Category Archives: Driving Safety

Avoiding Getting Stuck in Dirt, Sand, or Snow

Published April 23, 2018 By Chicago Towing

Sometimes it’s simply necessary to drive on other types of surfaces besides a perfectly paved highway or road. And we wouldn’t ever want to change that! It’s one of the adventures of driving, and great pleasures that these amazing transportation devices allow us to experience. However, this pleasure can quickly turn to agony and stress when your vehicle gets stuck in surfaces like snow, sand, dirt, or mud – especially if it’s in the middle of nowhere. Here’s a guide to how to avoid getting your car stuck in these substances, as prepared by the towing experts at Towing Chicago.

Towing Dos and Don’ts

Published March 23, 2018 By Chicago Towing

If your car breaks down, no matter where or when, you’re going to require the assistance of a professional towing company like Towing Chicago. Vehicle breakdowns can be caused by dead batteries, mechanical malfunctions, leaking fuel, or accidents. Roadside assistance is an absolute essential when you are in this situation. Here’s a brief guide to roadside assistance, as prepared by the experienced towing technicians at Towing Chicago.

Driving Traction Guide

Published February 23, 2018 By Chicago Towing

Towing Chicago regularly provides towing service for pickup trucks, vehicles that boast great power that’s often bolstered by strong traction. Factors like open differentials are essential for safe vehicle turning especially in rainy or snowy weather – you don’t want a single wheel to keep spinning when the other three wheels have strong traction. Traction assistants are offered by many car manufacturers through anti lock braking systems that keep wheel spinning at the same speed. Here’s some of the essential traction aspects that you will need when looking for safe vehicles.

Road Merging Safety Tips

Published February 18, 2018 By Chicago Towing

The expert towing service providers at Towing Chicago know all the in’s and outs of the various issues that cause drivers to require towing service. Many accidents that cause car’s to end up needing towing service are a result of poor merging and lane switch practices. Here’s a list of essential tips to safely switch or merge lanes.

Most dangerous Roads in the USA

Published November 23, 2017 By Chicago Towing

Lot’s of people like to embark on Autumn road trips in order to take advantage of cheaper hotel rates and a less maddening amount of traffic. Here’s a guide to some of America’s most dangerous roads, as prepared by the highway gurus at Towing Chicago, so you can make sure that you’re extra careful in case you find yourself driving on one of the below ominous stretches of pavement.

California’s State Route 138

Known as Death Road, Highway 138 stretches from the mountains of Interstate 15 through the San Gabriel Mountains to Palmdale. The majority of its stretch is on a twisting, non divided 1 lane highway with tiny narrow shoulders and huge drop offs. It’s infamous for head on collisions – leading us to recommend to use turnout areas to allow faster traveling cars to safely move past you.

Colorado’s Highway 550

Called the Million Dollar Highway and constructed during the late 19th century, this 25 mile road leads up from Ouray to the top of the San Juan Mountains Red Mountain Pass. It carries huge inclines, hairpin turns, steep drop offs, and thin nails – all with minimal guardrails or safety shoulders. Beginning in October, snow and avalanches add another level of risk to traversing this highway. We recommend using low gears when descending this steep mountainous road while continually braking your engine to keep your car moving slowly, steadily, and safely,

Florida’s U.S. Highway 1

This may well be the USA’s most dangerous road. Moving across the east coast of Florida with beautiful views of 13 separate counties throughout the Florida Keys, U.S. Highway 1 has been home to over 1000 deaths. We stress the importance of paying close attention to the road rather than the enchantingly beautiful scenery, as by paying attention to ocean views, you’re being a distracted and dangerous driver. Instead, wait until you see an official scenic lookout areas where you can park and take in the view safely.

Montana’s Highway 2

This country road runs from North Dakota to Iowa is pretty desolate, but still very dangerous. Since it’s usually so empty, drivers usually drive extra fast on it – and since it’s in the middle of nowhere, if there’s an accident, ambulances simply won’t arrive for quite a long time, over an hour on average actually. When driving on these visually blighted and empty highways, utilize your car’s cruise control at a safe speed and don’t let the landscape hypnotize you out of your driver’s alertness.

