Winter Driving Guide

2014

A Publication of
The Livingston Enterprise
& The Big Timber Pioneer

Also inside:

Oops, locked your keys in your car?

Page 5

Towing is tough work Page 3

Page 2

WINTER DRIVING GUIDE 2014

When You Need Quick, Reliable

Towing Service, call 224-5686!

CARS PICKUPS MOTORCYCLES RVs

ACCIDENT RECOVERY FUEL DELIVERY
LOCKOUTS JUMP STARTS
WINCH-OUTS FLAT TIRES
SERVING LIVINGSTON & SURROUNDING AREAS

24 Hour Service

224-5686

Towing
1296 Hwy 10 West Livingston, MT Ken Gray, owner

Page 3

WINTER DRIVING GUIDE 2014

Enterprise photos by Hunter DAntuono

Above: Ken Gray, owner of Whistler Towing in Livingston, is pictured in his towing yard Thursday afternoon.
On the cover: Bob Gray, 73, who helps his son Ken out at Whistler Towing, secures a truck to his tow trucks bed on Saturday morning on the Mission Creek exit
off of Interstate 90.

Towing is tough work

Tow truck operators are part road rescuers, part psychologists

By Jordon Niedermeier
Enterprise Staff Writer

Highway traffic increases during

the holiday season. Motorists fight
poor weather conditions on the trek
home and face a greater chance of
ending up broken down on the side of
the road or stuck in a ditch.
According to Ken Gray, owner of
Livingstons Whistler Towing, car
crashes dont adhere to business
hours. Traffic accidents and roadside
emergencies dont take breaks for
nights, weekends or holidays either
they become more frequent.
Towing companies like Whistler

answer phone calls all day long, 365

days a year. Operators regularly
respond to calls in hazardous conditions with low visibility.
The Montana Legislature enacted a
slow down and move over act to protect emergency responders, but Gray
said many drivers are unaware of the
law. Cars will fly by without changing
lanes, making some routine towing
jobs life threatening.
Here we dont have the problem
like they do back East. We dont have
the traffic but it does exist out here.
Just the other day a wrecker got hit in
Billings, Gray said.
Doug Schott, owner of Crash Towing

in Livingston, said hes had several

close calls, even being forced to jump
on the deck of his truck once to escape
cars rushing closely by. Another time
he was almost hit by a vehicle he estimates was doing in excess of 90 mph.
I looked back and I saw headlights, Schott said, and thought he
had plenty of time to finish what he
was doing.
Next thing I know it was right
behind me, he said.
Despite the dangers, Gray said he
enjoys what he does. Wreckers assist
people in tough situations and traumatic experiences like rollovers.
I love helping people. Towing is

either in your blood or its not. You

either love it or youre not doing it
very long, Gray said.
Theres no doubt it is in Grays
blood. His father, Bob Gray, started
towing more than three decades ago
as an addition to an ambulance service
he owned in Livingston.
Bob Gray said back then the jaws
of life extraction tools didnt exist
and tow trucks were used to separate
cars after collisions so the passengers
could be rescued. It was a natural
decision for an ambulance operator to

See Towing, Page 9

there
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Being
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isBeing
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Page 4

WINTER DRIVING GUIDE 2014

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Page 5

WINTER DRIVING GUIDE 2014

Enterprise photo by Thomas Watson

Eric Hogan, locksmith at Livingstons B Street Keys, demonstrates how he uses a lockout kit employing slender poles he inserts into a car door after using an
inflatable air cushion to make room for them to rescue folks who have locked their keys in their car.

LOCKED OUT

Oops, you locked your keys in your car. Now what do you do?
By Thomas Watson

Enterprise Staff Writer

aking sure your car is running properly always takes precedence. The
right tires are a must during Montana winters.
But none of that will matter much
without the keys to the car.
Locking the keys inside the car can be extremely
frustrating, and in extreme hot or cold temperatures, downright dangerous.
When you lock your keys in your car because it

will eventually happen to everyone the first

thought is to call the police.

