Entire Blog Feed

Bicyclist killed after colliding with car

Blog Manager — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:08:00 GMT

An 18-year-old Santa Clara man was hit and killed Tuesday night while riding his bicycle on Monroe Street, according to the CHP. The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner's Office identified the bicyclist as Daniel Arreola.

At about 10:45 p.m.. a 32-year-old Santa Clara man was driving a Toyota Camry about 50 mph north on San Tomas Expressway and was approaching a green light when he saw the bicyclist traveling east on Monroe Street within the south crosswalk, according to the CHP. The driver of the Toyota hit the brakes but could not stop in time or avoid a collision with the bicyclist, according to the CHP.

The bicyclist had severe injuries and was taken to Valley Medical Center, where he later died. The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. At this time, alcohol is not considered to be a contributing factor in the collision.

Shea & Shea is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm located in San Jose, California. The firm has extensive experience in representing individuals and their families in cases involving catastrophic injuries including wrongful death and traumatic brain injury. Since 1966, Shea & Shea have successfully represented the seriously injured and their families in both state and federal courts. To learn more, visit us at www.Shea-Shea.com or telephone 888-989-SHEA.

San Jose to adopt 'social host' law

Blog Manager — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:22:00 GMT

San Jose is set to adopt a law holding parents liable for parties with underage drinking in their homes. The City Council is expected to approve the "social host" ordinance at their next Tuesday meeting. Under the "social host" ordinance, homeowners could face fines and other charges if underage partygoers gather and drink alcohol on their property.

Although, there are laws, fines and penalties for adults that provide underage people with alcohol; the social host law would make homeowners liable for gatherings of four or more underage drinkers on their property regardless of whether the party created a disturbance of any sorts. The homeowner would also be liable even if they were not on the property at the time and were unaware of the party. However, Rental property owners would not be liable unless they were present or knew of the underage drinking party. But the renter could be held accountable.

The violations will be determined by the police and the penalties have yet to be determined. It is likely that the penalties will cost a homeowner several hundred dollars in fines plus reimbursement of police response costs.

In addition to San Jose, the following cities have adopted the social host laws: Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Santa Clara, Palo Alto, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Los Altos, Los Gatos, and Milpitas.

Community mourns San Jose native killed in Half Moon Bay crash

Blog Manager — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:08:00 GMT

SAN JOSE -- It was hard to miss Katie Habenicht: Smiling, blonde, 6-foot-2.

Yet she was just as easy to miss because she was always on the move, whether it was leaving her brother and friends in the dust during a Yosemite hike, helping out her former high school teachers or swiftly changing her college plans to find what suited her.

The bright-eyed 20-year-old San Jose native died late Saturday on Highway 1 in Half Moon Bay when an oncoming minivan swerved into her lane and struck her Honda Civic head-on. The 54-year-old San Gregorio woman driving the minivan is in the hospital in critical condition; the crash remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

"She had everything in the world going for her. She was a big ball of sunshiny potential," said Miralina Milazzo, who was Habenicht's English teacher at Lincoln High School.

Habenicht left an indelible mark on her alma mater as a standout in theater, dance and choir at a school renowned for its performing arts program, her teachers said. She parlayed that passion into a scholarship to chase those pursuits at Cottey College in Nevada, Mo.

"She enjoyed playing roles that other kids might not have taken on, like monsters and old people," said Chuck Manthe, director of theater at Lincoln. "She enjoyed doing the strange things for us; she did them well. A woman of a thousand faces."

But perhaps the larger impression she left was her human touch, making those around her feel welcome and cared for, friends and family said. Griffin Habenicht, 18,his sister mentoring freshmen as a senior and returning later to check on their growth, so that years after she left, the Lincoln community was reeling from news of her death as if she was still a student there.

"It's been a really rough week here," Manthe said.

After earning an associate degree in liberal arts at the Missouri school, she returned to her hometown -- her father, Richard, said she "grew up learning to walk in the Rose Garden" -- and enrolled at San Jose State as a junior, quickly turning her sights on philosophy and psychology. For Katie, there was no time to waste.

