GO ORANGE FOR ANIMALS

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. Throughout the month buildings and landmarks will go orange to support The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^® (ASPCA^®) and raise cause awareness. Going orange is a tribute to the lifesaving work of the ASPCA and a celebration of kindness for living things. For more information, go to www.aspca.org.

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DANGEROUS MISTAKES MADE WHILE DRIVING

Nearly 80 percent of collisions involve some form of driver distraction. Here are the most common mistakes leading to an accident:

• Talking on a non-hands-free cell phone
• Texting while behind the wheel
• Driving while impaired
• Underestimating weather conditions
• Speeding or traveling too fast for conditions

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APRIL IS NATIONAL CAR CARE MONTH

For this biannual event, we remind you to visit your Subaru dealership. Last year’s inspections found that seven out of every 10 vehicles failed at least one component during inspection. For example, 12 percent of vehicles had front windshield wiper failure, and 7 percent needed rear wiper service.

Common items needing attention:

• Engine oil
• Coolant flush
• Transmission fluid
• Lights
• Air filters

Most Subaru dealerships offer free inspections to support this program, and April begins the “Spring is in the Air” cabin filter instant rebate program. Drop by your local dealership to make sure your Subaru is ready for warm-weather travel.

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2010 OUTBACK CROSS BARS

Besides pivoting into the roof rails when not in use, the cross bars on the all-new 2010 Outback have several features that are different from the 2009 model’s aero-style cross bars:

• They are wider in both front and rear
• There are 30 inches between the bars (29 inches on the 2009 model)
• They can carry up to 150 lbs (100 lbs on the 2009 model)
• They are compatible with virtually all Genuine Subaru Roof Accessories that were applicable to the 2009 Outback

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VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (VIN)

Every vehicle has a 17-character VIN. It’s unique to that vehicle, and it tells the manufacturer, make, model, year, which automotive features are included, and more.

Occasionally, you will need your vehicle’s VIN – to open an auto insurance policy, fill out an accident report, contact Subaru Customer Serive, request Roadside Assistance, take your vehicle to a dealer for service, sign up for Added Security, and so forth.

Subaru VINs are located on:

• The dashboard on the driver’s side – most visible from outside, looking through the windshield
• The certification label on the pillar directly behind the driver’s door
• Labels applied to various major body parts to help reduce the incidence of vehicle theft

Your VIN also can be found on auto insurance and auto registration documents.

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SHARE THE ROAD

Reminder: You’re not alone on the road. Some of the vehicles around you are larger, and others are smaller. Be aware of them as you drive.

It’s springtime, and the warmer weather in many parts of the country means that more motorcycles and bicycles will be using the roadways. If you live in warmer climates, two-wheel vehicles are with you all year – so this is a reminder. Be ever vigilant, because these smaller vehicles are more difficult to see. Allow safe spacing between your vehicle and bicycles and motorcycles, for everyone’s safety.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration lists a number of safety tips for sharing the road at www.sharetheroadsafely.org.

New Jersey (Safe Passage) and a number of other states have their own motorcycle and bicycle awareness programs. Find a list of links below.

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For more safety and technical tips, click here.

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