Here are some things people do around cars that they shouldn’t:  

I recently saw a young man under a car that was supported only with a bumper jack.  I knew 2 people who died that way. Never get under a car unless it’s properly supported with jack stands.  Also, even jack stands are not safe on soft surfaces like dirt, gravel, or even hot asphalt, unless you put heavy plywood or boards under the stands to distribute the load.  Having a car fall on you is a mistake that you generally don’t get to make twice.

Another unsafe thing I see in the summer months is people riding in the back of a pickup, or riding on pickup box rails, or “hitching” rides by holding onto a car while on their bike or skateboard.  This is dumb and illegal. The only time it’s legal to ride in the back of a pickup is if all of the seatbelts in the cab are occupied. Even then it’s still stupid.

Oddly enough, dogs in the back of a pickup have to be restrained while people don’t have to be.  Our lawmakers must care more about dogs than they do about children.

Speaking of pets, it’s important to restrain them so they can’t jump out at speed.  Many years ago, a friend had her dog jump from an open car window at 70 MPH on I-90, even though she had the dog’s leash around her wrist.  Fortunately, they both survived, but it could have been a real tragedy. So please keep your pets secure and keep your windows up far enough so that they can’t jump out.

Thanks,
Joe Polowski | Precious Metals

This is a sponsored article and does not necessarily reflect the positions of the Deer Park Gazette or its staff.