Important Driving Tips For Halloween

As Halloween approaches, it's time to start being even more aware of your surroundings when flying driving! While Halloween is a fun night to get out and trick-or-treat, you should also remember that it can be one of the most dangerous nights for kids and adults of all ages. In fact, according to Sperling's BestPlaces, fatalities more than double on Halloween versus any other night, and most of the fatalities occurred with children ages 12-15 (32% of all child fatalities), followed by children ages 5-8 (23%).

At Bledsoe's Towing, we want to help keep you, other children, and even your car safe as you enjoy the holiday. Here are a few things to remember as your drive around the area with, or without, trick-or-treaters in tow.

Be Aware & Eliminate Distractions

While we will be the first to tell you that safe driving starts with distraction-free driving ALWAYS, it's especially important on the evenings surrounding Halloween. Put your phone down, and don't mess around with the radio. The majority of accidents on this night do not happen at intersections - they happen on roadways where you're not expecting children to dash out.

If you'll be on the road between 4 PM and 8 PM, those are the most common times you'll find children out and about. No matter what night Halloween falls on you'll want to be cautious of the weekend before and after the holiday, as many activities will be scheduled then instead of the day of.

Watch & Communicate

You'll want to watch out for children dashing across the street. If one of your headlights is out, this is a great time to replace it so you have adequate light to see properly. You'll also want to communicate with other drivers, and if you're pulling over to drop kids off to get candy - always put your hazards on. As well, if a car pulls over ahead of you, please try not to pass it. You never know when a child will come running out in front.

You Aren't Just Watching for Kids

If you thought the only thing you were watching for was children - think again. Many adults celebrate Halloween and the celebrations are likely to include alcohol. Check out these sobering facts from Julie Butcher Law about Halloween and intoxication:

• 54 people died in vehicle accidents on Halloween night in 2012 nationwide.
• Nearly half of the fatalities occurred in accidents involving drunk drivers. On an average day, a third of traffic fatalities are alcohol-related.
• 28% of Halloween crash fatalities were pedestrians, double the rate on an average day.
• From 2008 to 2012, 21% of pedestrian fatalities on Halloween night involved a drunk driver.

If you will be celebrating the night with alcohol, please drink responsibly and call a cab or find a designated driver who can get you home safely. 

Happy Halloween from Bledsoe's Towing!

We hope that you all have a wonderful holiday filled with fun games, great costumes, and obviously - LOTS of candy! Should you find that you ended up with more of a "trick" instead of "treat", and your car is malfunctioning, we can help. From tires and oil changes to windshield replacement and towing or accident recovery, our car mechanics at the Lake of the Ozarks want to serve you. Have a safe night, and if you find yourself in a ditch, call the best towing company at the Lake of the Ozarks!

Serving the Lake of the Ozark with all towing at automotive 

needs - big or small!

www.BledsoesTowing.com

322 South Business Route 5

Camdenton, Missouri 65020

Follow Us On Social Media!

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Google+

Questions to Ask Your Towing Company

When you call us or your roadside assistance program for a tow, we can wager that it's because you're stranded on the road and need help. While this is normally a situation where you don't have a lot of time to ask questions and just need results, there are a few things you want to know about before getting your tow. At Bledsoe's Towing, we provide expert towing services at the Lake of the Ozarks, and we look forward to responding to your call. Here are a few questions you should ask your towing company when you give them a call, or even beforehand to solidify a relationship before the emergency!

What are your hours?

This can be an extremely important question when you're looking for a towing company that has your best interest at heart. While some companies may only respond to your call at certain hours of the day, Bledsoe's Towing will respond to your call about towing at the Lake of the Ozarks twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. We're available when you're in need.

What is your response time?

While this can vary depending on the situation and what all is going on, our primary goal is to get to you as soon as we can so that you aren't stuck for longer than necessary. If you call your roadside assistance, you are dependent on their response time as well as ours, so you have to wait a little longer in some cases. When you call us directly, we send an employee out at the shortest possible moment to respond to your call

Do you accept my insurance?

