Get off the roadway, out of the path of
oncoming traffic, even if you to have drive on a flat tire. The tire is
replaceable.
- Turn on your emergency flashers. If you
have emergency roadway flares in your trunk, position them
conspicuously.
- Raise the hood and tie a handkerchief to
the aerial or door handle.
- If a roadside telephone or call-box is
handy, use it. If not, sit in your locked car and wait for help.
- If a motorist stops to render
assistance, it's better to remain in the car, and ask him to get help.
(Likewise, if you see a stranded motorist, it's better not to stop. but
instead, notify the police.)
If you think you are being followed, don't
drive home. You would only be telling your follower where you live.
- Stay Calm. As long as you think clearly,
you'll be in control of the situation.
- Flash your lights and sound your horn
long enough to attract attention to you, and consequently the person
following you.
- Drive to one of your already identified
safe spots, sounding your horn and flashing your lights. Do not leave
this safe location until you're sure your follower is gone.
- Remember, you are your best protection.
If you follow these steps, you'll be protecting the most important part
of your car-YOU.
Protecting Yourself
Common sense will generally steer you clear
of the very infrequent dangerous situation:
- Always lock your car doors while
driving, and roll windows up far enough to keep anyone from reaching
inside.
- At stop signs and lights keep the car in
gear and stay alert.
- Travel well-lighted, busy streets. You
can spare those extra minutes it may take to avoid an unsafe area.
- Keep your purse and other valuables out
of sight, even when you are driving in your locked car.
- Park in safe, well-lighted areas near
your destination.
- Always lock your car, even for a short
absence. And before unlocking your car, quickly check to make sure no
one is hiding on your seats or floors, front and back.
- Never pick up a hitchhiker. Even the
most harmless-looking stranger can be dangerous. Don't find out.
- When you arrive home, leave your
headlights on until you have the car in the garage and the house door
unlocked. If you can have a remote control garage door opener installed,
it will allow you to remain in your locked car until you're inside your
locked garage.
- Check the daily routes you travel and
pick out safe spots-24 hour gas stations, convenience stores, and police
and fire stations. If trouble should arise, drive straight to one of
these locations.
Protecting Your Car
Facts:
- Every 33 seconds a car is stolen.
- More than a million cars are stolen a
year.
- 40% have keys in the ignition.
- 80% are unlocked.
- Most are stolen by young opportunists.
To keep your car from becoming a statistic:
- Always lock all doors.
- Roll windows up tight
- Install tapered interior door lock
buttons.
- Park in heavily traveled areas, always
locked.
- Engrave an identifying number on a
hidden place on the car and on any valuable components to help the
police identify recovered property.
- Don't leave any valuables in sight.
- Don't hide spare keys-they can be found.
- Don't think it can't happen to you-act
before, not after the crime.
In November 2003 there was a series of car breaks in the
Park Ave. Dunham St. area. All of the vehicles broken into where left
unlocked. One of the vehicles had a spare key in the center consol and was
stolen and used in the commission of the other breaks. All four suspects
where arrested later that day. When interviewing the suspects they stated
that they where looking for spare change to but cigarettes and that they
where only looking for unlocked cars. Although the crime was just an
annoyance to some of the victims others had valuable documentation stolen
from their vehicles including ID cards and motor vehicle documents. Please
do you part to prevent this crime and lock your car doors.
While you've been reading this page, at
least ten
cars were stolen. They were stolen because the opportunity was there. If
you have taken these protective measures, you may deter the theft of your
car. The thief won't have to look far for an easier target.
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