"She was a very restless person. She wouldn't sit around much," Griffin Habenicht said.

He said that carrying a full load of 18 college units wasn't enough for his sister, so she got a job at Peet's Coffee & Tea near the campus. But keeping with her philosophy to stay in perpetual motion, she walked the two miles from her family's Magnolia Avenue house, often multiple times in a day, during breaks in classes or work.

Richard Habenicht said his daughter's thirst for life was evident early, like when she was a tyke and he brought her to snow to teach her how to ski.

"She just skied off," he said, remembering his astonishment. "I yelled, 'Wait, I'm going to teach you something.' But she already got it."

It's jarring to her family that the whirlwind of Katie's life is now at rest. Griffin was looking forward to sharing the experience of San Jose State. Her parents, Richard and Marilyn, are left only with fond memories.

"If you were going to sketch out a child," Richard Habenicht said, "you would design it like Katie."

Robert Salonga covers public safety. Contact him at 408-920-5002.

TO HELP

At her family's request, donations in Katie Habenicht's memory can be made to the Lincoln Performing Arts Coalition, 555 Dana Ave., San Jose, 95126, in care of Peggy Mahony.

San Jose Woman killed in head-on collision

Blog Manager — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:51:00 GMT

A 20-year-old San Jose woman died and another driver was in critical condition after a head-on collision late Saturday in Half Moon Bay, police said. The crash happened a few minutes before midnight on Highway 1, just south of Miramontes Point Road, when the driver of a northbound Dodge Caravan swerved into oncoming traffic, said CHP Officer Art Montiel.

Kathryn Habenicht, according to the San Mateo County Coroner's Office, was driving a Honda Civic south on Highway 2 when she was hit by the Dodge. Habenicht was pronounced dead at the scene.

There was no obvious signs that alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash, but they will not be ruled out until toxicology results are back, said Montiel. It was not immediately clear if Habenicht was wearing a seat belt.

The 44-year-old San Gregorio woman behind the wheel of the Dodge was rushed to Stanford Hospital where, at last word, she was in critical condition, Montiel said.

The Five Essentials of Bicycling

Blog Manager — Thu, 03 May 2012 22:47:00 GMT

A bicyclist's safety on the road depends on the five essential bicycling skills. These skills can reduce your risk of injury.

Handling: Control your bike. Know how to handle (start, stop, turn, ride in a straight line, keep balance at slow speeds, check over should without swerving) your bike property so that a collision could be avoided. Also, equip your bike with the required safety features (brakes, front and rear reflectors and lights).
Cooperation: Share the road. Bicyclists have the same responsibilities and rights as a motorist. Obey all traffic signals, signs and road markings. Watch out for pedestrians and avoid riding on sidewalks whenever possible.
Positioning: Make yourself visible. When riding slower than the other traffic, ride in the bike lane (in the same direction as the other traffic). Leave the lane when traveling fast as the other traffic, to avoid obstacles and to prepare to turn. On roads without a bike lane ride in the rightmost through lane in a straight line. Move to the center of the lane when:
- Traveling the same speed as other traffic.
- Narrow lane width or obstacles make it unsafe to be passed by other drivers within the lane.
- Being more visible makes you safer.
Responsiveness: Respond to hazards. Know how to stop and turn quickly when another roadway user makes a hazardous mistake.
Protection: Protect your head and hands. Wear a bicycle helmet and cycling gloves to prevent or reduce serious injuries.

Source: http://bikesafecalifornia.org/#resource-1

City of Gilroy pays in case handled by Shea & Shea

Blog Manager — Wed, 02 May 2012 20:16:00 GMT

Last month, the City of Gilroy paid $450,000 in a hush-hush $700,000 settlement to a 70-year-old man who sued after tripping over a patch of jagged, uplifted sidewalk on Martin Street in front of Garlic City Billiards two years ago.

