Granted, this may not be the greenest car on the block, but we’re guessing that it will turn all of your neighbors green — with envy — when you come home with a 2011 Regal as your brand new coach.

I came across this video and like it a lot. There’s nothing entertaining here … it’s just S-A-F-E-T-Y. Straightforward, plain and simple, but it’s also pretty comprehensive.

It demonstrates how to put in both the front facing type of car seat and the rear facing car carrier with the base attachment. It also shows how to hook up the seats with a seat belt and with the LATCH system (in cars 2002 or newer).

I have installed a car seat or two in my day and I really never thought to put your full weight on the seat or base like the demonstrator does in the video. I have pressed down on the seats and bases in an effort to get them tight and synched up, but seeing the video it makes sense and I’ll probably try to tighten up my car seats when I go home tonight.

I know that a lot of car sales people take car seats for granted, but it is really not something that should be overlooked. Case in point: A few years back (before the intoduction of LATCH and when the internet was still considered just a tool for rich geeks and college kids), I was selling a new car to a woman who had just gotten in an accident. Her previous car, a 1984 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight Recency sedan, was totalled out and she didn’t want to mess around with used cars anymore so she decided to get a brand new one. This customer was moving up 16 years into her new car and there were some major differences between her old car and the new one. Now car salespeople aren’t generally in the habit of showing customers how to install a car seat in their new vehicle. We usually just assume that if the customer has a car seat, they’ll know how to install it in their new vehicle. In the example above, I didn’t show the customer how to install her child’s seat, but I did take the time to show her how the seat belts worked. She had never owned a car with retractable, locking belts before so that was new to her. I remember telling her that for car seats to pull it out all the way and that she would hear a clicking sound as it retracted and locked in position. It was just a normal thing that I included in my new car delivery presentation.

I didn’t think anything of it until about a month later when I saw the customer out and about. When she saw me, she told me that she owed me a multitude of thanks. She went on to describe how she used my seatbelt demonstration info when she put her baby’s car seat in her new car. About two weeks later, she had to slam on her brakes and steer clear of an accident that happened right in front of her. She was shaken up – understandably – because of the accident that happened with her Oldsmobile just three weeks prior to this. But she said it was her instinct to turn around and check on her baby, who was awake and crying, but safe and sound. Then my customer’s eyes looked like they were about to well up with tears as she told me she wanted to thank me for telling her about the locking, retractable seatbelts. She said that if I hadn’t shown her how the belts worked, that she probably would have installed the seat wrong and her baby might have been injured or worse.

I’ve worked in car sales for about 11 years now and this was, without a doubt, the most gratifying moment of my tenure in the biz. So if it’s relevant to you, please watch the video above. There’s nothing entertaining about it … it’s just S-A-F-E-T-Y.

Patrick Hogrefe of Peosta, IA

Very good to deal with.  Highly recommended.

Elmer Harter of Dubuque, IA

Best dealership I’ve ever purchased a vehicle from.  Fantastic staff!  #1.

David Wood of Cassville, WI

John Riley was enjoyable to work with.  I am completely satisfied with the car.  Thank you.

Robert Kalb of Dubuque, IA

Just a note to thank you for your excellent service.  I really appreciated your honesty and professionalism.  The truck is doing great and I’m very pleased with it.  When I am ready for my next new truck, you will be the first one I contact.

Greg Johnson of Dixon, IL

Thank you sooo much for all of your help.  Buying a car from you was truly the best car buying experience we’ve ever had — and trust me, we’ve bought a lot over the last decade.  We can’t thank you enough for your professionalism and great service  — even when we came in when the shop was closing, you still went above and beyond.   Let everyone know how awesome you and the Runde staff are.  Thanks again.  Oh yeah, by the way, we love the Malibu.

Amy and Tom Jordan of Dubuque, IA

Runde Chevrolet in East Dubuque

Kathie Thor

John Riley, who manages our Chevy Sales Department, received the following email message from one of his customers this week. 

Hi John:

Here’s a few photos for your scrap book. Thanks for all your help with Kathie’s Chrismas Surprise. She had no idea I had made a deal with you for a new vehicle. There was a lot of excitement at the Thor household Christmas morning.

