Boyd Autobody & Glass Articles

Winter is here, and whether you like it or not, snow comes right along with it. Winter is a time to be sitting warmly by a cosy fireplace, not sitting in your cold car after getting stuck in the snow.

However, getting stuck in the snow is a common occurrence during the winter season. If you find your vehicle stuck this winter, keep these tips in mind: 

Getting Unstuck

Don't spin your tiresWhen your vehicle is stuck in deep snow, your first instinct might be to rev your engine and force your way free. But, whatever you do, do not spin your tires. This will only dig your vehicle in deeper.Instead, attempt the following:

Rotate your tires from one side to another, pushing...

Accidents happen, and sometimes they are completely unavoidable. However, there are many things that you can do as a driver to help reduce the risk of becoming involved in a collision that leaves you in need of auto body repair. 

We’ve shared a few safe driving tips to help you avoid an unwanted trip to the auto body repair shop! 

Top Driving Safety Tips

First, let’s start with some top safety driving tips. These are things that you should do every time you are behind the wheel of your vehicle to reduce the risk of an accident. Most of them are common sense, and if you get into the habit of doing them they become second nature and help make you a safer driver! 

Focus on...

If there is one thing we cannot control in life, it is the unexpected emergency! However, we can make sure we are fully prepared to handle whatever life throws at us. As a driver, emergencies can include extreme weather, a tire blowout, a breakdown, or maybe even an auto collision. These things happen to us all at some point, so it is wise to have an emergency roadside kit in your car to cover all of these eventualities and more!

 Why Do I Need an Emergency Kit?

Before we delve into what to put in an emergency kit, let’s talk about why it is important to have one! If you are out driving and for example, you are involved in an auto collision it is essential that you get assistance as quickly as possible. If it happens in...

One of the biggest causes of auto glass damage – and to some extent paintwork damage too – is loose rocks on the road. It doesn’t matter whether you are an experienced driver or a newbie behind the wheel, tires and loose chips of rock don’t mix, and you are likely to scatter some chips at some point while driving. 

However, there are a few steps you can take to avoid unnecessary auto glass damage for yourself and other road users.

Watch Your Speed

Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind when it comes to avoiding throwing up rock chips and other debris is the role speed plays. It all comes down to physics – the faster your tires turn, the more force they exert on the road...

Statistically, nearly everyone will be involved in some form of collision in their lifetime. Thankfully, most accidents that occur are minor and involve minimal injuries and auto body repair. Getting into a vehicle accident can be an overwhelming experience. However, having vehicle insurance in place, protects you from repair expenses to your vehicle and may cover you in case of injury.

If you get into a vehicle collision, there are a few things that can be done post-collision to ensure your safety and minimize stress during the insurance claim process, and ensure a seamless collision repair experience.

 

Move Your Vehicle

At the time of the collision; most drivers feel that it’s best to leave...

It Happens Every Day On Canadian Roads

One vehicle stops suddenly and the vehicle behind them locks up their brakes but can't stop in time and – CRASH – two cars try to occupy the same space. In the eyes of the law, the second car that couldn't stop in time is the one at fault in this completely avoidable collision scenario.

Drivers Are Not Keeping Safe Distance From Each Other

The reason is, drivers tend to follow each other too closely.

In some cases, it's obvious: Tailgaters ride right up on the bumper of the vehicle in front of them, which something you should only see in a NASCAR race and not on the roads.

In some cases, it's less obvious: Drivers might attempt to drive safely but still don't leave...

Times Have Changed!

Years ago, driving was a privilege enjoyed only by a few people who could afford it. Vehicles were more like open-air buggies. They didn't go very fast and you were exposed to the elements. Drivers drove safely because vehicles were such a novelty and they didn't want to get bugs in their teeth or spook the horses that they shared the road with.

Today, things have changed

Roads are paved. We don't share the road with horses. Vehicles are enclosed, much faster, and built to be safer.

But is it making us unsafe when we drive?

Since vehicles are enclosed and built to be virtually soundproof, we can drive very fast without realizing it. We don’t experience the feeling of speed because we are safely...

How To Adjust To Other Drivers On The Road

If you were the only vehicle on the road, you could drive as fast as you wanted and not have to worry about other people. But you're not. You have to share the road with other people who choose to go a different speed than you. At times, you'll need to pass other drivers.

Here Is How To Pass A Vehicle Safely

Passing is a huge cause of some of the worst collisions because they are head-on collisions. 

When deciding to pass, check your speed versus the vehicle in front of you. You will need to accelerate at least 10 to 20 kilometres an hour faster to get around the car in front of you quickly – you do not want to be in the opposite lane for very long Check the vehhicles...

What's Really Going On Behind The Wheel?

According to Transport Canada, there were over 120,000 collisions in Canada in 2009 (the last full year that statistics are available for). That's approximately 13 or 14 every single hour, or slightly more than one every five minutes.

Now, you might be thinking to yourself: "I'm not going to get into a collision; I'm a safe driver". But many people who say that have two misconceptions that they are not considering.

What Causes Collisions?

First, no one ever plans to get into a collision. Deciding not to get into a collision isn't really a "decision" you can make.

Second, collisions don't just happen because two unsafe drivers crash into each other. They happen when one unsafe driver...

Driving in Canada Means That We Are Sometimes Driving In The Worst Conditions Imaginable...

During the winter, Mother Nature throws a variety of collision-causing conditions at us -- icy roads, piles of vision-impairing snow banks, and whiteouts. With winter on its way, it's a good time to pause and remind ourselves how to drive in these conditions rather than wait for that first snowfall and crunch of a collision to jog our memory!

Be Prepared! Pack the appropriate gear in your vehicle (like survival gear for longer trips and salt or sand plus a shovel for in the city). If you never need it, great. But the one time you do need it will make it worthwhile. Winter driving requires extra time. Plan to leave...