Allan Sundquist of San Jose tripped while walking from Monterey Street to OD's Kitchen on March 26, 2010, when he tripped over the sidewalk at 28 Martin St., struck his head on a tree, lost consciousness and was taken to Saint Louise Regional Hospital. Sundquist sued the City of Gilroy, Santa Clara County, the owner of the business and the owner of the building for personal injury damages. He claims to have permanent cognitive damage.

The culprit of the dangerous sidewalk, the city agreed, was the at-least 40-year-old Magnolia tree whose roots were tearing and lifting the cement. The crack has since been smoothed over with fresh concrete, but the tree is still there.

Then-owner of Garlic City Billiards, Robert Tapella – who paid the other $250,000 of the settlement, because his insurance company thought it would be cheaper than fighting – is furious at the city for not fixing the sidewalk in front of his store years ago.

“The funny thing was I had called the city, asking them to remove this tree for 17 years, and they were so stubborn the whole time. They said they didn’t have the money. They said the sidewalk problems weren’t from the tree,” Tapella said.

At one point, Tapella said he offered to cut the tree down himself, but the city threatened to fine him if he did.

“It’s their tree. They planted it, and I can’t touch it,” Tapella said, his voice rising.

Then one day in October 2010, Tapella was served with lawsuit papers “out of the blue.”

He said it was the first he heard about Sundquist tripping in front of his business. Tapella, who no longer owns the business and only leased the building, couldn’t believe that he had any responsibility, because he had been bugging the city to remove the Magnolia tree for so long.

City Engineer Albert Signorotti said that a single sidewalk repair can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $15,000 or more, but the average repair is $4,500 – just one percent of what the city ended up having to pay in this lawsuit.

“In 2008, when they were tearing up downtown for the beautification project, I asked the city to come down an extra 15 feet on Martin Street to take care of those Magnolia trees, and they said they didn’t have the money. Well, for $450,000, they could have repaired 15 blocks,” Tapella said.

Sundquist’s lawyer, Michael Shea, personal injury lawyer at Shea & Shea in San Jose, said that after Sundquist sued, the city sent a letter to the building owners of Garlic City Billiards, Jafar and Nasrin Kangarloo, telling them their sidewalk needed fixing.

The letter informed the Kangarloo’s of the Sidewalk Replacement program, where the city pays for part of the repairs. It also stated that the Kangarloo’s must apply for a permit to do the work, and that they need to do so as soon as possible.

The letter did not mention the impending lawsuit, and city engineer Albert Signorotti testified in court that it was the first letter the city had written to the Kangarloos.

“This was an injury waiting to happen. The city had prior knowledge of the danger but did nothing to fix the problem. Gambling with public safety is never a good bet,” Shea wrote in an email.

City Administrator Tom Haglund did not respond to calls on Monday, but wrote an email that he would not make further comment on the case until after May 7, when the city council will be briefed during closed session.

According to court documents obtained by the Dispatch, the sidewalk where Sundquist tripped was cracked and raised 1.5 inches – city code states that sidewalks raised 0.5 inch are in need of repairs – and that the city had notice of the disrepair, but did not remedy it.

Sundquist said the settlement requires he does not talk about the incident.

“I’m not trying to hide anything, I just can’t comment, legally,” he said.

The recent settlement could mean that the decades-old sidewalk controversy is beginning to crop back up.

According to California State law, property owners are responsible for maintaining the sidewalk in front of their home or business. In August 2007, at the recommendation of the city’s insurance company, city council enacted a sidewalk ordinance that attempted to publicly shift legal liability from the city to the homeowner if someone were to trip on the sidewalk in front of a residence. The ordinance was overturned six months later because of the three new council members who were against it.

“If a homeowner went out to his sidewalk with a jackhammer, then we’d expect him to be liable,” Councilman Perry Woodward said. Woodward said that although city staff would like homeowners to be liable, the fact is they created the problem – invasive city-planted trees cause 95 percent of sidewalk damage in Gilroy.

By “creating the problem,” Woodward was referring to the invasive trees, namely the shallow root Liquid Ambers famous for tearing up sidewalks, that the city planted in residential park strips in the 1970s, when they decided to become a recognized “Tree City USA.”

