Road Service

Most motorists have experienced the drowsy driving syndrome. Either you’ve been the driver yourself or you’ve been in the passenger seat. Many wrecks and road service calls can be avoided if drivers aren’t drowsy. Here are some signs to look for in a drowsy driver.

If the driver is weaving drowsiness may be setting in. The driver doesn’t perform as many steering corrections, which means that the ones made are more severe and jerky.

Often drivers become very quiet or rely on conversation to stay awake. Conversation often doesn’t make a lot of sense.

If the driver passes over rumble strips they need to pull over and take a rest. This could mean that they actually fell asleep for a second, or that they are so tired that they can’t stay on the road.

The neck jerk is always a tell tale sign. This is when the driver falls asleep for a moment and then their neck jerks and they wake up.

Never get on the road drowsy, and never get in a car with a drowsy driver. There have been many calls for emergency roadside assistance due to drowsy drivers.

This is the fourth year in a row that the Toyota Prius has ranked as the top vehicle for owner satisfaction. In fact, 92% of Prius car owners claimed that they would buy or lease this car again. Following closely behind the Prius is the BMW 335i coupe convertible and the Porsche Boxster. These cars had scores of 91 and 90.

Ranking the lowest of all was the minivans by GM. These are the Chevrolet Uplander, Buick Terraza, and Saturn Relay, with a score of 34.

These scores are based on a question asked to Consumer Reports subscribers. They answered the question, “Considering all factors (price, performance, reliability, comfort, enjoyment, etc.), would you get this car if you had it to do all over again?”

The survey by Consumer Reports received responses about over 414,000 cars, which allowed scoring for over 300 car models. This survey is important to consider when purchasing a vehicle. Listening to this information could save you from having to call for road service.

Teenage drivers add a significant amount of cost to a family’s auto insurance.  This is because insurance is based on the likelihood of a driver getting into a car crash.  According to statistics, young drivers who are inexperienced account for a large amount of auto accidents. This is why a road service program is essential for them. So, what can parents do to eliminate some of the cost?  Here are some tips.

First of all, make an effort to qualify for as many discounts as you can.  You might be able to classify your teenager as a driver who is “occasional”, instead of a primary one.

Next, ensure that your teen has taken a driver’s education class.  This can qualify them for an insurance discount.  Also, having them take a defensive driving class might reduce premiums.

Avoid buying a high performance, sporty car that your teen might get into trouble with.  Insurers frown upon these vehicles.

Finally, if your adolescent goes away for college without taking the car, it is likely that you can drop them from your insurance policy.

These simple tips will save you money on insurance and save your teen from calling for emergency roadside assistance.  It is a win, win situation for everyone.

Many motorists have been in the situation where an object hits their windshield and a big crack shows up.  Your windshield might even end up bad enough that you have to call your road service program.  However, when do you know if it necessary to replace the windshield or if the crack can just be fixed?

Windshield repair or replacement depends on the location, size and severity of damage.  Windshield shops can usually repair chips the size of a quarter, as well as cracks reaching three inches.  For bigger damage it is recommended that you replace your windshield.

The location of the damage is also a big factor in whether you can keep your windshield.  When a crack is at the edge of your windshield it can affect the structure of the glass.  In this case it is usually best to replace your windshield.

Many facilities won’t repair a chip if it’s in the direct line of the driver’s vision.  The repair process may result in minor glass distortions, which are unsafe for the driver. After all, you don’t want to end up calling for emergency roadside assistance.

Keep in mind, whatever the location or size of the glass damage, it is necessary to have it looked at right away.  Waiting can result in dirt getting in the damaged area, which can affect the repair job.

Today drivers encounter many distractions. People are talking on cell phones, playing with gadgets on their dashboard, tuning the radio, etc. This can lead to many auto road service calls. If you see a car in front of you slowing down and speeding up randomly, chances are the driver is distracted. What to do? Drive defensively.

According to the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, driving is a full-time job. They found that 94% of motorists admitted to engaging in distracting activities, such as tending to their children, tuning the radio, and eating. They also found that 39% of the activities were distracting were while drivers were working. Also alarming is that between 25-50 percent of accidents occur because of driver distractions.

Automakers are adding more and more gadgets and entertainment systems to new vehicles, which means that people are going to get even more distracted driving. People will be looking at navigation systems, MP3 players and DVDs, leading to more accidents. The best thing that drivers can do to protect themselves against distracted motorists is steer clear from them if possible. In addition, have a road service program just in case of an accident. You don’t want to end up stranded on the side of the road somewhere because of someone else’s mistakes.

