Month: March 2021

To be confident on the road and stay calm even in the event of a car malfunction, you should familiarize yourself with the list of unforeseen car breakdowns and how to fix them before getting behind the wheel.

The weather in Israel is deteriorating again, which means that the likelihood of getting stuck in the middle of the road due to a malfunction in the car increases. Ynet teamed up with volunteers from Yedidim – Siyua Ba-Draheim (Friends Helping on the Roads) and Paz-Yellow to provide some practical tips to help you cope with unexpected breakdowns. These tips, of course, are for “dummies”, but someone may come in handy.

Starter cables for the battery

First of all, stock up on the starter cables needed to “light” a run-down battery.

Remember to turn off your headlights to avoid battery drain. If you are forgetful, put a small note in the “strategic” place to remind you of this (for example, attach it to the key fob with the ignition key). Also, park your car so that you can easily access the battery. When connecting cables, connect the positive terminals first. When disabled, the opposite is true.

Problem with the security device

Did you make a mistake while typing the code? Switch off the engine for a few minutes. This usually helps.

Tire damage

There is no doubt that tire damage ( puncher ) is one of the most common and annoying problems, especially when driving on a highway when it is not easy to pull over to fix the problem.

First, make sure you have all the tools you need to accomplish this task. And first of all – the spare tire, which must be inflated. Yes, some cars do not have it. If you are buying a used car, it is worth checking to see if it has a working spare tire.

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Do not use tire repair spray, as the touch sensors can be damaged by the repair spray chemistry.

Be sure to wear a reflective vest and place a triangular warning triangle 10m from the vehicle when exiting your vehicle on the side of the freeway.

And most importantly, parents of young drivers, teach your children how to change wheels correctly and safely is the best skill in an emergency.

Opening a door lock

In many cars in Israel, doors are automatically locked with an electric drive and opened with remote control. If you have such a car, always keep a spare key with you.

Dashboard indicators

Did the red light on the dashboard come on? Stop the car immediately and check what happened (use an internet search to find out why the light came on). In any case, this means that it is not safe to continue driving.

A yellow light (as opposed to a red one) indicates that you need to visit a car workshop, but for now, you can continue driving. In some cases, a yellow light simply indicates that a particular vehicle system (eg ESP) is activated.

Oil and water

It is best to check the oil level before starting the engine. The same goes for testing the water. It is important to have the right kind of oil and water in the trunk.

Who to contact for help

In an emergency, it is important to know in advance how to call for help, how to contact traffic police and volunteers to help deal with the problem.

Some insurance companies have mobile applications that allow you to immediately report an incident (accident or another emergency).

There are other Israeli mobile apps (such as C-Now) that allow you to immediately call the police, firefighters, municipal inspectors, and other rescue services. The Waze navigation app allows you to ask other drivers for help.

Almost 200 bicycle accidents occurred in the city of Lucerne last year. The Lucerne accident insurer Suva warns against being overlooked on the street in the dark winter months. In Lucerne, people have been trying to raise awareness of the topic for years.

It is a fact that there are more bicycles in the city of Lucerne than ever before. The lockdown in spring also fueled the bike boom.

The mild winters of recent years also make it possible to spend practically the whole year on the saddle. In the autumn and winter months, however, this means that the journey takes place more often at dusk or in the dark. The accident insurer Suva, based in Lucerne, is now warning of the associated risk of accidents.

7,000 bicycle accidents in the winter months

Between October and March, accident insurers count an average of 7,000 bicycle accidents in road traffic, writes Suva in a report. Many accidents with bicycles occur because cyclists are badly seen by other road users. “When it gets darker outside again, it is all the more important when cycling that you are seen by other road users on the road,” the report continues.