You always want to ask your towing company if they accept your insurance. In many cases, it works out in your favor, especially when you get a hold of us through your roadside assistance program. If this is something that worries you, please, give us a call before you ever have an emergency. It's always a good idea to know who you'll call when you're in a hurry for an answer. Call us and figure out if we can accept your insurance, learn about our process, how to pay us, and what areas we respond to, and then program our number into your phone so you can call us quickly if anything happens.

What does your quote include?

This is a great question to ask your towing company because sometimes it's helpful to know if they can repair a tire while they're out, or give you a ride somewhere since your vehicle is being towed to the shop. 

Best Automotive Compay at the Lake of the Ozarks

The best part about hiring Bledsoe's Towing and Automotive for your towing needs is that we can also get your car back on the road with our expert vehicle maintenance services at the Lake of the Ozarks. Does your car just need basic tuning up? We can help with that too! Bring your vehicle out to our shop. We're conveniently located off the square in Camdenton and we would be glad to take a look and have your car running as good as new!

Serving the Lake of the Ozark with all towing at automotive 

needs - big or small!

www.BledsoesTowing.com

322 South Business Route 5

Camdenton, Missouri 65020

Follow Us On Social Media!

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Google+

Common Car Maintenance You May Forget About

If you've ever looked under the hood of your car, you know that there are many details, and most are pretty complicated. All of those details need a fair amount of maintenance in order to continue working, thankfully, at Bledsoe's Towing, we can help you stay on top of all maintenance that your car needs in order to continue working properly. Here are a few maintenance procedures that should be done on a regular basis that you may have forgotten about.

Oil Change

If you forget about this important detail, you could find your vehicle in worse shape than you expected. A survey by Car Care actually found that 25% of vehicles actually have issues with their engine oil. What would your car do without oil? It would be like you running around without blood. The car oil coats the metal and keeps it from pressing too hard against each other.

Air Filter

Did you know that your car had an air filter? This little - but important piece - plays a huge role in your vehicle, and when it's dirty, it won't run to it's fullest potential. The same survey by Car Care actually found that 18% of vehicles on the road had problems with their air filter. It's important to bring this into the best car maintenance shop at the Lake of the Ozarks to get it taken care of.

Brake Fluid

This is important, for pretty obvious reasons! 13% of cars on the road had issues with their brake fluid, and we think that it's too high. Your brakes are part of what keeps you out of the ditch, and it's vitally important that you stay on the road where you belong.

Coolant Levels

Don't be one of the 17% of cars with low coolant levels. Engine coolant protects the aluminum engine parts, keeps the engine from overheating, and also keeps it from freezing. You don't just need enough coolant (also known as antifreeze) in the summer, it's just as vitally important in the winter.

Wiper Fluid

You only realize that you don't have it when you need it. This can go unnoticed because you only use your wiper fluid when your windshield is dirty. 16% of cars don't have the appropriate amount of fluid, and this can impact your visual abilities, which can affect the safety of you and your passengers.

Belts

There are many vehicles that need their belts changed after so many miles have been put on the engine. When these belts aren't changed enough, they don't just break, and you go on. They can actually cause serious problems, that can cost a lot of money to repair. Are you one of the 17% that needs new belts? Don't be in the category. Come out to Bledsoe's Towing to get your car belt changed at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Vehicle Service at the Lake of the Ozarks

Don't be one of the 84% of vehicles on the road that need service or repair! That number is way higher than we'd like to see it, which is why we make it our priority to care for your vehicle with expert care. Come visit our shop, give us a call or drop in, and we'd be glad to get your car looked at, and even answer your questions. Sometimes it's as simple as tightening your gas cap, other times, it needs full repair - and we can take care of this.

Serving the Lake of the Ozark with all towing at automotive 

needs - big or small!

www.BledsoesTowing.com

322 South Business Route 5

Camdenton, Missouri 65020

Follow Us On Social Media!