In 2008, the city decided to up their end of the Sidewalk Repair program, because of money obtained via federal grant, Woodward said. The result was the “80/20 program,” where the city pays about 80 percent of the repairs (50 percent of sidewalk damage and 100 percent all other related repairs, including tree and gutter services), and the homeowner pays about 20 percent – half of the sidewalk bill.

The 80/20 program is currently out of funds, Signorotti said, but will be up and running again July 1, at the start of a new fiscal year.

Total city liability for repairing all sidewalks in 2007 was $8.7 million, but many repairs have been made since then. Last week, the city began surveying the entire city again for damaged sidewalk, and plans to send letters to homeowners to inform them of sidewalk repair information, Signorotti said. He said that the city will not know how many sidewalks need repair until after they are done surveying.

Bob Mulry, a homeowner on Ousley Drive, in the northwest area of Gilroy off Mantelli Drive, said that a city employee came out to his street last week to mark sections of sidewalk with orange spray paint that needed repairs. Two areas of sidewalk were sprayed in front of Mulry’s home.

Not sure what the city “has up its sleeves,” Mulry is already angry for whatever repairs the city might ask him to do. “I won’t give the city a nickel to fix this,” Mulry said, motioning to the city-owned Liquid Amber in front of his house.

“The city didn’t do due diligence in finding correct trees to plant,” he said. “All they’d have to do is call up a nursery, and they’d tell them never to plant Liquid Ambers on streets.”

Mulry thinks the city is once again trying to avoid personal injury liability by sending out letters to homeowners.

“They can say they’re not liable, and that the homeowner is, all they want,” Mulry said. “But a jury will surely think otherwise.”

Teen boy hit by pickup remains hospitalized

Blog Manager — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:36:00 GMT

A 14-year-old San Jose boy remains hospitalized with a serious head injury after being struck by a truck last week on Tully Road, according to police and the teen's family. The boy's family identified him as Angel Hernandez Perez, an eighth-grade student at Ocala Middle School.

On April 16, 2012, Angel was riding his bike west on Tully Road with the flow of traffic when he crossed the street near Sherlock Drive and into the flow of traffic heading east. Angel was struck by a Toyota pickup truck driven by a 34-year-old San Jose man.

Angel was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, police said. The police investigation revealed the driver was not at fault.

Angel's sister, Viviana Hernandez, said the intracranial pressure on her brother's brain is at its maximum level and doctors are waiting for the pressure to go down.

This tragic event serves as a good reminder for all bicyclists, young and old, to wear helmets while cycling. The law requires that those under 18 years old wear helmets. It is also important for adults to follow the rules of the road and to teach their children the importance of doing the same.

Toxins in 'non-toxic' nail polish

Blog Manager — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:50:00 GMT

The Department of Toxic Substances Control reported that some nail polishes commonly found in California salons and that are advertised as free of a socalled "toxic trio" of chemicals actually contain high levels. The "toxic trio" is the chemicals of toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and formaldehyde.

Toluene should not be inhaled due to its health effects. Low to moderate levels can cause tiredness, confusion, weakness, drunken-type actions, memory loss, nausea, loss of appetite, and hearing and color vision loss. These symptoms usually disappear when exposure is stopped. Inhaling high levels of toluene in a short time may cause light-headedness, nausea, or sleepiness. It can also cause unconsciousness, and even death.

DBP is absorbed through the skin. It can enhance the capacity of other chemicals to cause genetic mutations, although it has not been shown to be a mutagen itself. It may cause harm to the unborn child and impair fertility.

Formaldehyde is classified as a human carcinogen. Short-term exposure to formaldehyde can be fatal. Long-term exposure to low levels of formaldehyde may cause respiratory difficulty, eczema, and sensitization.

Investigators randomly selected 25 brands of polishes that are available at every nail salons, including a number of products claiming to be free to the chemicals. 10 of 12 products that claimed to be free of toluene actually contained it, with four of them having dangerously high levels. The report also found that five of the seven products that claimed to be "free of the toxic three" included one or more of the agents in significant levels.