No more slim jims

Up until a few years ago locally, an officer on duty

would be dispatched to the scene and use a tool
known as a slim jim to unlock the car doors.
However, interim Livingston Chief of Police Dale
Johnson said the Livingston Police Department
stopped unlocking cars because of a policy change
years ago.
We do get a few calls once a month or once every
few months, said Johnson. It used to be that we

unlocked cars, so we got them more often, but our

policy has changed. We dont unlock cars for liability reasons.
From what I understand, one time somebody
damaged something inside the car. Because of that,
we had to stop doing it. We refer them to locksmiths,
where they know what they are doing. We used to
make people sign releases, but still, just for safety
(we refer them to a locksmith).
In fact, because of the policy change, officers no

See Locked out, Page 11

Page 6

WINTER DRIVING GUIDE 2014

Dont Let Winter

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 WINTER DRIVING GUIDE 2014

Page 7

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Page 8

WINTER DRIVING GUIDE 2014

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Page 9

WINTER DRIVING GUIDE 2014

Towing, from Page 3

buy a tow truck.
As an EMT, the elder Gray learned to
thrive in high-pressure situations and had
some good saves, but operating two businesses proved to be too time consuming.
Bob and his wife put both operations up for
sale, and when the ambulance service sold,
he became a full-time wrecker. Thirty-five
years later, he still tows seven days a week
alongside his son.
I like towing, Bob said. Its always a
challenge. People say, When are you going
to retire? Well I have retired, but it doesnt
mean I gotta quit working.
Ken Gray said every tow is different and
there are more aspects to the job than just
throwing a hook on a car.
He often tows tourists visiting Yellowstone National Park, and his tows frequently
take place in scenic areas like Paradise Valley. Gray said he takes the opportunity to
share his knowledge of the surroundings.
You just got done (loading) their $35,000
vehicle and you gotta calm them down,
Gray said. You gotta be their psychologist,
tour guide and everything.

RIGHT: Bob Gray introduces himself to Tyler

Chamberlain and Cheryl Bos before preparing to tow Chamberlains truck, which
broke down Saturday morning on the Mission Creek exit off of Interstate 90.

Gray finishes securing Chamberlins truck for the trip to Livingston.

Gray makes a hookup under Chamberlins truck to prepare it for towing, Saturday morning.

Page 10

WINTER DRIVING GUIDE 2014

Are you ready for winter? Look at this checklist

Car Care Council
October is Fall Car Care Month, and the Car Care
Council reminds motorists that checking their vehicles before the temperatures drop is a sensible way
to avoid being stranded out in the cold and the unexpected expense of emergency repairs.
The last thing any driver needs is a vehicle that
breaks down in cold, harsh winter weather. Winter
magnifies existing problems like hard starts, sluggish performance and rough idling, said Rich
White, executive director, Car Care Council.
Whether you perform the check or maintenance
yourself or go to the repair shop, its a small investment of time and money to ensure peace of mind,
and help avoid the cost and hassle of a breakdown
during severe weather.
The Car Care Council recommends the following
Fall Car Care Month checklist to make sure your
vehicle is ready for cold winter weather ahead.

Heating, wipers and lights

Make sure heaters, defrosters and wipers work

properly.
Consider winter wiper blades and use coldweather washer fluid. As a general rule, wiper

blades should be replaced every six months.

Check to see that all exterior and interior lights
work and headlights are properly aimed.

Tires and brakes

Check the tire tread depth and tire pressure of

all tires, including the spare. If snow and ice are a
problem in your area, consider special tires
designed to grip slick roads.
During winter, tire pressure should be checked
weekly.
Have the brakes checked. The braking system is
the vehicles most important safety item.

Gas, oil and filters

Keep your gas tank at least half full throughout

the cold weather to prevent moisture from forming
in gas lines and possibly freezing.
Be diligent about changing the oil and filter at
recommended intervals. Dirty oil can spell trouble
in winter. Consider changing to winter weight oil
if you live in a cold climate.
Check the fuel, air and transmission filters at
the same time.

System checks charging, cooling and exhaust

Have the battery and charging system checked,

as cold weather is hard on batteries.
Clean, flush and put new antifreeze in the cooling system. As a rule of thumb, this should be done
every two years.
Have the exhaust system checked for carbon
monoxide leaks, which can be especially dangerous
during cold weather driving when windows are
closed.