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Google+

What Should You Do In Case Of A Car Accident?

The unthinkable has happened, you were driving down the road and suddenly, something unexpected happened and now you are in the ditch. After you've assessed the situation, it's time to start acting. Was there anyone else involved? Is your car capable of running? All of these are important questions to ask yourself. At Bledsoe's Towing, we take your safety seriously and we want to make sure that no matter what, you and your family are safe.

We provide 24 hour towing at the Lake of the Ozarks, and we'll be on the way to rescue you shortly. Before we get there, here are a few things you should do to make sure that you are covered and taken care of.

Assess the Situation

First, you want to make sure that no one has been injured. If everyone is okay, you'll want to make sure before ever stepping out of your vehicle that you have not hit any power lines. If you have, you'll want to stay in your vehicle to limit your risk of electrocution. If you smell smoke, though, this will change how you handle yourself, and you'll want to get out safely, but with certain precautions. If this is the case, you should jump away from the vehicle without touching it, and land with both feet together. Then hop as far away as possible keeping both feet together - but this is only in worst case scenarios.

Set Up Alerts

If you vehicle still works, you'll want to put your emergency blinkers on. If your vehicle is incapable of starting, you should put reflective cones around your vehicle to warn other drivers that you are having trouble so they can be careful around you. If you don't have any reflective cones in your vehicle, now is the time to get them so you'll be prepared.

Call the Police

When you are involved in an accident, you always want to call the police - especially if there is another vehicle involved. By calling the police you are protecting yourself and your car because they can file a police report which can be used when you file a claim. This is even more important if there is someone else involved because it will verify who was really at fault in the accident.

Call Your Lake of the Ozarks Tow Company

Bledsoe's Towing is open 24 hours a day, so no matter what time you find yourself in a sticky situation, we are ready to come to your rescue. While you want to call us quickly so we can be on the way, please call the police first. We will ask you several questions regarding the type of vehicle you have and the condition of the vehicle like whether it starts or not.

Keeping You Safe One Vehicle At a Time

From rescuing you on the highway with our towing services to helping keep you out of the ditch by keeping your car in working order, Bledsoe's Towing is here to help. We have the best vehicle maintenance at the lake of the Ozarks, and we would be honored to not only answer your car questions but fix them too. Visit our website to learn more about our services, or give us a call to get the answers you need.

Serving the Lake of the Ozark with all towing at automotive 

needs - big or small!

www.BledsoesTowing.com

322 South Business Route 5

Camdenton, Missouri 65020

Follow Us On Social Media!

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Google+

7 Steps to Detailing Your Own Car

If we looked at your car, would we tell that it's been a long fun summer of activities, road trips, vacations and sports games for the kids? Now that it's time to get back into the school spirit, maybe you will want to give your wagon a good washing. At Bledsoe's Towing, we believe in helping you take care of your car from the inside out, and while it could include getting a tire rotation at the Lake of the Ozarks, it also means grabbing the cleaning products and showing your car some love. Here are some great hacks to help you get your car squeaky clean.

Dusting

This will be the first step to getting your car clean, because as the dust falls to the ground, you can vacuum it up. You can use a cheap foam paintbrush to dust those hard to reach places on your AC vents, and you can follow the brush with the vacuum hose to catch all of the dust!

Toss the Trash

Make your way through your car either with two trash bags or baskets. One is for actual trash, while the other is for items that don't belong in your car anymore. Extra pens, business cards, cups, water bottles, Tupperware containers, sometimes even a whole wardrobe! You never know what can get lost in such a small area like your car, but they do, so start by clearing away all of these items, as well as the trash that accumulates as well. Don't forget to take the rugs out too, you wouldn't believe what could sneak its way under those!

Wipe the Spills

You can use soapy pail of water and a rag or a magic eraser to get in and clean those spills and messy things from your vinyl and leather seats. You can also use your rag to start wiping down the dash, doors, steering wheel, and more. If you find that dirt has embedded itself into the textures of your vinyl you can use an old toothbrush to get in those small spaces. Just be sure that whatever you use to clean, it's not too abrasive and you don't scrub too hard.

