Emergency Auto Assistance

In the last few years drivers over 70 years old have managed to lower the number of fatal car crashes they were occupied in.  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that there has been a 21% decline in accidents that proved fatal for this age group.  This is a complete reversal of what seemed to be a trend moving steadily upward.

This occurred despite the fact that the amount of elderly people in the country is increasing by 10% in this time period.  Their significant decline in accidents that are fatal outpaced their younger counterparts, even though they added 2 million more drivers and greatly increased the number of miles they traveled.

IIHS suspected that the exact opposite would happen.  Past accidents and fatalities that elderly drivers were responsible for were growing, which made it necessary for there to be laws allowing elderly impairments to be monitored.

There have been several justifications have been given for this new trend, including elderly people keeping themselves more fit and cars that are being made safer.

Unfortunately, you never know when you will be involved in an accident, so it is important to protect yourself by purchasing cars that are rated high for safety and signing up for an emergency roadside assistance program.

Families consider the safety of their children a top priority.  Unfortunately, among children age’s 3-14, car accidents are the number one cause of death.  Parents need to take extra precautions in order to help their children stay safe.  They can do this by properly restraining children by using car seats correctly.

More than 1,500 children under the age of 14 were killed in car accidents in 2003.  In addition, 220,000 injuries occurred.  However, using a car seat effectively can reduce these incidents drastically.  In facts, studies show that deaths are reduced by approximately 70%.  Alarmingly, about 75% of car seats aren’t installed properly.  Also scary is that half of the deaths are children who aren’t restrained at all.

General Motors has recognized this problem by creating a program called Safe Kids Buckle Up.  This program helps parents understand how important it is to restrain children correctly.  The program has inspected over 900,000 car seats around the nation.

Parents need to take extra precautions to keep their children safe on the road.  To do this, parents should use car seats correctly, drive defensively, and have a good emergency roadside assistance program.  After all, children are precious cargo.

Two laws that have been in place since 1988 in all 50 states are receiving new acclaim for lessening fatalities due to drunken-driving.

A recent study in Accident Analysis and Prevention in July has recognized that the drinking age increase to age 21 has reduced the ratio of deaths due to drunken-driving by at least 11%.  Also, making fake ID possession illegal and suspending the person’s driver’s license has lessened fatalities by an additional 7%.

While in all 50 states it’s illegal for people to use a fake ID to buy alcohol, a driver’s-license sanction isn’t always the punishment.  This study suggests that if a law such as this were to be national and linked to highway funds, which are done with the designated drinking age being 21, deaths would decline even more.

Occasionally, there has been talk of making the legal drinking age 18, because soldiers have fought in the Iraq war, but can’t drink a beer.  However, according to the AAP study, making the drinking age 21 has reduced drunken driving deaths drastically.

According to the AAP study, making the drinking age 21 has been a crucial step in reducing accidents and emergency roadside assistance calls due to drunk drivers.  Also apparent is that national driver’s license sanctions would lower deaths even more.

According to a recent survey by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, many drivers believe they have super abilities to complete complex tasks behind the wheel.  And although it may seem monotonous to just drive a car, multi-tasking while driving increases the chance for having an accident drastically. In addition, many calls for road service are due to multi-tasking. So, what are drivers really doing behind the wheel?

Well, 32% of drivers surveyed admit to reading while driving.  The survey didn’t specify whether they are reading maps or autobiographies, but it doesn’t really matter.  Either way, these drivers are 3.4 times more likely to get in an accident.

And, although most of us detest seeing drivers eat behind the wheel, NETS says that 70% of the surveyed drivers do it.  These drivers have a two to three times greater chance of crashing because of their eating habits.

Another group of people are making work preparations behind the wheel.  In fact, 10% of motorists admitted to making phone calls, reviewing notes, using computers, and making lists, all while trying to navigate during rush hour.

Although driving may seem monotonous at times, motorists need to resist the temptation to multi-task behind the wheel.  These habits can result in accidents and calls for emergency roadside assistance.

Many drivers have experienced feeling drowsy behind the wheel.  Either you have been with someone else feeling sleepy, or you’ve been the one trying to stay awake.  Many car accidents and calls for road service are easily avoided by avoiding getting behind the wheel when you’re drowsy.  Here are some warning signs that a driver is too drowsy to be on the road.

First, weaving is a good indication of drowsiness.  Many times sleepy drivers don’t make as many steering corrections, which means the ones that are made are jerky and often severe.

A lot of times drowsy drivers rely on conversation to keep from falling asleep.  If you notice that conversation isn’t making much sense, it is time to get off of the road.

If a motorist drives over rumble strips they need to pull over and rest.  This often means that the driver actually fell asleep briefly, or that they can’t stay on the road because of fatigue.

The neck jerk is a tell tale sign of drowsiness.  This is when the motorist falls asleep and their neck jerk causes them to wake up.

As a rule, don’t get in the car with a sleepy driver, or behind the wheel.  Many emergency roadside assistance calls have been made due to sleepy drivers.