Although cars of today don’t require maintenance as regularly as the cars of the past, they still need a maintenance schedule.  This will ensure that your car has a long, healthy life span.  Consulting your owner’s manual for the service schedule that your car requires can save you from having to call your road service program.  Here are a few maintenance mistakes that you should avoid.

Many people fail to check their tire pressure.  Underinflated tires can cost you more at the gas pump and wear out sooner.  You should check your tires twice a year.

As simple as it may seem, motorists forget to replace their windshield wipers.  This should be done once a year to ensure that you have good visibility through your windshield.

Recent cars don’t need regular tune-ups.  This is because valves don’t need adjusting and there aren’t any carburetors to mess with.  Make sure to do your big car service at 60,000 and 120,000 to replace spark plugs, timing belts, and coolants.

Finally, change your oil according to your car’s owner’s manual.  They don’t have to be done every 3,000 miles like in days past.  Also, use the oil recommended for your car.

Regular maintenance is necessary for your car to keep you from calling for emergency roadside assistance.  However, don’t make maintenance mistakes that could cost you extra money.

It’s the moment that every motorists dreads, a flat tire.  You don’t know if you ran over glass or hit a nail, but you need to take action.  You may need to call for road service, and then you have to have the tire fixed or do it yourself.  Surprisingly, it isn’t that hard to repair a tire yourself, and you can save the extra expense of having a repair shop do it.  Here’s how.

First, it is necessary to determine the location of the puncture.  You can do this by submerging the tire in water and watching where the bubbles come from.  Before you can patch the tire you must remove any foreign objects stuck in the tire.  You can pull out the object out with pliers.  Be sure to pull out the object in the direction of the tread so you don’t do additional damage to the tire.

Now, use a tire reamer and clean out the hole from the inside of the tire.  Center the patch over the puncture to ensure proper sizing.  Take off the patch and coat an awl using cement.  You should run the awl in the hole a few times to make sure the damaged area is coated adequately.  Then, put a coat of vulcanizing cement directly on the patch and tire and let it dry.

Next, apply a layer of cement on the stem of the patch and then pull the stem through.  When the patch stem is all the way through the hole, cut it off.

Now, you are ready to get back out on the road.  With a little diligence you can do a quick tire fix and save yourself a trip to the repair shop.

Is it time for you to replace your vehicle? Are you fed up with having to call for road service? If so, you might want to consider purchasing a used car. Many people are turning to used vehicles to save money, and they’re onto something. According to a survey conducted by the Consumer Reports Nat’l Research Center, there are hundreds of pre-owned vehicles that offer great reliability. Also, they can offer safety, affordability, and fuel-efficiency.

One reason that used cars are such a great value is because you avoid the depreciation that comes with buying a new vehicle. For example, you can find a Lexus RX SUV that is seven years old for approximately $13,000, when it costs $40,000 new. Also, new drivers don’t have to buy a small vehicle, such as a Toyota Yaris, when a roomier, nicer used car, such as a Nissan Altima or Honda Accord is in the same price range.

Consumers should do their homework before buying a used car. People can minimize risks by purchasing cars that have reputations for reliability. This will help you avoid having to call for emergency roadside assistance.

Most Japanese brand automobiles are known for their reliability.  Out of 33 models in a reliability list, Japanese manufacturers made 22 of them.  According to a recent survey, it is predicted that all Honda and Subaru vehicles will have at least average reliability this year.

Also in this year’s forecast, domestic car models are continuing to improve.  Ford is leading the way, and European cars are following suit.

The stellar reliability that Toyota was experiencing has slipped slightly.  The 2007 Toyota V6 Camry, and the 2007 Toyota Tundra V8 are below average in reliability.  Also below average is the Lexus GS.  These three models are no longer recommended due to their reliability ratings.

It is important for consumers to do their homework and purchase vehicles that have a good reliability rating.  There is nothing worse than being stuck on the side of the road with a broken down vehicle.  However, drivers should always make sure they have a road service program in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Many parents struggle with the decision of whether to purchase their teenager a vehicle.  Often, parents can afford a new vehicle, but they are concerned with indulging their children in this way.  So what is the answer?

If parents spend too little on a vehicle, their teenager may wind up with a junker that is unreliable.  Also, their teen might end up working too hard on supporting the vehicle, instead of worrying about their studies.

If parents spend too much, teens might acquire a sense of entitlement that is unhealthy.  Also, they may have a warped sense of how much things really cost.

Children who are just handed cars never really learn about the value of money.  In fact, children whose parents buy them luxury cars often end up totaling the car within a few months.  In this case, the only thing parents can do is make sure their child is covered with a road service program.

When it comes right down to it, if you’re going to give your child a car, you should make your child put some effort towards the car.  In other words, it is a good idea for children to have to put some of their own money towards the vehicle.