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TIRE SAFETYDrivers put faith in their cars’ tires, particu-larly when driving at high speeds. To keep your family safe, have your service center pay attention to four tire-safety points. Follow vehicle owner’s manual for tire maintenance.
Pressure. Manufacturers design tires to operate at specific pressures and running tem-peratures for maximum safety and gas mileage. A vehicle’s weight also affects steering.
Alignment. Your service center will periodically use a computerized device to check your tires’ wear and spin to make sure their alignment is true so that acceleration and braking are safe.
Rotation. Rotating the tires on your vehicle helps them to wear evenly.
Tread. Your service center has tools to tell you when you should replace your car’s tires.
THE FORD/FIRESTONE RECALL
When it saw their irresponsible behavior,
America’s civil justice system forced Ford and
Firestone to compensate those who had been
injured by the companies’ unheeding behavior
with regard to truck and tire design. Settlements
paid by the companies have already helped
devastated victims get their lives back in order
and have given them a measure of justice.
Lawsuits helped force a recall of dangerous
tires and redesign of Ford SUVs. 
SMART TIRES
Although Congress has
mandated the auto industry to
equip new cars with tire-pressure
warning devices within the next
three years, inventors have been
working on “smart” tire concepts
for a long time. In the not-too-distant
future, we may see tires
that, via a dashboard light signal,
warn the driver if pressure is too
low or high, the tread is thin, or a
tire has gone flat. Other tires may
even be able to self-inflate on the
fly and then digitally leave a
message on the driver’s cell phone
and at the dealer’s service desk.
Home improvement contractsImprovements add space, comfort, conve-nience, and value to any home. But a botched contracting job can cost owners lots of money and time to correct. That’s why it’s always smart to sign an agreement with contractors.
What are the elements of a good home-improvement contract?
The consumer’s name, address, and phone.
The contractor’s name, address, and phone.
A highly specific description of the work to
be done, materials to be used, etc.
Time frames for work startup and completion.
Some contracts include penalties for missed deadlines.
The project’s cost. A contract may specify several payments on project
completion dates, or withhold final payment pending inspection or
satisfaction.
Review by an attorney, since most standard builder’s contracts are written
to protect the builder. Often, they set no project completion dates, nor do they
give the homeowner any way to require a builder to correct deficiencies.
When traveling for business or
pleasure, we expect hotels or motels
to provide lodging that is comfortable,
secure, and safe. We want parking facili-ties
and entry doors that are well-lighted.
As guests, we assume management and
housekeeping staff will keep guest rooms
clean, well-equipped, and lighted. Bath
facilities must be spotlessly clean and
safe. If anything fails to meet our
expectations, we can call the front desk
and have staff make corrections. 
and safety
For peace of mind, we can take steps for security by:
A damaging slip and fall
When a lodging facility seriously fails in its duty to care for guests, our
courts will provide a remedy. When a guest at a Wisconsin hotel slipped and
fell while showering, she fractured several front teeth. Her injuries
necessitated extensive crown and bridge procedures to restore her mouth to
full dental health. Her attorney brought a premises safety lawsuit against the
hotel, and a jury awarded her damages for the hotel’s negligence in failing to
comply with state laws requiring that it maintain a shower protected with
nonslip surfaces, bath mats, and grab bars.
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