Among the products that were tested were: Sation 99 basecoat, Sation 53 red-pink nail color, Dare to wear lacquer, Chelsea 650 Baby's Breath Nail Lacquer, New York Summer Nail Color, Paris Spicy 298 nail lacquer, Cacie Light Free Gel Basecoat, Cacie Sun Protection Topcoat, Golden Girl Topcoat, Nail Art Top-N-Seal and High Gloss Topcoat.

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_20362094/apnewsbreak-calif-finds-toxins-nail-polishes

Do you Enjoy Walking/Running and Want to Support a Great Cause?

Blog Manager — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:04:00 GMT

Consider joining Walk MS 2012 and show your support at one of the northern California Walk MS dates. There are walks in East Bay, Eureka, Yuba City, Monterey, Santa Rosa, Walnut Creek, Folson, Modesto, San Jose, Solano County, Sacramento, and San Francisco. Look here, to learn more information about the each event. You can join a team, create your own, or even donate to the cause if you are able.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the central nervous system and is thought o be an autoimmune disease. MS affects around 400,000 people in the United States. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50 and women are twice as likely to suffer from it than men. Each case of MS is different, but some symptoms can include: numbness in the arms or legs, pain, loss of vision, muscle weakness or tremors, paralysis, vertigo, fatigue, difficulty with speech, bladder dysfunction, depression, hearing loss, and itching.

If you train for a walk/run you will receive health benefit of your own. Here are some benefits of walking/running:

Running burns more calories in less time than almost any other continuous exercise.
A regular running or walking program lowers your risk of life-threatening maladies such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Walking is a low-impact exercise that produces less stress on the knees and joints than many other activities do.
Both walking and running produce endorphins, brain chemicals that make you feel happy and confident.
Both are social activities—you can run or walk with a friend, your kids, or even strangers in a race.

Sources:

Ford and Chrysler Recall

Blog Manager — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:37:00 GMT

Ford Motor Co is recalling more than 140,000 Focus cars (2012) in order to repair a potential problem with the passenger-side windshield wiper motor. A seal plug in the wiper motor electrical connector may be missing. This would allow water into the motor's electrical connection that would result in an inoperative wiper on the passenger side, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

No accidents or injuries have been reported related to the issue. Owners will be notified the week of May 21 and the wiper motor connector will be cleaned and sealed.

Chrysler is also recalling 1,689 Jeep Patriot (2012) and Jeep Compass (2012) sports utility vehicles that may have been built with a fuel tank assembly containing a damaged rollover valve. If an accident or rollover were to occur, the fuel could leak and there would be an increase of a fire risk.

No accidents, injuries, leaks and/or fires have been reported related to the issue. It is expected for owners to be notified in June.

Source:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/09/us-ford-usrecall

idUSBRE8380BD20120409?feedType=RSS

Pit bull attacks again

Blog Manager — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:18:00 GMT

A pit bull owner was arrested and his dog impounded after the dog attacked a Fairfax policewoman and a resident at a Little League game. Both suffered bite wounds to their hands and wrists during the incident, however, the injuries were minor.

The Fairfax police had received a report of an intoxicated man at the ballfield. When the policewoman contacted the suspect she escorted him to the street. His dog came charging from behind a parked car and lunged towards her. The policewoman, who was a former police dog handler, was able to partially subdue the dog with pepper spray. She did not shoot the dog because of the children and bystanders nearby.

The pit bull is the same dog that was shot by Fairfax police back in 2009. A sergeant was charged by the dog while he was arresting the owner for public intoxication at a public library. Fairfax police have had repeated run-ins with the dog and its owner. They believe that the dog has been trained or conditioned to be aggressive towards law enforcement.

The Marin Humane Society placed the pit bull on a mandatory 10-day "bite" quarantine, but the shelter could keep the dog beyond that period. It's more than likely that complaints will be filed, at which time a county hearing officer could designate it a "vicious animal". However, based on the dog's history, the hearing officer could find that euthanasia would be the best interest for public safety.

