(NAPSI)—It’s an accident waiting to happen: Coming up to one stop sign, one driver can hardly see out the windshield through streaks of rain, a result of damaged windshield wiper blades. Approaching on the other road is another driver whose worn-out wiper blades succeed in only smearing water and dirt across the windshield. Will these drivers be able to see the stop sign or each other in time to react safely?

It doesn’t have to be this way. There is a simple and cost-effective way for ensuring the best visibility possible: Make sure your car has properly functioning windshield wipers. Despite the simplicity of checking and, if necessary, changing wiper blades, most people put this task off well past the blade’s useful life. Experts recommend checking blades for wear at least every six months and replacing if damaged or worn.

Advances in wiper blade technology include wiper blades “smart” enough to adapt to the curve of your windshield, and designed to minimize clogging with ice, snow or debris and to provide consistent, clean wipes time after time.

A driver’s vision is the single biggest factor in vehicle safety, according to Dr. Philip Hessburg, founder of the internationally recognized “The Eye and the Auto” symposium and of the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology.

Nationally recognized automotive expert in car care, “Car Coach” Lauren Fix, knows that an estimated 90 percent of a motorist’s driving decisions are based on how well he or she can see the road. Fix and her daughter, Teen Car Coach Shelby Fix, agree that checking wiper blades is one of the easiest ways to improve your family’s road safety.

As Shelby writes, “A dirty windshield could cause big problems. If you can’t see where you are going, it’s dangerous to everyone. Get a new set of wiper blades…they are worth it.”

Properly maintained wiper blades can be a simple, low-cost way to ensure the clearest sight line and improve driving safety in bad weather.

Better Blades

Worn, torn or inefficient blades cause streaks, a film and an inconsistent view of the road that can impair vision or delay driver judgment.

Because Michelin understands the importance of a clear view, it created the Stealth Hybrid Technology wiper blade that offers all-weather visibility and has an innovative Smart Flex design that lets the blade react to the shape of your windshield for superior contact across the entire blade and streak-free, quiet wipes time after time.

Learn More

For more information, visit www.michelinwipers.com. More advice from Lauren and Shelby Fix can be found at www.laurenfix.com.

On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.(NAPSI)