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Repairing auto collision damage properly is critical to the safety and performance of your vehicle. Our skilled, certified auto body and frame technicians use only the highest quality auto body equipment, parts and materials to ensure that your car is repaired to factory standards.

Our state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly auto collision center facility utilizes Car-O-Liner benches and a Chief frame racks capable of multiple pulls combined with Car-O-Tronic electronic measuring system with print-outs to return your vehicles body and frame back to factory specifications.

Our auto body paint department uses only waterborne paint products and is fully compliant with the new VOC regulations that will took effect in January of 2009. Vehicles are painted in our Blowtherm, downdraft, heated paint booth by highly skilled, certified technicians. Expert color matching and application produce a factory quality finish.

Our professional team of metal and auto paint technicians produce auto body and frame repairs that are of the highest quality, backed by our warranty on all workmanship.

5 TIPS TO PREVENT A CAR ACCIDENT IN THE BAY AREA

Whether you recently got “dinged up” in a Bay Area car accident, or you are just a concerned driver (or parent of a teenager who now drives – yikes!), here are 5 tips on safer driving.

1. Minimize distractions. Most people know that driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol – or driving while chatting or texting on a cell phone – can be hugely dangerous. Eliminating the obvious distractions is essential. But you also might strive to eliminate “next level” distractions, such as the radio, passenger commentary, and even the babble of your own thoughts. The more mindfully you focus on the task of driving, the safer you will probably be.

2. Watch your posture. It’s easy to sink into a lazy posture behind the wheel. When you hold the steering wheel more alertly at the “9-3″ or “10-2″ positions, your physiology will respond positively. You will be more alert and more attentive to potential obstacles on the road.

3. Drive like a race car driver. We mean this literally: race car drivers get maximum control over their vehicles by sitting close up to the steering wheel with their backs firmly pressed into the seat and wrists resting on the wheel. By maintaining this hypervigilance, you will react quicker to dangerous events.

4. Keep your car shipshape. Follow the axiom popularized by the Boy Scouts: Be Prepared. If you see a brake light flicker on and off or your tire pressure light blink on, take notice and take action. Get dents and dings repaired at a reliable auto body shop like Shattuck Auto. Keep your car serviced and clean, so that you can be prepared for whatever comes your way.

5. Scan the whole road. It’s easy to zone out behind the wheel and focus your eyes on one particular area. You need to scan your blind spots and peripheral areas not only to check for hazards but also to heighten your general vigilance. Again, it comes back to avoiding distractions. When you stare into one particular zone while driving, your mind is apt to wander.

If you have been in a car accident in the Bay Area, get in touch with the auto body repair professionals here at Shattuck Auto for thorough and immediate assistance.

You Can Help Prevent Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle AccidentOver the hotter months of the year, especially with the high expense of fuel, many motorcycles are found on the highways. All drivers need to adopt a preventive driving style if we are to succeed in minimizing motorcycling accidents, now that the number of motorcycle riders is so much greater. You can make a contribution to stopping accidents by undertaking certain things.

The first responsibility lies with riders of…

(Source: ow.ly)

Repairing Your Transmission

The transmission is one of the most important parts on a vehicle. It has played a central role in the evolution of the car and has dictated many of the changes throughout the year. As an important part of your car, it costs quite a bit to replace or fix. As a result, all matters relating to the transmission should not be taken lightly. There are a few basic things you need to know about transmission repair to make sure it’s done right..

10 Safe Driving Tips

Safe DrivingModern cars are much safer than ever before, but even with safety improvements, it’s still important to be a safe driver. There are still millions of car accidents every year, and car accidents are the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 3 and 34.

Whether you’ve just gotten your license of you’ve been driving for years, we’ve put together this list of 10 driving tips for safe driving.

1)   Don’t drive drunk

More than 30% of all fatalities from car accidents caused by drivers who are under the influence of alcohol. This one’s easy – if you’ve had something to drink, just have a friend drive you home. It’s just not worth the risk.

2)   Don’t speed

This one’s not so easy – everyone loves to drive fast. The statistics are eye-opening: for a simple drive across town, driving just 10 mph faster than the speed limit will only get you to your destination a few minutes faster… but your risk of having an accident rises by as much as 50 percent!

3)   Avoid distractions  (put down that phone!)

There’s a reason that so many states are starting to pass laws banning cell phone use when driving. One study showed that the reaction time of a 20-year-old driver talking on the phone was equal to a 70-year-old-driver. It’s not just cell phones though – anything that diverts your attention from driving should be avoided, such as applying makeup, eating, or playing with your radio.

4)   Don’t drive sleepy

A study done at Virginia Tech reported that 20 percent of all accidents have sleepiness as a contributing factor. If you’re drowsy, don’t think that opening the window and turning up the radio will help you fight it off. Your reaction time is drastically reduced when you’re sleepy, so have a friend drive.

5)   Wear your seat belt

They’re not there for decoration – seat belts save lives. Estimates from the NHTSA show that more than half of all car accident fatalities were people who weren’t wearing seat belts.

6)   Drive carefully in bad weather

Whether it’s rain, fog, snow, or icy roads, you should always take extra caution when driving in inclement weather. Stay below the speed limit, make sure there’s extra space between you and the car in front of you, and be extra careful around curves.

7)   Don’t follow closely

You’ve got to be sure that there’s enough space to allow for your reaction time should the car in front of you stop or turn suddenly. Follow the “three second rule” – watch for a stationary object on the side of the road, and start counting seconds as the car in front of you passes it. At least three seconds should pass before your car passes the same object.

8)   Pay attention to other drivers

You can be the safest driver in the world – but that doesn’t protect you from other drivers. The best thing to do is to assume that every other driver on the road is a bad driver. Keep an eye on your mirrors and the cars around you at all times – you can’t predict what other drivers might do.

9)   Drive defensively

Instead of being an aggressive driver that bullies every other car on the road, stay calm and drive defensively. Keep plenty of space between you and the car in front of you, drive the speed limit, and yield to other cars. Yes, it might take a few more minutes to get where you’re doing, but you’ll drastically reduce your chances of being in an accident.

10)   Keep your car in great shape

Proper vehicle maintenance doesn’t just help your car to last longer – it’s a major safety issue as well. One of the most common maintenance issues that leads to a wreck is tire pressure. Over- or under-inflation can lead to performance problems and even a blowout. Your brakes are also extremely important to safe driving. Follow the basic maintenance guidelines in your owners manual and stay up to date on maintenance tips by reading our blog.

Shattuck Auto Collision CenterShattuck Auto Collision Center is a cutting edge, state of the art high-tech auto body repair shop facility. We are professionally staffed with I-car trained auto body professionals. Located in Berkeley and servicing the Greater San Francisco / Bay Area. Call us today 510-848-6281 or visit us online at www.shattuckauto.com

(Source: ow.ly)

How Insurance Companies Determine Your Rate

Put together by the folks at car-insurance.com this infographic shows how insurance companies determine the rates for car insurance. There’s a lot of information, but it’s organized so that it’s easy to read – and it’s really helpful to see all of the factors that the insurance companies use.

Infographic

(Source: ow.ly)

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