Thanks again,

Randy

Randy Thor of Cuba City, WI surprised his better half, Kathie, with a sophistocated new set of wheels.  He grabbed some quick photos of Kathie beside her new ride (my guess is that he didn’t have to ask her to smile).  Kathie was completely caught off guard by the 2010 Chevy Equinox that was waiting for her at home and the Thor’s had a very Merry X-Mas. 

If you have an interest in a new Chevy Equinox, please give us a call at 866-735-5200 or check out our inventory at www.RundeChevrolet.com

We currently have over 1200 new and used vehicles in stock.

Here is a link to another inspiring story of a crash that had a miraculously happy ending:  Click Here

If you need more examples there are several other videos you can look up. The point is simple: pregnant women get into accidents too.  It’s something that we don’t really want to hear about, but it happens.  In 2008, over 27,000 pregnant women were killed in automobile accidents. In fact, statistics show that automobile accidents are the largest cause of pregnant fatalities. What is more terrifying than thinking of your unborn baby going through an accident?

As far as safety goes, the major focus has always been on infant safety and child seats while the specific safety needs of expecting mothers was perhaps overlooked a bit. That is starting to change, however, as the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM), a group of 11 car companies including GM, Ford and Chrysler, has recently taken interest in progressing the safety of pregnant women in their vehicles.

The current focus in the progression of making vehicles safer for pregnant women are computer models, and monitoring the effects of a crash on “pregnant” crash dummies. More intricate systems will take time to implement, but you can plan on seeing specific safety belt instructions for pregnant women in the near future.

In the meantime keep safety in mind as you pick out your family’s new vehicle. There are certain vehicles that were created with the family in mind, like the Chevy Traverse. The Traverse provides a comfortable ride, and was rated the ”Family Vehicle of the Year” by many different organizations including Kelly Blue book and SEAMO, based on its safety, capacity, ergonomics, and accessibility.

New Year’s Resolution for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers? Keep mom and her soon to be baby boy or girl safe.

The camp runs on donations, with no government funding, no formal sponsorship and no one paid to raise money for the camp. They run through the generosity of donations given by people and companies.

Please view the video below to learn more about Camp Courageous.  You’ll also find out how to make a donation and you’ll see what they have planned for this holiday season!

Runde Auto Group proudly supports the camp in its endeavors and its adventures.  If you would like to make a donation please use the following to contact Camp Courageous:

Phone: (319) 465-5916
Email: info@campcourageous.org
PO Box 418
Monticello, IA 52310

Note: No one was harmed during the making of this video.  Hopefully your ears won’t be harmed by our “not-so-harmonious” voices as you view it.

Regardless of whether: your car skidded on ice, or you were text messaging and didn’t see that truck in-front of you, or you got hit by someone who doesn’t know the meaning of the word ”stop” that appears on the red octagon-shaped thingee … you should always be prepared for the aftermath of an accident.  Would you know what to do if you get into an accident on your way home today?  If not, follow Runde’s accident survival guide and you’ll be a little better off when that accident occurs. Print it off and keep it in your glove box if you want to reference it when you get into an accident. 

And remember:  Being prepared means being ready both mentally and physically.

What Happened??
The first thing to do after the accident occurs is to assess the situation. How bad of an accident is it? Is your car teetering on a median or is it in a safe location? If the vehicle isn’t in such a trouble spot, you should move it (if possible) to a location where no further damage can be done. No matter how big or small the accident is, do not drive away. The law mandates that you stay at the accident scene until authorities are properly contacted. If you try to flee the scene you could end up with a very sizeable traffic ticket or a warrant for your arrest.

Who’s Hurt Where and Why?
The next step is to check all parties in your vehicle for injuries. Make sure your kids and any other passengers are alright.  Identify any injuries. Seriously injured individuals should not be moved unless they are in imminent danger from fire, traffic, raccoon attack etc. Dave, my brother-in-law, witnessed a girl getting his by a truck a couple weeks ago.  The truck fled the scene, and Dave stayed with the girl.  It was raining so Dave picked the girl up and carried her to the back of his van so she wouldn’t get soaked.  He said it seemed like the “gentleman” thing to do at the time.  However, when the paramedics got there, Dave said they made it clear to him that it was the wrong thing to do.  He should have just covered her up with a blanket or his coat and kept her stationary so he wouldn’t have risked  further injury.  

