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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 to 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.
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.
While you've been reading
this brochure, 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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