According to local police, there were nine accidents reported as the result of the slippery weather conditions from about 1:30 p.m. to about 5:00 p.m. Since the winter weather is not over and some roads are still slippery today from the weekend, here are some tips to help keep you safe on the icy roadways in and around St. Joseph.
• Make sure your wiper blades are doing their job. Many people get into accidents because they do not clean off the windshield very well and their wiper blades are old and not cleaning off enough area to see clearly.
• Remove condensation with the air conditioner. The cool air in the car helps remove the frost and fog from the windshield. Use the “fresh air” setting and turn the temperature to hot for best results.
• Look out for “black ice.” It’s difficult to “look” for black ice because it is usually hidden by snow. However, black ice often occurs on bridges and places where water puddles typically collect. Just take extra precautions in these areas to maintain control of your Toyota car.

Always remember that even the best safety features are no substitute for cautious driving. Keep all of these tips in mind and you will be on your way to finishing out the winter accident-free!

According to an article in SFGate, auto lenders have loosened their credit restrictions and they are giving out more loans than they were just a few months ago. The third quarter of 2008 saw an increase of about 5.5 percent of consumers receiving auto loans from lenders while the month of December was also a good month for those looking for a great deal on financing a vehicle.

So what does this mean for you? It means if you have been putting off applying for that car loan because you didn’t think your credit was good enough, now is a great time to give it a shot and see what happens. Lending institutions have relaxed some standards and they are even giving better interest rates than they were seven or eight months ago.

Your Toyota dealers are waiting for you to come in and apply. You could be driving home in a new or certified used Toyota vehicle today!

Check Before You Start

Before you start driving, make sure you’ve fully cleared your windshield, your rear window, your mirrors, all of your side windows, and your hood and roof of ice and snow. Even though most people just pay attention to their windshield visibility, this can be one of the reasons for major accidents. When all your windows are clear, you have full 360 visibility. Only being able to see in front of you means you might not see that car in your rearview has lost control until it’s too late to get out of his way.

Start the engine and sit tight in the car for a moment listening to the sound. If you hear any rattles or hesitations in that steady rumble, you might have a problem with your engine – and you don’t want to find out for sure in the middle of a patch of ice. Call your mechanic if you’re not certain and have him check it out.

Be a Grandma Driver

Everyone hates driving behind older people because they drive so slowly. They’re actually some of the safest drivers on the road, and they get into the fewest accidents. Most of the elderly learned to drive back when going 40 miles an hour was pretty unbelievable, and they’re well aware that they can get into serious trouble in an accident at that speed. Cars are now of course much safer – but winter weather conditions bring the safety level back down again.

So take a cue from grandma and drive 10 miles below the speed limit if road conditions are lousy. Stay in the right lane so others who are feeling more reckless about their safety can pass you easily, but don’t feel like you need to catch up. For most about-town driving, there’s no way you’ll get to your destination more than about two minutes faster if you speed. No one ever got into trouble for being two minutes late. Slow it down and get there safely.

Be Wary of Strangers

In good conditions, you’re only worried about your own driving, because you trust that all other drivers will obey the rules of the road. In winter, it’s far better to assume they won’t – not because they’ve suddenly become bad drivers as the seasons changed, but because road conditions make it impossible for them to obey even when they want to. Drivers who are inexperienced with snow conditions might not realize they need to brake earlier and that they can’t slam on the brakes as they do in good weather – and that means they could skate right through a solid red light without meaning to.

Assume the worst and keep a sharp eye on other drivers. Your  vigilance could be the difference between getting out of that red light runner’s way or being the one he plows into.S

St. Joseph, Missouri is holding its third annual Shop St. Joseph program this year which runs through December 20. The town’s Chamber of Commerce is organizing the event and nearly 50 area merchants have already signed up. Each merchant pays between $200 and $250 to the Chamber of Commerce in order to be included in the contest. The only thing shoppers have to do is visit the stores participating in the contest between now and December 20. They will receive a ticket that they can then enter into the drawing. The winner will be announced on December 21.

With the uncertain economy and people watching every penny they spend, this just gives St. Joseph residents a reason to frequent area businesses and support the local economy during this popular shopping season. Does this encourage you to shop and spend a little more? Let us know your thoughts below.

Begin before You Need It
Before you need any repairs to your vehicle, visit some stations for minor maintenance procedures like oil changes, tire rotations and more. This will get you acquainted with some garages in your area and it will make you more comfortable talking to mechanics for when a major repair is needed.

Research Online
With all of the consumer review sites and information you can find on the Internet, you can probably find out how local service stations treat their customers. If a garage gets a lot of bad reviews, it may be a good idea to steer away from them and go to another one.

Evaluate the Customer Service
When you visit a service garage, take note of how many cars they have lined up for work and if the place is clean. Also, listen to the service manager speak to other customers over the phone. If they tend to be hurried and irritated, that particular garage may not be the best fit for you.

If you have problems finding a service garage that you are comfortable with, simply visit your Missouri area Toyota dealer. We provide quality service with a friendly smile for all your auto repair needs.