1. Take out your jumper cables.

   1. If at all possible keep a set of jumper cables in your car at all times. You can never be too safe.

2. Place both vehicles in Park or Neutral and shut off the ignition in both cars.

   1. Engage both parking brakes as well.

3. Attach one of the red clips to the positive terminal of your battery.

   1. It has “POS” or “+” on it, or it’s bigger than the negative terminal.

4. Attach the other red clip to the positive terminal of the other car.

5. Attach one of the black clips to the negative terminal on the other battery.

6. Attach the last black clip to an unpainted metal surface on your car that isn’t near the battery.

   1. Use one of the metal struts that holds the hood open.

7. Make sure to connect jumper cables in the proper order. This is very important

8. Start the working vehicle and let the engine run for a few minutes.

9. Try to start your vehicle.

   1. If it won’t start, make sure that the cables are properly connected and have the kind friend helping you run his or her engine for five minutes. Then try to start your car again. If it still won’t start, your battery may be beyond help

In the event your vehicle doesn’t start, you can bring your vehicle to Fiore Volkswagen and we will be more than happy to check your car out and get you a new battery.

Don’t Panic

Working yourself into a panic will not help you to safely stop so try your best to remain calm so that you can safely get yourself off the road.

Give the Brakes Another Shot

Your vehicle SHOULD have a dual braking system, which means that your front and rear brakes are controlled independently (Unless you’re behind the wheel of a classic car). For this reason, both halves of the system would have to fail for your car to totally lose all braking power. That said, half of the braking power still feels very unsafe and a bit terrifying when it happens. Try applying strong, consistent pressure to the brake pedal to see if you can slow the car down.

Take Steps to Reduce Your Speed

If the strong constant brake pressure doesn’t stop you or at the very least slow you down, another option is to very carefully employ the emergency brake. Another way to slow your car down is by keeping your foot off the accelerator and downshifting so that the engine can help slow the car down. If you have a manual transmission, work your way down through the gears to slow the car down. If you have an automatic transmission, taking your foot off the accelerator should cause your car to shift to lower gears as it slows down. DO NOT turn your car off before you are fully stopped.

Signal for Help

Once your vehicle has successfully stopped you will very likely need some assistance. If you have a vehicle like the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas with optional Roadside Assistance kit, you can use the available reflective triangles or road flares to make yourself more visible. Do your best to stay out of oncoming traffic, and avoid standing next to (or behind) your car if you can. You can also use your cell phone to call for roadside assistance.

Be Safe

Even it seems like the brakes are operating normally again, you may want to have them inspected by one of our professionals at Fiore Volkswagen before you try to drive it again. Have your vehicle towed to our service center so we can inspect your car and provide the necessary repairs. Keep in mind that you can also prevent problems before they start by having your car’s brake pads inspected regularly.

Knowing what to do if your brakes go out could help prevent injuries and damage to your vehicle.

1 hour into my drive the skies began to turn dark. I figured it was probably just a cloud passing by. I was wrong. Not long after the skies opened up with thunder and lightning accompanied by a heavy downpour. Everything would have been fine until water was no longer getting wiped off of my windshield. I later found out that the wiper blades were torn. So, to recap, it is raining cats and dogs outside, I’m out in the middle of East Narnia nowhere attempting to visit my family, and can see nothing through my windshield.

What I should have done: pulled over until the storm passed. That would have been the smart thing to do. That would have been logical. Apparently logic wasn’t something I was capable of on that day. What did I do, you might ask? I rolled down my window and stuck my head out to try to see better. So I am now driving in a monsoon on some godforsaken back road with my head out the window like a dog, STILL unable to see, but now decidedly soaked. Poor choices were made, I see that now.

I eventually did have to pull over and wait out the storm. When I finally got to my parent’s house I was in quite a state. So what was the takeaway from this experience? Your wiper blades need some love and attention too. I can safely say that I’ll be checking them much more regularly. If you find yourself with torn wiper blades, stop by Fiore Volkswagen and they will be happy to help you out.

Sometimes, whenever I get off from work early, I sit on the porch to watch them play and I watch as those crazy cars go flying by. About two years ago, we complained so much that the town hall added a speed limit sign at the end of our block, I guess they were hoping that people would slow the heck down. It helped for the first few weeks as people lurked to make sure the police were not around as well. Now, even the traffic sign won’t help.