Suva makes recommendations for better visibility during the dark season. First of all, reference is made to seven mandatory elements of Velo equipment:

White reflectors at the front, at least 10 cm2 in size

Red reflectors at the back, at least 10 cm2 in size

Orange reflectors on the front and rear pedals

A white, round light in front, visible from at least 100 meters (at night and dusk)

A red, dormant light in the back (at night and in the twilight)

A flashing red light is also recommended

Two effective brakes

Intact pumped tires (tires adapted to the season)

Also, there are five other recommended elements:

Reflectors on the spokes

The luminous vest or reflective accessories such as gloves and bracelets (at night and dusk)

Light on the helmet (at night and dusk)

Reflective tires

bell

Lucerne knows the “day of light”

At Pro Velo Luzern, the issue of visibility is well known, as Co-President Korintha Bärtsch confirms on request. In recent years, the association organized the “Day of Light” campaign together with the Swiss Transport Club (VCS) and the Lucerne police, and the Velocipede specialist shop.

“We inform and advise cyclists on all aspects of visibility,” explains Bärtsch. “We give practical tips, such as the fact that the reflective trouser strap can also be used on the sleeve of a dark coat. Or that light instead of dark helmets is the right choice in such conditions.”

There is a minimum set of items that a driver must carry with him in the trunk of a car, by traffic rules. To this set, it is worth adding a couple more important devices that may be useful to him in unforeseen or ordinary situations. The minimum required items in a car, according to traffic rules, including a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, a yellow reflective vest, and an emergency stop sign. What else can be useful?

Let’s go back to the obligatory first aid kit. Its contents will help stop bleeding or carry out simple manipulations for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Putting in the first-aid kit additionally allowed in the country pain relievers or, for example, anti-burn agents or the same antihistamine is a very far-sighted decision.

In the current realities of the coronavirus infection pandemic, the presence in the car of such important trifles as wet wipes, a simple antiseptic, a supply of medical masks, as well as protective gloves, becomes relevant. And, by the way, such gloves should lie next to those gloves that can be used for minor repairs on the road.

By the way, about the renovation. Although many modern motorists do not independently repair and maintain their car, a minimal set of tools (for example, a few screwdrivers, a knife, pliers) or a simple multitool, almost all are prudently carried with them in a car.

Next to the tool kit, you need to put at least the simplest compressor in the car trunk. It will not take up much space, but it will be very useful when on the way you need to pump up the wheel to get to the nearest tire service. In case of a sudden breakdown, which, for example, completely immobilized the car, there should be a towing cable in its trunk, on which it will be possible to deliver the car to the nearest car service.

Particularly prudent motorists put a whole “spare tire” in the trunk of their car if it is not provided for by the complete set of the car. Yes, this extra item takes up a lot of trunk space. And for a person who constantly moves in a city, carrying a spare wheel with him may not be a rational decision – in unforeseen cases, you can get to the nearest tire service. It is more advisable to have a set for eliminating punctures of a wheel with you and be able to use it.

Add to our set of scotch tape, a flashlight, a small supply of auto chemicals in a compact container – for example, a glass cleaner and the simplest lubricant. And it is also worth putting there several seasonal items: during the winter – this is a scraper brush for cleaning the glass and the car body from ice and snow, a starting-charger or a set of wires to “light up” from the battery of another car and start a stalled engine …

When composing a set of essentials, a driver must proceed not only from the time of year but also from the conditions in which he traditionally drives a car. An urban riding kit might not include items that are likely to come in handy on long-distance trips. By the way, to provide everything for a “fire case” the same should not be overdone, it is better to refrain from cluttering up the trunk, and try to put only the most necessary items there.

Who has never had a puncture in the car’s tire at the least suitable moments and not knowing how to move? Unfortunately, it can happen: a nail left on the road surface, a sharp object, or a piece of sheet metal can puncture our wheels in an instant. What we want to propose today is a mini-guide on how to change the wheel of the punctured car in a few steps.

What to do before changing the tire

Changing the wheel of a car is not that simple, especially if you let yourself be anxious, but it is important first of all to have everything you need to do with yourself. So equip yourself with a spare wheel or spare wheel before making any trip, but not only. You must also have a jack, a Phillips wrench for bolts, and work gloves.

