Changing Wiper Blades

Arizona Department of Public Safety Monsoon Weather Driving Safety Tips

The Arizona Department of Public Safety offers the following traffic safety tips to assist motorists during the monsoon season. A desert monsoon storm can be a thing of beauty to watch but it can also be dangerous or even deadly. Conditions during a monsoon can range from high winds and blowing dust to torrential rains which can create hazardous driving conditions:

First and foremost SLOW DOWN. The posted speed limit may not be a safe speed to travel in bad weather. On wet roads your vehicle will have less traction than on a dry road. Slower travel speeds allow for safer braking and stopping distances.

Leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle ahead of you and be aware of the vehicles around you in other travel lanes. Braking and shorter stopping distances will be affected by wet roads and slippery roadway surfaces.

Watch carefully for water pooling on the roadway surface as this could cause your vehicle to slide or hydroplane.

Do not enter an area where the roadway has been closed by barricades due to flooding. You don’t know how deep the water is or how fast it is running. Besides, it is against the law and very dangerous to drive into a flooded area!

Drive with your headlights on. This increases your visibility to other vehicles.

At night, slow down and pay close attention to changing road and weather conditions.

Strong winds can be associated with a monsoon storm. Watch for blowing dust and if at all possible, avoid driving into a dust storm.

If you cannot avoid the dust storm drive with your headlights on and slow down. Do not stop on the roadway or on the emergency shoulder area. Pull completely off the roadway surface, stop, and turn off all vehicle lights and take your foot off of the brake.

Make sure your vehicle is in good condition. Ensure your head and tail lamps along with your turn signals are working properly. Replace worn out tires for better traction and maintain proper tire air pressure, replace worn out windshield wiper blades, keep windshield washer fluid topped off, and see that the brakes are in good condition.

Be prepared for unforeseen delays, such as flooded roads, construction or other traffic delays. Carry extra food and water in your vehicle.

If you suffer a mechanical breakdown or tire failure, remain calm, slow down, keep the steering wheel straight, and drive the vehicle to a safe area as far from traffic as possible.

ALWAYS wear your safety restraints.

How can I replace 2008 Chevy Silverado winshield wiper blades?

I need to get new ones badly. But nothing the stores sell seem to fit the way these are set up. Someone at the parts store said they think I'll have to pay a ridiculous amount to the dealer because they are proprietary parts. Does anyone know if this is absolutely true? I've owned several vehicles, but never have had to pay more than a few dollars (less than 20, usually) for a pair of wiper blades. You probably already know this, but stores like Target or auto parts stores usually have a sort of book near where the replacement blades are that tells you which blade fits what model. And most blades come with adapters to fit the standard types of arms. The makers seem to have standardized on a couple different kinds of attachments, so the blades can usually be adapted to them. I've never had a car they couldn't be adapted to fit, tho I wouldn't put it past Chevy to have come up with some new "superior" gizmo.

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