Rescue Those Rugs

If you have unsightly slushy stains and cracker crumbs ground into your rugs, we can help you rescue them and have them looking as good as new! You can spray your dirty floor mats with a stain remover and then throw them in the washing machine, or you can just scrub them really good with an upholstery cleaner. If you have something random ground into them like wax from a crayon that sat in the car on a 100° day and then melted into a puddle, you can fix that easily! Use a paper towel and an iron to remove melted wax, or you can wait for an equally hot day and just keep dabbing it with new paper towels to clean it.

Scrub the Seats

Do you have dog hair embedded in your seats? You can try a vacuum first to get it off, and if that doesn't work, you can spray the seat with water and then squeegee it to make piles of hair and then vacuum those off. If you have dirt and crumbs in the fine seams of the seat cushions, you can use a fine-bristled brush to get them out. If you want to give your leather seats extra special treatment, use olive oil to polish the leather and even your dashboard!

The Smell of Clean

Now that you've cleaned the inside of your car from top to bottom, get an air freshener in there and sit to enjoy the freshness. If you want to make a homemade freshener, you can make one from a dryer sheet and some scent beads from your favorite laundry soap company. Put the beads on the dryer sheet and tie it up with a twist tie! Throw these puppies under the seats of your car and you'll have it smelling fresh in no time. If your car still has a strange odor that you can't place, your cab's air filter may need to be replaced. Bring it out to the best car mechanics at the Lake of the Ozarks and we'll get it taken care of!

Best Mechanic at the Lake of the Ozarks

While you worry about the inside of your car, let us take care of the outside stuff, like your tires, engine and more. From flat tires to hearing strange sounds in your vehicle, we can help with all of those and more. Bring your car to the best auto care company at the Lake of the Ozarks and we'll help you keep your newly cleaned car on the road for longer.

Serving the Lake of the Ozark with all towing at automotive 

needs - big or small!

www.BledsoesTowing.com

322 South Business Route 5

Camdenton, Missouri 65020

Follow Us On Social Media!

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Google+

Services at Bledsoe's Towing & Automotive

When you're in an automotive bind, the last thing you want to have to do is try to track down the best mechanic at the Lake of the Ozarks. We've made this easy for you! At Bledsoe's Towing, we perform many different services, from minor maintenance to 24-hour towing at the Lake of the Ozarks. All you have to do is program our number into your phone and you can have access to us at a minutes notice. If you need our professional automotive services at the Lake of the Ozarks, here are a few of the ways we can help you.

Our Automotive Maintenance Services

Tires

Do you need new tires on your vehicle before the winter sets in? We can get you a great price on tires that will keep you safe through the seasons. Give us a call to see what we have in stock, and if we don't carry your specific tire, we may be able to order it.

Tires Balanced and Rotated

Did you know that this is an important part of caring for your vehicle? When your tires aren't balanced and rotated, they tend to wear unevenly, which can cause your tires to not last as long.

Oil Changes

Oil changes may be one of the most common routine maintenance services that you'll need to be performed. Just make sure that you are getting them done regularly. If your oil gets dirty or low it can cause more issues than just getting it changed. 

Transmission Fluid Service

Your transmission makes sure that the right amount of power goes to your wheels so you can drive at any given speed. Without transmission fluid, you may find yourself in an unexpected bind. Let us replace the fluid in your transmission, and make sure everything is working properly.

Belts and Hoses

Your car has a large variety of belts and hoses, as they start to get older there will be wear and tear, and they will need to be replaced. We can help with this!

Brake Rotors/Drums and Pads

The pieces that all work together to make sure that you stop at a safe speed are a very valuable piece of your vehicle. If you notice any strange sounds when you are using your brakes, bring your car out to our mechanic shop at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Front End Alignments

This refers to the way your vehicle connects to your wheels - and this is very important. If you have doubts that the alignment is working properly, we can help.

