HOUSTON, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- With 90 percent of driving decisions based solely on vision(1), it is vital to have a clear, unobstructed view of the roadway. A recent survey conducted by Rain-X(2) found that 78 percent of motorists only change their wiper blades after the blades themselves begin to impair their visibility and become a potential safety hazard. To raise awareness of the importance of driving visibility, Rain-X and automotive expert Barbara Terry have teamed up to kick-off the annual Seemore Safety Campaign.
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The Campaign, a safe driving initiative now in its third year, is designed to remind motorists to use Groundhog Day as a yearly reminder to change their wiper blades. With the aid of Seemore the Safety Groundhog, the Campaign's six-foot tall mascot, Rain-X and Terry spread the message of safety and clear vision.
"Many drivers consider their wiper blades a service replacement item, when in fact they are a vital component of a vehicle's safety features," says Barbara Terry. "A simple way to help improve driving safety visibility is to clean the windshield every time when filling the gas tank and carefully inspect the blades. In most cases, wiper blades are not difficult to replace and for those who are not certain of the procedure, most major auto retailers offer free blade installation with purchase."
Tips Courtesy of Barbara Terry & Rain-X:
What to look for when inspecting wiper blades:
-- Streaking occurs when the rubber squeegee dries, hardens and cracks.
It can also be caused by tree sap, road tar and other foreign
substances collected on either the glass or the blade.
-- Wearing occurs with extensive use and is when the rubber edges are
rounded instead of squared.
-- Splitting is caused when the sun's ultraviolet rays penetrate the
rubber squeegee, causing it to breakdown and separate from the frame.
To extend the life of your wiper blades:
-- Clean your windshield every time you fill your gas tank.
-- Gently wipe the rubber squeegee with a damp paper towel to remove any
loose dirt or oil.
-- Never use your windshield wipers to de-ice your windshield. Instead,
either use an ice scraper or use your defroster to melt snow and ice.
-- Pull your wiper blades away from the windshield during winter months to
prevent ice build up on the rubber squeegee and to prevent them from
sticking to the windshield.
(1) AAA
(2) A total of 1,010 interviews were completed among licensed drivers 18
years and older. Results are based on the total sample of 1,010
adults, at 95% confidence.
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