Safety has no price at Pulaski Auto Skills

Don Breton, the U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern’s Pulaski Auto Skills manager, lives by his motto − “safety has no price.”

He put his motto into action in December when the garrison held the first-ever free winter safety car inspections, and now he’s doing it again with the Spring Safety Day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Pulaski Auto Skills.

***image1***Like the Winter Safety Day, Spring Safety Day will offer the community free car inspections. This time, it’s to prepare for vacations and road trips for the upcoming warmer months. Inspections like these in the states, said Mr. Breton, could cost about $80 to $100.

More than 150 drivers found out whether or not their vehicles were safe to drive and ready for the winter at the December inspections. Mr. Breton is counting on more than doubling these numbers this time around.

Ranging from checking windshield wipers to lifting vehicles up to check underneath for any safety concerns, inspections take about 20 to 30 minutes.

Once a safety problem was identified at the last inspections, patrons were not left without answers or avenues on how to get their cars fixed.

“We provided as much advice and assistance as possible, like where the best place is to get it fixed or Web sites to order parts,” said Mr. Breton. This assistance will also be given at the Spring Safety Day, said Mr. Breton, who said his staff has been making sure that generally-needed items such as windshield wipers, first aid kits and warning triangles are stocked and ready for retail.

Mr. Breton is anticipating this program to continue twice a year here to winterize vehicles and in the summer to prepare for vacations and road trips.

“I think it’s a great service for the community,” he said. “We take a hit on the profit margins, but again, safety has no price.”