Source:

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_20290137/pit-bull-attacks-fairfax-cop-and-little-league

Train hits car in San Leandro, killing elderly woman

Blog Manager — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:41:00 GMT

SAN LEANDRO -- An Oakland woman died late Tuesday night when a vehicle driven by her daughter got stuck on railroad tracks and was struck by a freight train, authorities said.

Pei Chuang Haung, 77, was pronounced dead at the scene, an Alameda County Coroner's Bureau official said.

Her daughter, 56, got out of the vehicle moments before the collision and was not injured, San Leandro police Sgt. Mike Sobek said.

About 10:10 p.m., Haung was a passenger in a 2011 Toyota Prius driven by her daughter eastbound on Williams Street, near downtown San Leandro, Sobek said.

The driver mistakenly thought the railroad tracks were a street and turned south onto them, but got stuck, police said.

Moments later, the pair heard a freight train coming toward them, the driver got out of the vehicle and tried unsuccessfully to help her mother get out on the passenger side, authorities said.

The southbound train struck the car from behind and pushed it about a quarter-mile until it came to a rest south of Castro Street, near San Leandro Boulevard, Sobek said.

Alameda County firefighters and officers from San Leandro and Union Pacific police discovered the woman had been ejected from her vehicle, Alameda County fire Battalion Chief Chuck Palmer said.

No other injuries were reported.

Investigators have determined that the collision was accidental, police said.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the woman's exact cause of death, authorities said.

The Basics of Vehicle Safety Maintenance

Blog Manager — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:59:00 GMT

No matter how well you drive, you are not safe unless your vehicle is in good condition. You keep your vehicle in good condition by having the vehicle properly maintained. If it is not, your car could fail you at a critical moment, and you could be in a serious crash. Read your automobile owner's manual carefully to become familiar with your vehicle's maintenance schedule and requirements. Maintenance regimes vary widely from one vehicle to another.

What parts of the vehicle should be properly maintained?

Virtually all of your vehicle's mechanical systems can affect fuel efficiency if not properly maintained. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for checking the engine, cooling and ignition system, brakes, drive train and emission-control system. You should consider your vehicle from front to back, bottom to top.

Lights

Make sure that all of your lights work and that your light lenses are clean. Check headlights, taillights, directional signals, and interior lights.

Windshield

Windshields are made out of laminated safety glass which reduces transmission of high frequency sound and blocks 97 percent of ultraviolet radiation. A thin layer of flexible clear plastic film (PVB) is sandwiched between two or more pieces of glass. This plastic film serves to hold the glass in place. If the glass breaks, the film helps lessen injuries which could be caused by flying glass. This structure also affords protection for those inside the vehicle by obstructing possible projectiles from entering the vehicle through the windshield.

If your vehicle has tinted windows, check with your local law enforcement agency to make sure it is in compliance with state sunshading specifications.

It may surprise you to know that the first windshield wipers invented were operated manually. The driver had to physically move a lever back and forth inside the car. Today, of course, windshield wipers work electrically. Some vehicles (especially SUV types) have windshield wipers on the rear window as well. Some vehicles even have windshield wipers on the headlights.

Wiper blades work like squeegees. A thin rubber strip is attached to the blade arm which is swept across the windshield to wipe away the water. A rubber on new blades is clean and smooth so that water can be wiped away. As blades age and become worn, the seal against the window lessens due to nicks or cracks in the rubber or from becoming brittle with age. Worn blades can leave streaks on the windshield that interferes with driver visibility. It is important to clean wiper blades to remove any dirt buildup. Your vehicle's windshield washer system will help keep the windshield and the wipers clean. Wiping the rubber edge with window cleaner until clean may prolong the blade's life. When you notice any change in visibility due to the wiper's performance, replace them with new.

It is important to keep your windshield clean on the inside as well as on the outside. Dirt builds up on the inside that can affect visibility as well.

