We’ve all seen MN drivers do crazy things while driving to or from Cleveland. A guy shaving in the rear-view mirror, a woman applying makeup, people talking on their phones, texting or drinking from an enormous coffee mug. It’s a wonder we even dare drive on MN roads.

The truth is that all of us St. Peter drivers are distracted when we drive. Unfortunately, traffic, road construction and other dangerous external factors are beyond our control. The distractions inside our car, however, are things we can often control.

Here’s some things that’ll give you more control in your car, and help keep your attention on the roads around Cleveland, MN.

• St. Peter drivers who are 16 to 20 years old tend to be more distracted by the radio, CD or MP3 player.
• St. Peter car owners who are 20 to 29 are more distracted by passengers in the car, including small children.
• Those over age 65 tend to be more distracted by objects or events that are outside of the vehicle.

Other factors like fatigue, stress and lack of sleep make it harder to pay attention to driving – no matter what age we are. It is always better to pull over and take a quick nap than risk falling asleep at the wheel. St. Peter car owners are also distracted by thinking about relationships, family issues, money and bills. So what can St. Peter drivers do to manage these harmful distractions? Well, the first thing is to eliminate as many as we can.

When you get in your car, make sure you’re belted in; that the seats, steering wheel and mirrors are adjusted; and your radio or CD player is ready.

Secure any loose objects in the car that can fall on the floor and interfere with your driving.

If you have a drink, make sure it’s spill-proof and put in a cup holder. St. Peter auto owners’ pets should also be contained.

MN car owners with kids in the car should make sure they’re clipped in their seat belts or safety seats. You may want to give them some distractions to help keep them quiet and sitting in their seats. Don’t get involved in their arguments while you’re driving. Pull over if you need to find a toy or break up a fight.

If you eat while driving, choose simple finger foods that aren’t messy.

Learning your car’s controls before you drive is another essential way to improve your safety. Learn how to work the radio by touch. Controls located on the steering wheel can help St. Peter car owners keep their eyes on the road.  The same goes for heating and air conditioning controls.

If you have to use a cell phone, a hands-free system is best. But remember, the biggest cell phone distraction isn’t the phone itself – it’s the conversation. Keep conversations brief and light, or pull over if you can. Your vital reaction time is much slower when talking and driving, so allow more space between you and the car ahead of you. Know your local Cleveland laws – it may be illegal to be on the phone. Never text while driving! This has already caused many deaths and injuries in MN over the last few years.

And if you really think you have to shave, change your clothes or put on make-up while driving in St. Peter – you’re wrong. Just start getting ready earlier so you have enough time to finish those things before you drive around St. Peter.

Autotronics of ST Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290

It’s critical to remember that driving is probably the most dangerous thing you’ll do all day – so don’t make it any worse. Use these tips to keep you and your loved ones safer behind the wheel in St. Peter.

Most St. Peter car owners worry about a breakdown or a tire blowout on a busy MN highway but don’t worry too much about failure of their air conditioning system. A breakdown at the side of the road can be a miserable and dangerous affair during Cleveland rush hour, but so can a long ride in a hot minivan.

A lot of St. Peter drivers judge their vehicles’ air conditioning systems as “non-essential” and so may neglect them in favor of repairs and maintenance that keeps the minivan running. But preventive maintenance of an air conditioning system is simple and inexpensive, while auto a/c repair can be very costly in St. Peter.

Saint Peter auto owners should have the refrigerant in their air conditioning system checked regularly to ensure it is adequate and clean. Air conditioning systems often fail because air and water have contaminated the refrigerant. Air reduces the efficiency of the refrigerant, and water can cause rusting of the system’s components. If your refrigerant is contaminated, the system should be evacuated and recharged. This will actually extend the life of your air conditioning system, preventing expensive repairs, and keep it at peak performance.

Inadequate refrigerant indicates a leak in the air conditioning system. Over time, seals in the system can crack, causing the refrigerant to leak out, reducing the efficiency of the system. Replacing these seals will keep your minivan air conditioning system at its best, and, again, will help you avoid more pricey repairs.

At Autotronics of ST Peter, we advise our St. Peter customers to run their air conditioner periodically in the winter. This will keep the seals from drying out and cracking, saving them the inconvenience of this relatively minor repair.

Check with your minivan owner’s manual or with your St. Peter technician for information about how often your minivan air conditioning system should be serviced.

Another piece of good auto advice: if your minivan air conditioner isn’t working or is starting to show signs of breakdown, NOW is the time to get it fixed at Autotronics of ST Peter in St. Peter. Waiting will only increase the chances that you are in for major repairs and an expensive repair bill.

On a final note, if you own an older vehicle, you should check into upgrading the air conditioning system. Vehicles manufactured before 1993 often contained a refrigerant known as Freon. The manufacture of Freon was outlawed in 1993, leading to an ever-dwindling supply, which leads to an ever-steeper price for St. Peter car owners in MN. If your vehicle still uses Freon, you should have it retrofitted to use the new, EPA-approved R134A refrigerant. The retrofit will actually pay for itself by reducing the cost to recharge the refrigerant in your minivan.

Remember, preventive maintenance — of your entire car — will keep you on the road. And, in this case, it will help you keep your cool!

Every St. Peter vehicle owner has to purchase tires at some time or another, so it’s a good idea to understand what the choices are. The best seasonal performance is achieved by purchasing tires to match the season you are driving in. Summer tires are designed for hot temperatures. The tread is engineered for good traction on dry or rainy MN roads. But the rubber compound in summer tires gets stiff when temperatures drop below 45°F, and snow and mud can pack into the tread, reducing the traction of the tire.

Winter tires are designed for good traction on snowy surfaces. The tread actually throws snow off of the tire as the wheel turns. The rubber compound in a winter tire is soft so that it will remain flexible at Cleveland temperatures below 45°F. At higher temperatures, however, the softer rubber wears down rapidly.

All-season tires sacrifice some of the extreme performance of summer or winter tires, but they maintain adequate traction in either type of St. Peter weather.

So your first consideration when buying a tire is where you live in MN and where you usually drive. If you require maximum summer and winter performance you can go with dedicated summer and winter tires; you would just need to change out your tires each spring and fall.

For serious winter driving in MN, look for tires with a severe snow rating. These tires are labeled with a mountain-and-snowflake logo.

Your second critical consideration is the quality of tire to purchase. Summer, winter and all-season tires come in a variety of grades and styles at MN tire stores. St. Peter auto owners will want to purchase a tire that will give them good wear and that will handle their driving style and road conditions. Your Autotronics of ST Peter tire professional can give you auto advice as to which type of tire will best fit your needs.

St. Peter motorists who drive off-road around MN may want to look at a high-grade tire that is designed for off-road use. These tires are designed to handle the extra wear of off-roading while still giving good performance on St. Peter streets and interstates. There are a number of options to choose from so that you can find the right tire whether you are only an occasional off-road explorer or a serious rock climber.

New wheels can be purchased in St. Peter as a statement of style or to add personality to your minivan. There are almost unlimited options. If you change the size of the wheels on your minivan, however, you will need to get some professional help to make your vehicle compatible with its new wheels. Talk to your Autotronics of ST Peter service specialist for more information about tires.