Costco Connection - April 2011

automotiveconnectıon
Conquering
car clutter:
a key to

• Secure bins of books, toys and papers in the back seat or trunk with Velcro or spring-cord cables, or stash them under seats to prevent items from flying forward.

• Use a cargo net in the trunk to contain groceries and sports equipment.

road
safety

By Wendy Helfenbaum

EVERY TIME YOU take your eyes off the road to reach for a cell phone, coffee mug or CD while driving, you are nine times more likely to cause an accident, according to a recent Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study.

Why are we reaching for things while driving? Because we can’t find anything. For many of us, our cars have become the kitchen junk drawer on wheels. But driving in a cluttered car can be hazardous to your health. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 80 percent of car accidents involve distracted drivers, accounting for more than 6,000 deaths and half a million injuries in 2008.

Not only does rooting around for a piece of gum in an overstuffed glove compartment put you in danger, but loose objects such as umbrellas, water bottles or groceries can become deadly projectiles that could strike you or your passengers if you brake suddenly.

Between moms and dads chauffeuring kids to activities and a large mobile workforce, we’re using our cars differently, and not in a good way, says professional organizer Collette Robicheau, owner of Organize Anything in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

“People are on the go, and the car is not
looked upon as a priority,” explains Robicheau.
“But we have to remember that we’re operat-
ing heavy equipment. Things [should be]
readily accessible so we’re not trying to do
crazy things while we’re driving.”
Here are some easy ways to organize your
car and put good routines into place.

Pick up a new habit: picking up

• Purge broken toys, old newspapers, food wrappers and seasonal gear.

• Designate a daily in/out bin: Keep it in
your entranceway packed with items needed
for your upcoming day, such as library books
to be returned. At the end of the day, pack
your bin with stuff from the car that can go
back in the house, such as empty water bot-
tles, coffee cups and sports equipment.

Use spare time wisely

“Parents waiting to pick up children from activities can organize the back seat, take a peek at what’s in the glove compartment or organize the trunk,” suggests Robicheau.

Keep it simple with smart
storage tools

• Visor organizers keep CDs at your fingertips.

• Over-the-seat totes or shoe bags are perfect for children’s games, snacks or wipes.

• Stash a container under the front passenger seat for things you don’t use every day, such as extra baseball hats or sunscreen.

• Purchase a console unit or portable file box to hold your mobile office.

• Put maps in side door pockets; car insurance, accident forms and owner’s manual in the glove compartment; coins for tolls in the ashtray.

Secure loose objects

• Make sure cans of soda, tennis balls and toys are safely put away so they don’t roll under the driver’s foot pedals.

The Costco Connection Most Costco warehouses and Costco.com carry car accessories and organizing supplies (bins, over-the-seat tote and litter bags, cup holders and consoles) to help you keep your car safe and clutter free.

Junk in the trunk?

“Does that bag of hockey equipment need to live there [in the trunk]?” asks Robicheau. Keep emergency road supplies, such as jumper cables, flares, a flashlight and a first-aid kit, in a plastic bin.

Get rid of whatever you don’t need. “Run your car the way you run your house,” says Robicheau.

“Think, ‘Is this the right place for me to be putting this?’ ” Keep you car organized so you can minimize distractions while you’re driving. C

MEDIA BAKERY

Wendy Helfenbaum is a writer and television producer in Montreal.

Buyer’s pıck

Carmen Westbrook

Buyer, Automotive

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