It is very important to maintain a correct tire pressure for the safety of your vehicle, especially when extreme weather can cause the air pressure in tires to decrease.

It is estimated that 650 people are killed and 32,000 are injured as a result of car crashes related to problems with tires.  However, a recent survey revealed that 84 percent of motorists don’t check the pressure of their tires.

Another issue is that poorly maintained tires can be dangerous, and even leave you on the side of the road. Although you can always call for emergency roadside assistance, there are a few safety tips that drivers should keep in mind to avoid this:

Make sure you don’t overload your tires because overheating can occur.  The result of this could be a blowout or a car accident.  Your owner’s manual will give you proper loading instructions.

Tires that are under inflated also pose a risk.  This occurs naturally and cold weather accelerates the process.  In fact, frigid temperatures can cause tires to lose up to two pounds of air in one month.  Under inflated tires are actually resistant to rolling.  It can feel like you are driving with the parking brake on.

Finally, don’t over inflate tires because it can cause the tread to wear in the center.

Checking your tire pressure regularly can save you from many problems with your vehicle.  Of course, you never know when you might get a flat, so just in case, make sure you have a road service program that can assist you in case of an emergency.

We’ve all been there.  You’re driving your vehicle when suddenly your check engine light comes on.  If you’re like the majority of motorists, you aren’t really sure what the light is telling you.  This could be the most misunderstood light on your dashboard because it can mean many different things.  If your check engine light comes on you don’t have to immediately pull over and call for road service, but there are several tips that you should follow.

First, you should check for serious problems that would require immediate attention.  Look at your gauges to see if there is overheating or low oil pressure.  If they are apparent you should pull over and shut off your engine.

Next, tighten your gas cap.  Many times this will solve your problem.  Know that it might take a few trips before your check engine light resets.

It might help to reduce your speed.  If your light is blinking or your car is performing poorly reducing your speed will help.  Have your car checked as soon as possible.

If your check engine light comes on, remember not to panic.  Just follow these simple tips to deal with the problem.  Make sure that you have an emergency roadside assistance program for situations such as this.  You don’t want to end up stranded on the side of the road.

Motorists traveling on their own fear that at some point they might have car problems.  This isn’t surprising since drivers are spending more and more time in their car.  People are driving long distances to and from work, and have more errands than ever, so it is inevitable that drivers will experience a breakdown at one point or another.  Male and female drivers alike are fearful of this occurrence.

According to a recent survey conducted by Britannia Rescue, approximately two-thirds of the male and female motorists who were interviewed are scared of being alone and breaking down.

The figures break down into ninety three percent of women and forty five percent of men.  The survey also revealed that people become more fearful of someone stopping to help.  In fact, seventy percent of women wouldn’t want a man to stop and offer assistance.

The one thing that motorists can do to avoid being fearful of a breakdown is have an emergency roadside assistance program that will assist them in case they get into trouble.  After all, it can be scary to have a random stranger stop and offer you help.

With the increase in gas prices around the nation, consumers are finding themselves wondering what fuel-efficient alternatives there are. In fact, more and more drivers are putting off getting to the gas pump and finding themselves stuck on the side of the road calling for emergency auto assistance. Gas-electric hybrids have received a large amount of attention recently, yet, diesel powered cars may be the answer.

Diesel cars have gained a lot of popularity around the world.  They account for approximately 50% of new cars in Europe; however, U.S. car shoppers have been slow to gain interest.

Even though fuel mileage levels can be around 40% higher with diesels than gas powered cars, diesels only account for 2% of the new cars in the U.S.

There is a whole new generation of diesels that are clean, quiet and much more powerful than in the past.  The Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec sedan will prove that this recent diesel technology can be luxurious in addition to giving you 37-mpg.

Diesels have come very far and are becoming a great option for drivers.  Also, there are becoming more and more models for consumers to choose from.  Of course, drivers should protect themselves with a good auto warranty to avoid unnecessary repair costs.

Two laws that have been in place since 1988 in all 50 states are receiving new acclaim for lessening fatalities due to drunken-driving.

A recent study in Accident Analysis and Prevention in July has recognized that the drinking age increase to age 21 has reduced the ratio of deaths due to drunken-driving by at least 11%.  Also, making fake ID possession illegal and suspending the person’s driver’s license has lessened fatalities by an additional 7%.

While in all 50 states it’s illegal for people to use a fake ID to buy alcohol, a driver’s-license sanction isn’t always the punishment.  This study suggests that if a law such as this were to be national and linked to highway funds, which are done with the designated drinking age being 21, deaths would decline even more.

Occasionally, there has been talk of making the legal drinking age 18, because soldiers have fought in the Iraq war, but can’t drink a beer.  However, according to the AAP study, making the drinking age 21 has reduced drunken driving deaths drastically.

According to the AAP study, making the drinking age 21 has been a crucial step in reducing accidents and emergency roadside assistance calls due to drunk drivers.  Also apparent is that national driver’s license sanctions would lower deaths even more.