Did you Know That October is Car Care Month?

October is Car Care Month, which means it's time to prepare your vehicles for the cold weather and snow. Proper car care can result in significant cost savings. It can l extend the life of your vehicle and help protect our environment.


Here is a short checklist to help make sure your car is winter ready. Most items on the list can be conducted by a vehicle owner, but some l require a certified technician.

Check your tires

Check the air level in all of your tires (including your spare) to make sure they are inflated to the level indicated in your owner's manual. The air pressure in your tires will drop when the temperature drops. Check your tires for heavy wear and replace any tire that has less than 3/32- inches of tread.

If you live in an area that experiences heavy snow fall you might need snow tires. All-season tires might be sufficient in areas with light snow fall.

Check all lights

Check that your headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, backup lights and emergency flashers are all working properly. Replace all bulbs that are burnt out.

Check wiper blades

Make sure that both wipers completely clear the glass with each swipe. Replace the blades that leave any streaks or miss spots. Consider installing winter blades if you live in an area that experiences heavy snow fall.

Fill washer fluid

Make sure your washer fluid is filled. Washer fluid use increases during the winter months. . If you live in an area with severe winters consider using a winter cleaning solution to prevent it from freezing.

Check your brakes

Having brakes that are in good working order is especially important during the winter months. If there is any indication of a problem with your brake system have it inspected by a certified technician before the white stuff begins to fall.

Create a winter emergency road kit

The first item in your emergency kit should be a mobile phone and you should carry it with you at all times. Program your phone with important numbers including family members and emergency services. If you have a smartphone, you can download an which provides services such as mapping and gas price comparison as well as member benefits like roadside assistance and discounts.

Your emergency kit should include a mobile phone charger, drinking water, a first-aid kit, non- perishable snacks for both humans and pets, a bag of abrasive material (such as sand, salt or cat litter), a snow shovel, blankets, extra warm clothing (gloves, hats, scarves), flashlight with extra batteries, window washer solvent, ice scraper with brush, cloth or roll of paper towels, jumper cables, warning devices (like flares or triangles) and a basic tool kit.

Following this simple checklist will help ensure that your vehicle is ready to handle the cold weather that lies ahead.

Do You Want to Know The 511 on PA Roads?

Looking for the latest on PA roads ?




511PA provides travelers with reliable, current traffic and weather information, as well as links to other transportation services. 511PA helps motorists reach their destination in the most efficient manner when traveling in Pennsylvania.



 Travel Info On the Go can be found at http://www.511pa.com/    Save this to your favorites to access in a hurry! You can even set up personal alerts to notify you of accidents, incidents and construction on state highways and toll roads that you choose. Alerts are sent to subscribers' cell phones, PDAs or e‐mail accounts.

Why Do We Celebrate Columbus Day?

Columbus Day is annually on the second Monday of October to  remember  Christopher Columbus' arrival to the Americas on October 12, 1492.




Officially, the people of the USA are invited to celebrate the anniversary of the discovery of their country with church services and other activities. In some towns and cities there are  special church services, parades and lothe large  events.  Most celebrations are concentrated around the Italian-American community.  In Hawaii Columbus Day is also known as Landing Day or Discoverer's Day.



Not all parts of the United States celebrate Columbus Day. It is not a public holiday in California, Nevada and Hawaii. Moreover, Native Americans’ Day is celebrated in South Dakota, while Indigenous People’s Day is celebrated in Berkeley, California.

Are You A Distracted Driver?

Distracted Driving is not just texting. The same thing applies to eating and drinking – they shouldn’t be done while driving. Most cars these days come with cup holders, it’s true, but there’s nothing that says you have to use them while driving. Eating is even worse than drinking. If you are going to be eating you should either get out of your car to eat, or eat while the car is parked and then resume your driving. You may be thinking this sounds like overkill, but it’s not. Odds are you probably won’t have a wreck while sipping on a soft drink or eating a hamburger, but you’ve greatly increased your chances of it happening. Your odds of not having a collision are much greater if you don’t do these things.




Ask yourself this: What would it mean for car safety if everyone on the road were eating a sloppy double cheeseburger while driving? Do you think car safety would go up, or go down? When you think about it that way it becomes clear just what safety risks eating and drinking in your car are. Fast food is sloppy and messy and often quite hot, and it can cause you to lose control if you drop it. Soft drinks are ice cold and can spill, having the same effect. Even without spills you just cannot control a vehicle as well with a drink or a burrito in one hand. It’s simply impossible.



Get out of the fast-food-while-driving habit ~ you’ll be safer