Mirrors

All vehicles should be equipped with one rearview mirror mounted inside the vehicle that allows a view to the rear of at least 200 feet. A rearview mirror should also be placed on each side of the vehicle mounted on the outside of the vehicle's front doorframes. Make sure that your mirrors are clean and pointed in the correct direction. The mirrors are designed to assist drivers in keeping track of traffic around their vehicles.

Tires

Tires are designed to grip the road and give the driver directional control. Bald, excessively worn, or improperly inflated tires decrease the ability of the driver to control the vehicle. Rotating your tires helps prolong their life and improve fuel economy. On most vehicles, tires should be rotated about twice a year; however, you should consult your owner's manual for the recommended rotation pattern and frequency for your vehicle.

Rolling resistance is a key factor that affects a vehicle's fuel efficiency. Make sure that your tires are properly inflated and not worn away. The best way to reduce rolling resistance is to maintain correct tire pressure. Rolling resistance results in premature tread wear when your tires are under-inflated, increasing fuel consumption. Operating a vehicle with just one tire under-inflated by 6 pounds per square inch (PSI) can substantially reduce the life of the tire and increase the vehicle's fuel consumption by three percent. Tire pressure needs special attention in cold weather. It can be expected to drop by about 1 PSI for every 10oC drop in temperature. Tires also lose a certain amount of pressure due to their permeability (by some estimates, as much as 2 PSI per month). Tire pressure should be checked when the tires are cold (for instance, when the vehicle has been stationary for at least three hours).

Wheel alignment should be checked once a year. Misaligned tires will drag and will not roll freely as they are intended to do. This will increase fuel consumption, reduce tire life, and cause problems with the vehicle's handling and ride. While driving, you can perform a self-check on your wheel alignment. On a straight, flat and traffic-free stretch of road, rest your hands lightly on the steering wheel and drive at an even speed. If the vehicle pulls to one side, the wheels may be misaligned.

Wheels should also be balanced. If they are out of balance, the driver will feel a pounding or shaking through the steering wheel. This pounding will shorten the life of other suspension components and will produce uneven tire wear, which will increase fuel consumption. Tires that are not balanced exhibit a wear pattern that looks like a series of bald spots.

Remember, don't neglect the spare tire. Make sure the necessary tools for replacing a tire are appropriately accessible.

You should check tire pressure and look for signs of uneven wear or embedded objects that can cause air leaks. In winter, check tire pressure whenever there is a sharp change in temperature.

Oil

Car engines run particularly well when they are regularly lubricated. Oil lubricates the moving parts of the engine, minimizing metal-to-metal contact, thereby reducing friction and carrying away excess heat. Oil also captures dirt, metal shavings and other impurities from the engine enabling the transfer of these injurious substances into the vehicle's oil filter. For best engine performance, fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, use only the oil recommended in your vehicle's owner's manual. Regular engine oil changes cost between $10 and $30 – a far cry from the expense of replacing or rebuilding an engine!

Check around the car and under the engine for fluid leaks. Generally, you can often identify the type of fluid that is leaking by its color. Oil is black, coolant is a bright greenish yellow, automatic transmission fluid is pink, and power steering and brake fluids are clear, with a slight brown tinge. All of these fluids are oily to the touch.

Belts, hoses, regular tune-ups

Have your belts and hoses checked at the regularly scheduled time periods mentioned in your owner's manual. Also, get a tune-up at the scheduled maintenance time. Check under the hood for cracked or split spark plug wires, cracked radiator hoses or loose clamps and corrosion around the battery terminals.

Emission-control systems

Modern vehicles are equipped to treat exhaust emissions before they are released into the atmosphere. The emission-control system must be inspected and maintained according to the manufacturer's recommendations. If you experience problems such as stalling or poor acceleration, or if your exhaust produces black or blue smoke, your vehicle is probably polluting the air and needs servicing.

Ignition systems

Proper maintenance of your vehicle's ignition system is critical. Spark plugs ignite the air-fuel mixture. If one or more of the plugs is worn or malfunctioning, the engine will misfire, and some fuel will remain unburned. Worn or damaged spark plug wires can also cause misfiring. A misfiring engine wastes fuel, produces higher levels of emissions and generally performs poorly.