Roadwork driving tips

Published November 1, 2017 By Chicago Towing

Driving during roadwork can be complicated and dangerous – with over 200,000 annual injuries being related to accidents in the vicinity of roadwork or construction areas. Here’s some essential tips prepared by the driving experts at Towing Chicago on how to drive safely in roadwork areas.

Never Tailgate

Tailgating is really dangerous, with rear-end crashes being the most common kind of accidents that happen in roadwork zones. When you go into an area with roadwork, slow down and keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you.

Don’t Get Distracted

There’s a level of chaos to roadwork zones, so when you’re driving in one stay focused on your driving. This means don’t check your phone, the radio station, eat, drink, or even engage in conversation. Instead, stay vigilantly aware of brake lights in the cars in front of you, keep both of your hands on the steering wheel, and pay 100% attention to your drive.

Follow the Speed Limit

Since roadwork areas have either rough conditions or construction workers moving through it, the only way to stay safe when driving in one is by obeying the stated speed limit. Anything higher than this is likely to not only be dangerous, but get you a traffic ticket.

Headlights

Make sure to keep your headlights on so both workers passing through and other drivers have an easier time in spotting you in your vehicle.

Switching lanes and merging

Never try to cut the lane closure barrier line at the last minute as this is an incredibly dangerous maneuver. Keep the traffic flow moving by staying abreast of any lane changes that might be happening when you see signs posted that indicate lane closures and merging. Once you’re inside a road work area, only switch lanes when the signs or pavement markings say that it’s necessary.

Stay Calm

Even if you’re in a rush, running late, missed your exit, or annoyed from being in a traffic jam, make sure to stay calm and drive with attention to detail and care – this way you can stay safe while driving and ensure that everyone around you stays safe too.

Causes of Flat Tires

Published August 23, 2017 By Chicago Towing

We understand how annoying flat tires can be. They simply pop up at the worst times, stranding you on the road looking for a towing service – hopefully from the experts at Chicago Towing. Sometimes, flat tires are unavoidable, however there’s many common causes that force tires to rip or pop; we’ve gathered some of these causes together, to help you better understand what causes flat tires.

Small Holes or Punctures

There’s tons of random objects and detritus on the streets, all of which has the potential to end up in contact or even attached to a car’s tire, which can lead to punctures or holes on the tire. Objects that often cause punctures are staples, screws, and nails. Usually glass cannot cause tire holes, however sometimes it can if it’s at the right angle and density, and glass can however, cause damage to tire treads. If any sharp debris gets out of the tire after it’s been embedded inside it, it will cause a slow air leak. You will be able to tell if you have this sort of leak if you inflate your tire with air, and then it’s PSI quickly drops right after. If this is the case, contact an expert like Chicago Towing.

Sidewalls

This sort of severe damage will cause tires to need to be fully replaced. Basically, sidewall damage severs the connection between the various layers on the sides of the tires that allow movement and flexibility. One of the major causes of sidewall damage on tires are curbs. Making a fast turn and agitating your tire onto the curb can damage the sidewall of the tire, which can in turn increase the chances of a sudden blow-out – incredibly dangerous phenomenon.

Expert Flat Tire Repair from Chicago Towing

While some aspects of tire damage can be remedied and repaired, amateurs wouldn’t attempt this themselves. Leave the tire repair to the experts; this is the only way that you can guarantee that the repairs are completed in an effective fashion and that your tire will continue to operate normally. If you’re in need of repair for any form of flat tire, contact the experts at Chicago Towing. They will arrive at your location in a matter of minutes, quickly repairing any sort of damage to your tires in a matter of minutes, and all at a competitive price.

Preventing Winter Car Accidents

Published February 18, 2017 By Chicago Towing

We at Chicago Towing care about our customers safety – and it’s important, deep in this winter, to understand safe driving techniques for icy or snowy roads that might have slippery traction and low amounts of visibility. In order to lower the chances of having an accident, follow our tips for preventing winter car accidents. And if you do have an accident, don’t hesitate to contact us for expert roadside assistance.

Never Brake Suddenly

Ice is going to cause your car to slide whether you’re braking slow or fast, but what really makes the difference is when your car is going to stop. If you slowly decelerate your vehicle before stopping, it gives it less physical momentum while it’s on ice. This means even if you’re going to slide, you won’t be sliding as far, and it will be easier to reclaim control of the vehicle. If you’re on ice and suddenly break, you will skid for a while, which can be potentially very dangerous.