Pack the essentials

Make sure that your ice scraper and snow brush

are accessible and ready to use.
Stock an emergency kit with jumper cables, a
flashlight, blankets, extra clothes, bottled water,
nonperishable food and a first aid kit with any needed medication.
Order a free copy of the recently-updated
80-page Car Care Guide for your glove box at www.
carcare.org/car-care-guide.
The Car Care Council is the source of information
for the Be Car Care Aware consumer education
campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle
care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For a
free copy of the councils popular Car Care Guide or
for more information, visit www.carcare.org.

Here are tips for avoiding deer collisions on Montana roads

By Enterprise Staff
New information from the Insurance Information Institute shows that
animals, primarily deer, caused more
than 1.2 million collisions with vehicles between July 2012 and June 2013,
according to a recent news release
from AAA MountainWest.
In Montana last year, AAA Insurance had a total of 45 auto claims that
were identified as animal-related, for
an average per-claim cost of $2680.
Animal collisions result in about 200
human fatalities per year, the release
said. The worst month for this type of

collision is November, the height of

the deer mating season. And as the
days get shorter, drivers are more
likely to be on the road at dawn and
dusk, times when animals are active.
Montanans know that deer and other animals are unpredictable, said
AAA MountainWest spokesperson
Lynn Solomon in the release, but
there are steps we can take to help
prevent an accident or to reduce the
damage an animal might cause.
Solomon said AAA offers a variety
of tips and tricks to help avoid a crash
with an animal or to lessen the impact
if a collision happens:

Be aware of the sides of the road.

Animals may be alongside the road.
While the most likely accident is a
driver hitting an animal, at other
times, they hit the sides of cars.
Be especially attentive in early
morning and evening. Many animals,
especially deer, are most active during these times, roughly 5 a.m. to 8
a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Use high beams when theres no
oncoming traffic.
Slow down and watch for other
deer. Deer rarely travel alone. When
drivers see one, its likely there are
others.

Slow down around curves. Animals

are harder to see in advance when
drivers are navigating curves.
Use brakes if an impact is imminent. Dont swerve. It can put the driver in the path of oncoming vehicles or
cause a collision with something on
the side of the road.
Always wear a seat belt. And never
drive drunk, distracted, or drowsy.
Dont go near or touch a wounded
animal. A frightened and wounded animal can be unpredictable and cause
injury. If its in the middle of the road
and blocking traffic, call law enforcement.

Before your teenager hits the road, establish these simple guidelines
(BPT) If youre feeling nervous
about handing the car keys to your
teenager for the first time, youre not
alone. Its a common sentiment given
some sobering statistics.
According to teendriversource.org, 20
percent of all 16-year-old drivers will be
involved in an accident during their
first year behind the wheel. And studies
show more teenage motor vehicle fatalities happen during the summer than
any other time of year. But there are
some things you can do to help keep
your teenager from becoming a statistic. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has some
tips and tools to keep your teen safe.
Though auto accidents are a fact of
life for most drivers, even a minor
fender bender can impact insurance
rates, costing parents and teens for

years to come. The good news is

research shows teen drivers who follow rules are half as likely to get in an
accident. Before your teen hits the
road, consider establishing some simple guidelines to protect his or her
safety and your wallet:
1. Set a driving curfew. More than
40 percent of teen auto deaths occur
between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Set a curfew to keep your teen off the road
during these times.
2. Limit passengers. A teens relative risk of being involved in a fatal
crash increases with each additional
passenger. More passengers equal
more potential distractions.
3. Make the cell phone off limits
while driving. Talking and texting can
double the likelihood of an accident. If
your teen must use the phone, instruct

him or her to pull over before doing so

and be sure to set a good example
when you are behind the wheel.
4. Empower your teen to exercise
his or her rights as a passenger. Only
44 percent of teens say they would
speak up if someone were driving in a
way that scared them. Remind your
teens they are just as vulnerable in an
accident as the driver, so they should
speak up if they feel unsafe.
5. Be prepared. Arm your teens with
the knowledge of what they should do
if they do get into an accident. Mobile
apps such as WreckCheck can help
take the guesswork out of a tense situation, guiding users through a step-bystep process to create an accident
report. WreckCheck uses your
devices location service, camera and
audio recorder to document all perti-

nent information about the incident

and provides tips on how to file and
follow up on a claim.
A Teen Driver Contract is a simple
way to keep your teen accountable. It
establishes basic driving ground rules
and clearly lays out the consequences
associated with driving privileges.
The NAIC has developed an online
tool to guide parents through building
a customized Teen Driver Contract.
Theres also a downloadable sample
contract to help get you started.
Educating yourself and your new
driver about the risks and insurance
implications of unsafe driving can
save lives and money. As your teen
begins his or her journey on the roadways, take time to speak openly and
candidly about your expectations for
behind-the-wheel behavior.