Brakes

The foot brake must be capable of stopping the vehicle within a distance of 25 feet at a speed of 20 miles per hour. The parking brake should be adequate to stop and hold the vehicle. While driving, you can perform a self-check on your brake system. On a straight, flat and traffic-free stretch of road, rest your hands lightly on the steering wheel and apply the brakes gradually. If the vehicle swerves to one side, one of the brake linings may be worn more than the other, or the brakes may need adjustment. If this happens, make sure to get the vehicle to a proper mechanic.

Your vehicle's brake pedal is designed so that when it is pressed, the force of the pressure is multiplied several times. The hydraulic system that operates your vehicle braking system transmits the force from your foot to its brakes through brake fluid.

It is important to pay attention to any strange sounds you may hear when you apply your brakes, such as grinding or squeaking sounds. Any such noise should alert you to have your brakes inspected. The brake pad wear limit indicators on disc brakes give a warning noise when the brake pads are worn to where replacement is required.

Your vehicle's owners manual will supply you with the correct information on maintaining the correct level and type of brake fluid.

Why should I bother to do vehicle maintenance?

Maintenance requirements vary widely from one vehicle to another. Failing to follow your particular vehicle owner's manual's maintenance regime could void your vehicle's warranty. To keep the manufacturer's warranty valid (not to mention ensuring maximum fuel economy), your vehicle must be maintained to the standards recommended in the owner's manual.

It's simple - Your vehicle will last longer and work better. The time to find out that your car has a problem is in your driveway, not out on the roadway. Additionally, a properly maintained vehicle is a safer vehicle. Through proper maintenance, your vehicle will function as advertised and will increase the potential for you to come through an emergency situation in one piece.

Source: http://www.safemotorist.com/articles/vehicle_maintenance.aspx

Honda recalls SUVs

Blog Manager — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 23:29:00 GMT

Honda will voluntarily recall approximately 554,000 CR-V (2002-2004) and Pilot (2003) vehicles in the U.S. to inspect and replace components of the headlight wiring system. Honda stated that there wasn't enough slack in the wiring leading to the headlight switch, which over time the wires can work their way loose and cut off the low-beam lights.

The loss of the low-beam headlights may increase the risk of a crash, but no crashes or injuries have been reported due to this particular problem.

Owners will be receiving a recall notice in the mail starting in late April. Honda encourages owners of all affected vehicles to take their vehicles to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive the notification. Owners may check if their vehicle is part of the recall by going to www.recalls.honda.com or by calling (800) 999-1009 and enter option four.

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_20289647/honda-recalling-550-000-suvs-headlight-problem

Sports-Related Head Injuries

Blog Manager — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:59:00 GMT

The leading cause of death from sports-related injuries is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Twenty-one percent of all TBIs among American children/adolescents are related to sports and recreational activities. A TBI can be the result of when the head is suddenly and violently hit by an object or when an object pierces the skull and enters the brain tissue. The symptoms of a TBI can vary depending on the severity of the damage done to the brain. A mild case can result in a brief change in mental state or consciousness, while a severe case can result in extended periods of unconsciousness, coma, or even death. According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, there were an estimated 446,788 sports-related head injuries in 2009.

The top ten sports and/or recreational injuries among children ages 14 or younger are:

Cycling
Football
Baseball and Softball
Basketball
Skateboarding/Scooters
Water Sports
Soccer
Powered Recreational Vehicles
Winter Sports
Trampolines

There are ways to preventing head injuries when your child is involved in one or more of the sports listed above. Buy and use a helmet or other protective head gear that's been approved by American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Supervise your child at all times, and do not let them use any sporting equipment or play sports inappropriate for their age. Also, perform regular safety check of their equipment. But most importantly, discard and replace any sporting equipment or protective gear that is damaged.

Source:

http://www.aans.org/Patient%20Information/Conditions%20and%20Treatments/Sports-Related%20Head%20Injury.aspx.

http://www.theiantilmannfoundation.org/action.html.