Let’s face it girls, even though you are yummy, you are also high maintenance. Admit it. And you should be proud of it. In fact, Canadian women are higher maintenance when it comes to their cars than their male counterparts. In a recent study of men and women’s car maintenance habits and breakdown histories, women fared far better. The findings are being released just as Canada gears up for
Car Safety Month this October.
In this study, conducted by
Car Care Canada, women experience less vehicle breakdowns than men. Imagine that? After all the smug pronouncements of his savvy for anything auto, he is falling short of you. Literally! In fact seven-in-10 men drivers surveyed had their vehicles break down on the side of the road, versus only six-in-10 women drivers. Perhaps you should think twice before taking any car-care advice from your man.
So why are women increasingly the “yummy queens-of-the-road” in terms of awareness and maintenance needs of our vehicles? How was this vaunted pillar of male authority relinquished so easily? Well, who said anything about easy? Whether you are a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM) a Working Mom or a Super Mom, you have worked hard to earn the title “high-maintenance.”
One Driving Diva I spoke with said it all. “Women take on the responsibilities of their personal car maintenance and often that of all household vehicles.” This was the sage advice of someone who should know. Tara DeBruin is her name – businesswoman, mother of three and owner of '
Ladies Choice Auto Care - Home of the Driving Divas'. Tara told me that women are generally the ones “running errands and taxiing their kids to sports games and activities.” Educating themselves on car maintenance and safety is the best way to avoid unwanted situations such as being stranded on the roadside with children.”
This October, Car Safety Month will recognize women of all stripes who go the distance to maintain their cars. Several events are planned for women include a “Heroes of the Road” Contest – five heroes will be chosen from participating maintenance shops.** Also, I will personally be involved in free
Car Care Clinics and Car Check Events in selected cities to address and assess safety.
Maintenance shops participating in the Be Car Care Aware program are invited to nominate female customers, acquaintances, family and friends that follow regular maintenance schedules.
Good maintenance habits such as checking oil and tire pressure regularly, topping up washer fluid and keeping wiper blades in good condition can earn women a nomination.
Well, what are you waiting for? Put down that coffee and go visit
www.carcarecanada.ca today to learn more about the Heroes of the Road Contest, Car Safety Month and the Be Car Care Aware program.
**Five heroes will be selected from across Canada and each will win a $150 spa gift certificate. Winners, as well as the shops that nominated them, will be profiled on the Be Car Care Aware website at as well as in the Spring 2009 Tune Up newsletter."