Travel Tips

One of the fastest ways to put the brakes on a great vacation is with an emergency. But by planning ahead and preparing properly, travelers can minimize risk by following these precautionary tips: 

Car Maintenance:

• Consider having your car checked by a Simpson Brothers automotive technician before a long trip. An ounce of prevention can be worth a pound of cure.
• Check the tires regularly for uneven or excessive tread wear. Make sure all items, including the spare, are inflated properly. Do at least one check BEFORE hitting the road, as tires hot from driving give inaccurate inflation readings.
• Check the coolant level and condition, making certain the proper 50/ 50 mixture of water and coolant is present.
• Check the level and condition of the engine oil. If driving under extreme conditions - such as very hot summer weather or pulling a heavy trailer - you may want to consider switching to an oil with higher vis­cosity. Check your owner's manual for specific recommendations.
• Look for worn, cracked, blistered or soft belts or hoses. Always perform this check with the engine off.
• Hot weather can shorten the life of a car's battery - if there's concern, have it tested by a qualified auto-motive technician at Simpson Brothers Garage.

Travel Planning:

• Carry an emergency kit with a flashlight, extra batteries, warning devices such as flares or reflective trian­gles, jumper cables, a first-aid kit and extra water.
• Don't let the gas level get below one-quarter of a tank.
• Select your route on a map ahead of time and study it to know exactly where you're going.
• Reserve all accommodations in advance.
• Lock your car when you leave it and keep valuables out of sight.
• Secure children and adults in safety seats, booster seats or seat belts as required by law.
• Bring books, games, or music for the ride, and a pillow so passengers can sleep.
• Bring information on your destination to make the most of your trip.

For more helpful tips and information, visit www.SimpsonBrothersGarage.com

Source: newsroom.AAA.com, edited by Amanda Walton

June Flyer 2015

Hi all,

I hope you are having fun this June and taking advantage of all that Colorado has to offer!  With so many gorgeous destinations all in the same state, it's easy to play a day trip or a weekend to get away to visit some of our natural wonders.  Check in with us before your trip and we'll make sure your car is road worthy!

Back to School Special Flyer 2013

Now's the time to head back to school, and for many of us, that means extra trips to and from games, practices, recitals, and extra wear on our cars.  We know this can cost extra money, so to help with your back to school needs we're offering a couple of great deals for Fall!

~Ron and LaDonna

Wildfire Driving Safety

Wildfire in northern Colorado Springs,

courtesy of Kimberly Fuller

Sadly there are many wildfires around the state of Colorado right now, and with that comes increased traffic risk: more distracted drivers, traffic from evacuations, etc.  While these fires haven't hit as hard on the Western Slope, we know travel this Summer is a part of many of our friends' and customer's plans.  If you find yourself near a wildfire area please be extra cautious on the road.

The Waldo Canyon fire,

courtesy of KKTV 11 News

1.  Pay attention to road signs, and/or local news and radio broadcasts: many roads and highways may have detours or may be closed all together.  These detours have been set up to help traffic divert from dangerous areas.

Ashes from fire,

courtesy of Cindy via KKTV.com

2.  Make sure to watch out for distracted drivers:  if you find that you are driving close to a wildfire area, you will probably see smoke and flames.  As tempting as it may be, please do not take a picture or stare at the smoke and fire for a prolonged period while driving.  If you must, find a safe place to pull off before snapping a picture.  While this may seem like common sense, many drivers will not and have not done this, and as a result many accidents on highways and roads have occurred.

A plane near Flatirons in Boulder dropping fire retardant,

courtesy of the Daily Times Call

3.  Watch out for ash, smoke, and debris in the air.  All of these pollutants can pose a danger when driving, impairing your visibility on the road.  The smoke may also affect those in your car with (or even without) asthma and breathing problems.  Stay alert and should you or one of your passengers start to have difficulty breathing pull off into a safe area to catch your breath, administer your asthma medication, or try to find a spot with cleaner air.  Even if it is a small detour from your destination, it will be worth it in the long run.

Roadway evacuation,

courtesy of Craig T. Roberts, DVM Inc.

4.  Be aware of evacuation areas.  Along with news and radio broadcasts, you can also find evacuation areas online by a simple google search.  Make sure when planning your travels that your trip will not take you through evacuation areas where the traffic will be especially heavy from people leaving their homes.

High Park fire, 

courtesy of KKTV 11 News

5.  Lastly, make sure that above all else your family and friends are safe.  If you find yourself in a situation where you are near a fire - even if you  haven't heard of a road closure or evacuation - use your instincts.  If the situation looks unsafe to you, it probably is.  Try to find a safer route to get to your destination.

Hope you have safe travels this summer, and please send a happy thought or prayer to all those affected by Colorado's wildfires.