Page 11

WINTER DRIVING GUIDE 2014

Locked out, from Page 5

longer carry slim jims and can only direct people to
a locksmith unless there is an emergency.
Unless there is something pressing like a child
locked in the car, we dont even respond (to those
calls), said Johnson. We advise them to contact a
locksmith. In emergency cases, we do have someone
respond quickly.
Johnson said the department has had a number of
emergency calls with a child or dog locked in a car.
When a toddler or dog accidentally locks themselves in the car, thats when people usually call us,
said Johnson. Especially in the summertime when
it is hot, we get one of those calls once every couple
of months.
When those calls come in, the department still
tries to get a locksmith at the scene in a timely fashion, but if that cant happen, they will break a window.
We dont even have slim jims anymore, so if an
owner requests it, we would bust out a window,
Johnson said. If we felt like a childs life was in
danger, wed just do that anyhow if need be.

Often, Hogan gets called out to people who have

realized they locked their keys in their car when
they return from a hike. People river floating also
become customers of Hogans.

Locksmiths to the rescue

During the summer, I get a lot of people who

have lost their keys doing floats, said Hogan.
Depending on the model and year of a car, making
an impression key is one method of unlocking
their cars, he said.
This method involves cutting a blank key on site
and methodically shaping it until it fits the lock.
It really is very time consuming, Hogan said,
and a lot of the time I just dont have the time. Its
just me. Im one guy, and normally I am jam-packed
busy. If someone needs a key impression right away,
I usually send them to someone else.

Eric Hogan runs B Street Keys in Livingston, one

of a handful of locksmiths in the area that can
respond to calls when people lock their keys in their
car.
Hogan has been a locksmith running B Street
Keys for over a year now following his apprenticeship with the previous owner.
Hogan said he gets multiple calls a week.
During the summer and big vacation or traveling
days, I tend to get more calls because of the people
traveling through, he said.

During the summer

and big vacation or traveling
days, I tend to get more
calls because of the people
traveling through.

Making an impression key can run between $100

and $200, which is significantly more than if the
doors are simply opened with a lockout kit.
When Hogan goes on a call for someone who has
locked their keys in their car, he uses the kit rather
than a simple slim jim.
The lockout kit includes four, slender, variously
angled poles or rods that can be inserted into the car
door, as well as a kind of air bladder.
First you use an air cushion to pump up the door
and get a crack in it, Hogan explained about how he
makes room to slide one of the poles in. Then Ill
stick the pole in and reach for the lock.
He continued, A lot of the newer cars, you cant
even use a slim jim. They make them so the slim jim
doesnt do any good anymore, but most cars are
pretty easy to unlock.

Hide-a-key

Eric Hogan,
Locksmith at B Street Keys in Livingston

Both the police and locksmiths like Hogan suggest

having an extra key that is not on the same key ring
as your primary keys. Hogan said many people have
a spare key, but never actually separate it from
their primary.
Along with keeping a secondary key at your
house, a magnetic hide-a-key somewhere on the car
is also a viable option.
Johnson said he used a hide-a-key after locking
himself out of his own car a number of times.
As long as a hide-a-key is in a hard-to access, very
hidden location, there is not much safety risk, Johnson said.
Of course, other than spare keys at home or hidea-key, the best protection is being careful and
checking twice before you lock your car door.

Don't wait until it's too late. Now's the time to get
your vehicle ready for winter driving.
Whether it's snow tires, a tune-up or a thorough check of your
car by a mechanic, don't put off having your car winter-ready any
longer. Check out the articles and the ads in this special section
for tips and then drive worry free this winter.

ENTERPRISE
t

h e

i v i n g s t o n

Page 12

WINTER DRIVING GUIDE 2014

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Steven

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frank@oconnorautobody.com

222-0214

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