Always be aware of the Windshield

Poor visibility causes many snowy weather automobile accidents. It’s important to keep track of when it will be rainy or snowy by keeping watch of daily weather reports before heading out on the road. If you have to drive around inside the snow, make sure that your windshield has been cleared of snow or ice, and that the window wipers work.

Routine Inspections

It can be a smart move to inspect and upgrade your vehicle. Get your car checked out by expert technicians, and perhaps install brand new winter tires with a strong tread that can easily work with icy or snowy conditions. We also recommend applying a rust coat before taking it on salty roads, which will prevent exponential corrosion and damage. Also, make sure your brakes are always tested throughout the year – and if they slip, make a weird noise, or feel generally like their not working, make sure to replace them before embarking on an icy journey.

Maintain Tire Pressure

Any low air temperatures will cause the tire pressure of your car to drop, and if it drops enough, it can be quite dangerous. Make sure that your tires are always fully filled, and even regularly tested. Full tires work much better, and are much better equipped to handle any cold weather related challenges that might pop up on the road – for reasons such as an increased efficacy of the tire’s treads.

Dogs and Car Travel

Published November 14, 2016 By Chicago Towing

If you’re the lucky owner of a dog, you might feel at odds when embarking on a family trip. Travel can be stressful for dogs, but with the right preparation, it can be both safe and fun. Here are 10 tips for safely driving along with your canine companion.

Safe Securing

Make sure that your dog is secure in a ventilated carrier. Many carriers are available, from wire mesh or plastic ones, to carriers with soft sides. Just make sure it’s large enough for your dog to fully stand, lay down, and turn around inside. We recommend allowing your pet to get comfortable with being inside the carrier earlier than right before you leave on your trip.

Training

Get your doggy ready for long trips by taking them on short drives in the crate, making the drive longer each subsequent time.

Feeding

Make sure to feed your pet at least 3 to 4 hours before you leave. It’s best not to feed them during the drive.

Never leave dogs alone in a car

Never leave any pet (or child for that matter) by themselves inside a parked car. During hot days, parked cars become like ovens, and in cold weather, they become like freezers.

Safety Kits

Make sure to bring your pet’s travel papers, medicine, food, water, bowl, leash, poop scoop, plastic bags, grooming tools, first aid kit, and any familiar toys that may make your dog feel more safe and comfortable.

IDs

Make sure that your dog has a microchip with their information embedded and always wears a collar with your home address and number on it, as well as any important contact or medical information.

Window Safety

As fun as it looks ,never let your dog stick their head out the window while you drive. Keep the dog in the back seat, inside their box, with their harness snugly and safely attached to a seat belt.

Cross State Safety

If you’re traveling to a different state than your home state, make sure to bring along any vital medical information for your dog, including rabies vaccination records.

Water

Bring your own tap water in jugs, or simply buy bottled water. Additives inside local water might hurt your pet’s stomach.

Accident Proofing

We recommend, especially if you’re traveling with your dog in front, to invest money in floor liners made of rubber and seat covers that are waterproof – just in case they pee. These are all available at the majority of car accessory stores, or pet supply stores.

Dog Vehicle Safety Tips

Published September 23, 2016 By Chicago Towing

September is a fantastic time to take road trips with friends families – and even pets. If you have a dog in your home, you might understand how it’s a part of the family. It comes wherever you do, and cares for you on an emotional level that resonates with both being mammal and being human. Before you all pile into the car, it’s important to understand the procedures necessary to safely travel with your dog.

Crates

This is one option. Make sure that you choose the right size crate for your dog, and purchase a crash tested and safety certified crate – like the 4Pets ProLine box. The best kinds of crates are plastic and aluminum, reinforced with fiberglass. Make sure that the crate you buy has good air circulation. It’s important that the safes are well insulated to protect your dog’s comfort in any season. Brands to trust will offer a warranty for at least 2 years. We recommend buying crates with internal crash bags, and perhaps a ramp or tiny stairs to help your dog climb in and out of the car easily.

Take Breaks

Dogs need to stretch their muscles too. Every couple of hours, take a stop to allow your dogs (and yourself) to stretch and go to the bathroom. Bring a few large bottles of water for yourself and your dogs, as well as a bowl so they can easily enjoy some refreshing hydration at any road stop.