Fuel and Air Filters

The filters on your car keep substances passing through and they catch debris that doesn't need to be there. Your filters need to be changed regularly, and you can give us a call or check your owner's manual to learn when is appropriate.

Muffler and Exhaust Systems

Your exhaust system will basically carry burnt gasses away from your engine and remove them from the vehicle's engine. It's important that this is all working smoothly to keep your vehicle running properly.

Vehicle Inspections

Every vehicle needs to have appropriate tags and licensing in the state of Missouri, and part of getting your tags includes getting an inspection. Bring your vehicle out to us to get it inspected, and if you need maintenance first, we can help with that too!

Windshield Replacement

Eventually, it happens to everyone - a rock hits your windshield and you have to get it replaced. Give us a call to learn about pricing.

Towing/Accident Recovery

If you find yourself in need of a tow, give us a call! We provide 24-hour towing at the Lake of the Ozarks and would love to come rescue you.

Fuel Sales: Regular unleaded, premium unleaded, diesel, off-road diesel, kerosene

Full-Service Automotive at the Lake of the Ozarks

At Bledsoe's Towing, we want to keep you and your family on the road longer, and safer! From small upgrades to major mechanic needs, we can help you with it all. Give us a call to get your price quote, or visit our website to learn more.

Serving the Lake of the Ozark with all towing & automotive 

needs - big or small!

www.BledsoesTowing.com

322 South Business Route 5

Camdenton, Missouri 65020

Follow Us On Social Media!

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Google+

Tips for Driving Safely In the Dark

While driving can always come with a certain amount of risk, the risks are increased at night. Did you know that the accident death rate is three times more likely after sundown? While you can't exactly get out of driving places when it gets dark, there are a few things that you should remember to help keep you and everyone on the road safe when you head out later in the day. Let the best automotive repair company at the Lake of the Ozarks show you a few tips and statistics about night driving.

Night Driving Dangers

Did your grandparents ever tell you that nothing good happens after 10 PM? Well, on the road that is the case in many situations. While it's mostly just related to vision problems, there are other dangers to be aware of. 32% of crashes at night involve at least one driver who has consumed alcohol. It is not safe to drink and drive, so if you'll be enjoying a night out on the town, be sure to have a designated driver prearranged, or find other means of transportation.

In many cases, night driving is only dangerous because the lighting is low and vision problems become more prevalent. In fact, 90% of driver's reaction times are affected by the influence the light has on their vision. Night driving can affect your depth perception, color recognition, and even your peripheral vision.

Drowsy driving is also a hazard of driving at night. It dulls your concentration and slows your reaction time to anything that can happen. If you feel the slightest bit drowsy while you're driving, it's best to find a place to pull over and rest up or switch drivers. While Bledsoe's Towing is the best tow company at the Lake of the Ozarks, we would rather not see you put in harm's way from sleeping at the wheel.

• Night Driving Tips to Keep You Safe
• Keep your headlights, taillights, signal lights, and windows clean for easy visibility.
• Make sure your headlights are aimed properly.
• Reduce speed and increase your following distances at night.
• Don't use your high beams when following or approaching another vehicle.
• If you're blinded by oncoming traffic, use the edge of the road as a visual guide.
• Keep your eyes moving rather than focusing on one area.
• Always watch for deer, turkey, possums, racoons and more.
• Watch for the flash of headlights, other drivers could be signaling you to troubles ahead.

24 Hour Towing at the Lake of the Ozarks

At Bledsoe's Towing, our primary goal is to make sure that you and your family stay safe while on the road. Whether that's during the day or night, in normal driving conditions or hazardous ones. Should you ever find yourself in a bind while on the road or have troubles with your vehicle even in the driveway, we'd love to help you out!

Serving the Lake of the Ozark with all towing & automotive 

needs - big or small!

www.BledsoesTowing.com

322 South Business Route 5

Camdenton, Missouri 65020

Follow Us On Social Media!

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Google+