One night, some of the kids were playing soccer out in our front lawn. The ball accidentally got kicked a tiny bit too hard and bounced in the road, same time, first time driver, going 40 on a 20mph street, drove by. I was horrified. Did you not see the sign? Oh, my blood pressure was through the roof.

Some of the moms and I yelled and waved our arms so she could see that she was going a bit too fast, we got the middle finger instead. I was furious. Although no one ran to grab that ball, I couldn’t help but think that instead of a nice calm night, I could have been in the hospital helping my kid fight for his life.

Selfish. That is one way to put it, but another reason for this frustration is that no one was teaching these people, these teens, these drivers, the importance of following traffic signs. What is the next step? How do we not only protect our children but teach everyone to obey the traffic signs?

Raise your voice- no, not yelling, but take these issues to the town hall, make sure that they follow through with it. These issues exist everywhere, not just on my street, but it is how we come together as a community to make it better, for our kids, ourselves, and our town.

Take action!

Tossing and turning, I get up at 7 am. Get ready for school, finally senior year of college. After all the years of schooling, crying, pouting-well you get the point, it was all about to over. Go to my four classes, because only I would decide senior year was the best time to take 21 credits instead of the regular 16. I meet up with friends who pile in my car and we are off to wherever the warm air of May took us.

Checking my phone was never a problem, I usually check it fifty times in a minute, but that day I didn’t bother. What could go wrong right?

I had fifteen phone calls from my dad and two from my brother- not counting all the texts. “What the heck could have happened now” A simple week stood in the way of graduation and nothing, I repeat nothing was supposed to go wrong. Figured I’d give them a call once I got back to my house off-campus-wrong choice.

We all hopped back in my car and jammed to Luke Bryan. My brakes felt loose, but how was I supposed to know what was happening? I only know to check things when lights come on. I then quickly thought how I never scheduled a service appointment and driving all these miles back and forth from school to home, might do some harm. Just like that, I realized my car would not brake. No dramatization needed. I saw in the distance that we were heading for a red light, two cars stopped, and my car still going that 45 mph that the sign said. I freaked out to say the least. Everyone did. I had zero time to think. I had to think of hitting either the family of five in front of me or that light pole and risk hurting my friends. The pole felt like a better choice. Everyone closed their eyes as we hit that pole, I looked back and saw the kids’ faces that I avoided hitting and for that split second, I knew that I made the right decision.

The car was ruined, the brakes clearly snapped, my friends were all crying, and all I heard were sirens and saw flashing lights. Two cars stopped to make sure we were okay. Everyone got out except me. With some back injuries and a few bumps and bruises, I was stuck in the front seat. Turns out my dad and brother were calling me to tell me that I should go get my brakes checked before heading home that weekend- too late pops. The car is dead.

**Get your car serviced and checked! Inspect your brakes and please please know where the emergency brake is**

Back to the end of the story. As the paramedics and police officers pulled me out like a sack of potatoes, I turned to my friends who were bawling thinking I might be seriously hurt or dead, and said, “We are probably the dumbest (insert inappropriate word) “group of friends ever”- we forgot about the emergency brake. Love you guys.” and took off with the officers to the hospital.

Whether a day trip or a weekend getaway, there are places to explore right in your backyard! Check out these adventures that are exciting for the whole family! Here are a few suggestions for the hikers, the explorers, and the history lovers!

• Canoe Creek State Park: Located at 205 Canoe Creek Road, Hollidaysburg,PA 16648-9752. Get your hiking boots ready, your boats ready to get in the water, and your thinking caps on! This educational state park has many features to keep kids, parents, teens, and grandparents enjoying the outdoors.
• Chimney Rocks Park: Located at 401 Blair Street, Hollidaysburg, PA. This park is filled with picnic tables and trails to occupy your sunny afternoon!
• Everett Railroad: Located at 424 Second Avenue Duncansville, PA 16635. This railroad station gives rides to families and even for special occasions!

These trips make great getaways exploring the town around you! With the nicer weather coming, these are perfect places to check out. Pack a few water bottles, some extra clothes, snack, and your adventurous side!

Fiore Volkswagen is ready to show you which vehicles are perfect for your family adventures! Outdoorsy vehicles that are safe for your family, reliable for your trips, and spacious to fit all you pack. Ride in the front seat wherever the road takes you!

“The Best Parks & Nature Attractions in Hollidaysburg – TripAdvisor.” Reviews of Hotels, Flights and Vacation Rentals. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.