From what you realize you have punctured and how to move

In case of a punctured wheel, we could feel a strange vibration coming from the wheels or a waving movement of the vehicle. If the car tends to pull to one side rather than driving straight ahead, we probably have a puncture. So what to do when you get a puncture? First, it is a good idea to stop (by pulling the handbrake) in a safe area which can be a rest area or an emergency lane. Another sign that makes us understand that we have a flat tire is its appearance: it will appear deflated compared to the others. After safely stopping, take everything you need in the trunk. First of all, wear the reflective vest to be visible, if you find yourself on the road, and store the warning triangle 150 meters from the car.

Few and simple moves

After putting on the gloves, place the jack under the car about ten centimeters from the wheel to be replaced: in any case, the exact point should be indicated by specific marks on the car. At this point, using the cross-bolt wrench, loosen the bolts of the wheel to be replaced by proceeding counterclockwise, without removing it completely. Raise the car by leveraging the jack handle: it is necessary to create a space of at least 10 centimeters from the ground to be able to move easily. Unscrew the bolts completely, store them in a safe place so they do not get lost, and gently remove the tire. Put the new rubber in its place, screw the bolts tight with the wrench and lower the car again with the help of the jack. After storing everything you need in the car,

Warnings

This mini-guide on how to change the wheel of the punctured car in a few moves concludes by recommending to travel the first meters at a moderate speed to test that the work has been done correctly, in order not to incur risks during the journey while traveling large speed. Furthermore, if you have replaced the wheel with a spare, remember that the maximum speed allowed is 80 km / h.

Almost two years after the so-called personal mobility vehicles (VMP), with the electric scooter as the main reference, began to take center stage in the capital Malaga, the City Council still does not order their operation precisely. The process of drafting and approving a specific ordinance has almost become an odyssey that, now, seems to be nearing completion.

The Mobility area plans to publish the full text of the new regulations today on the Málaga Contesta portal for fifteen days for it to be submitted to suggestions by interested groups and entities. This was confirmed to this newspaper by the area councilor, José del Río, who indicated that once that period is over and you answer the observations, it will be the moment when the ordinance passes through the Local Government Board and, finally, through the Plenary.

However, and even though the procedures are taking much longer than initially contemplated by the government team, Del Río is confident that the final ratification will take place in the plenary session next July. The only regulation that the capital has regarding scooters is the side that the mayor, Francisco de la Torre, signed in April of last year. In this text, a series of vehicle parking points are delimited, being subject to a fine to leave it in another location.

While waiting to know its content in detail, the objective set by the City Council is to remove the scooters from the sidewalks, minimizing the risk that their circulation implies for pedestrians. Added to this is the obligation for drivers to be equipped with a helmet and reflective vest if they travel on roads of 50 kilometers per hour. Although initially it was intended to avoid its circulation through the basic network, one of the last municipal bets has been to define lanes shared with private traffic but with limited speed.

The minimum age

required to be able to circulate with one of these vehicles is 16 years old. If they are younger, they will have to be accompanied by an adult or guardian. These requirements apply to type A personal mobility vehicles, which include smaller and lighter wheels, platforms, and electric scooters, with a maximum mass of 25 kilometers and one meter in length; and b, which are platforms and electric scooters of up to 50 kilos and 1.9 meters in length. These devices will always have to comply with minimum technical conditions, in the case of brake systems, bell, front and rear lights, and reflective elements.

The City Council also wants to oblige scooter rental companies to keep customer pricing active until stations in designated places or to set up a system that stops the scooter if a driver decides to enter forbidden spaces. They will also be required to have a physical location and a 24-hour mobile phone.

The Secretary of Security, Hugo Acero, will ask the Congress of the Republic to process a law so that motorcyclists can use the reflective vest with plate numbers on the front and back.

 

In 1999 this measure was implemented to counteract crime, but in 2008 it was no longer mandatory.

 

In Bogotá last year 82,567 robberies were registered, and in 5% of them, there was the participation of criminals on motorcycles.

 

The District discards the restriction to the grill but believes that the use of the reflective vest would facilitate the identification of the motorcyclists and the control.