For the most part: If you can get off the road … GET OFF THE ROAD!   Obviously that’s not always feasible.  A couple of years ago, there was an accident on Hwy 35 just out in front our Runde PreDriven store in Hazel Green, WI.  A lady who was diving one of the cars got out of her vehicle and was standing out in the middle of the road in a state of semi-consciousness.  During the accident, she had struck her head and she wasn’t exactly sure where she was.  Al Kloft, one of the salesmen at the PreDriven store, saw the accident occur and went out to guide the lady to safety.  The lady’s injuries turned out to be very minor, but her vehicle was totalled out so the following week she came back to Runde’s and bought a replacement vehicle from Al.   Generally they say that follwing an accident, everyone who is capable of moving should get to a safe location and out of the way of passing traffic. If you are severely injured, call 911 for medical assistance or yell for help if a phone isn’t available.

Time for the ”Men” in Blue
Once you know what’s going on, contact the police. They will tell you if their presence is needed at the scene depending on the severity of the incident. Mostly they are needed if the accident involves a hit and run*, if it is apparent that liability will be disputed or if there are injuries.

• *Note* If the accident was a hit and run, be sure to get as much information of the vehicle and driver that hit you as possible. Police will want, at the very least, the license plate number of the vehicle that hit you. If you can get a good look at the individual driving the vehicle and describe him/her to the police it will make it easier for them to catch and identify the perpetrator.  In the situation I described above, Dave wasn’t able to get the license number or description of the truck that hit the girl.  He had the choice where he could have either chased after the truck in his van, or he could have stopped to help the girl lying in the middle of the crosswalk.  I’d say that Dave made the right choice.

Take Away Emotion
When the police arrive, they will investigate the scene and talk to the individuals involved. When talking to the police, never admit fault. Tell them exactly what happened without saying “it was my fault.” It’s natural to want to say “sorry” to the other people involved in the accident but saying things like that could be construed as admission that you were at fault.  And if you are truely not at fault, this admission could be used against you if the case ever got to court.

The Next Step is like a Warped Spin on Speed Dating
Give and receive names, addresses, and phone numbers with everyone involved in the accident. Get the year, make, model, license plate number, insurance carrier, and insurance policy number of all vehicles involved. If there were any witnesses get their contact information as well.

Set the Record Straight
Get ahold of your insurance company. If there is any vehicular damage or injuries from the accident report the details ASAP to your insurance company, remember never say you were the guilty party, just the facts ma’am.

Become a Photographer
Take pictures. If you have a camera available snap shots of the damage of the vehicles, the accident scene, any injuries incurred and the people involved. If you don’t just happen to have a “Sony 12 mega-pixel Cybershot DSLR Photo Machine Gun” camera on you, remember that most cellphones come with a built-in camera, if you don’t have one ask someone else if they have a phone with a camera. This will serve you well for insurance or court purposes.

Take up Scrapbooking
Remember to document everything that happened as you may be able to get reimbursed for them. If you had to tow your vehicle get the name, location and phone number of the towing company and get a copy of any fees that may incur. Your insurance company may require you to select a pre-approved body shop to repair your vehicle, so record all fees charged.

Preparation is the Recipe for Survival
It’s easy for us to say be prepared for an accident, but it’s not something that most people think about on a regular basis. However, there are steps you can take so that you’ll be ready for almost anything that lifes throws at you as you travel down that ramblin’ road. Make sure that your hazzard (flashers, 4-ways, etc.) lights are in working order. Try to check them about once every 6 months — it only takes 20 seconds to walk around your car. If you don’t have a car-charger for your cell phone, then make sure that your phone is fully charged before you set out. If your planning a longer trip in the winter or late at night, make sure that your car is stocked with a few blankets, a working flashlight, and road flares. And if you’re travelling alone, try to make sure that someone (a relative or a friend) is aware that your in transit. I think it’s pretty much a universal given that friends and relatives (moms especially) like to call us to make sure that our destination was safely reached.

Remember to take care of yourself and your family. No matter what happens in an accident, life goes on, the best thing you can do is try to learn how to avoid future accidents from happening and teach what you learn to ones you love.