Top Safety Tips for Summer Road Trips

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Steve Graves
RK Auto Group
757-681-9494
sgraves8@yahoo.com

Top Safety Tips for Summer Road Trips

How can your family safely enjoy driving trips this summer? Virginia’s RK Auto Group recently teamed with Road & Travel magazine to provide some key safety tips for vacationing families. Some highlights from the article include:

1. There's a lot riding on your tires – make sure they can handle it.
   Prevent unnecessary wear by rotating your tires whenever you change the oil. “Our RK Toyota technicians recommend a rotation every 6,000 miles,” says Joe Thomas, Service Director for RK Auto Group (RK Buick, RK Chevrolet, RK Subaru, RK Scion, and RK Toyota). If the tread on your tires is fairly worn, consider replacing them before you go. Proper tire inflation is vital. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation for the proper pressure.
2. Brakes are crucial to your family's safety.
   In addition to tire maintenance, “RK Chevrolet technicians recommend checking the brakes when tires are rotated,” says Thomas. If your brakes make unusual squealing or grinding noises when you hit them, or if the steering wheel pulls to one side, you might need new brakes. If your car has an anti-lock braking system (ABS), as most recent models do, pay attention to dashboard indicators.
3. Pay attention to belts and hoses to decrease the risk of a breakdown.
   Fan belts are very durable, and often neglected. However, “Our RK Chevrolet technicians report that belts and hoses are the second-biggest cause of auto breakdowns after failed batteries,” notes Thomas. Check belts and hoses during oil changes or other service visits.
4. Batteries die in the summer too.
   Dead batteries are not just a wintertime nuisance. According to the RK Subaru service department, says Thomas, “batteries deteriorate even faster in hot weather.” Before your summer trip, have your battery checked by a professional, especially if it’s over three years old.

For more summer road trip safety tips, check out http://www.roadandtravel.com/autoadvice/2006/summerroadtrips.htm.

About RK Auto Group: RK Auto Group includes RK Chevrolet, RK Toyota, RK Scion, RK Subaru, RK Buick and RK Truck World. In business for more than 40 years, RK Auto Group proudly serves Virginia Beach, Hampton Roads and the surrounding communities.

RK Chevrolet is the recipient of Chevrolet Motor Division’s coveted Service Supremacy Award four years in a row. This is an award which less than 400 of the nation's 5,000 Chevrolet dealers have won. RK Auto Group has been included in the Ward’s Auto list of the top 500 U.S. car dealers. In 1998, R.K. received the prestigious "Genuine Leaders Award" for excellence in sales, service, and customer satisfaction. The dedication of each employee at RK Chevrolet, RK Buick, RK Chevrolet, RK Subaru, RK Scion, and RK Toyota made these awards possible.

RK Auto Group can be reached at 757-486-2222. The company has multiple locations: RK Chevrolet, RK Buick and RK Subaru at 2661 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452 and RK Toyota and RK Scion at 2301 West Mercury Boulevard, Hampton, Virginia 23666.