Roadside Assistance Program

The riskiest time for car crashes are between midnight and six o’clock in the morning.  This is because there are the fewest drivers at this time of day, yet more accidents.  If you need to drive during these hours it is important to consider some important factors.  Safe driving at night calls for preparation, alertness, as well as common sense.  Here are some tips.

First of all, ensure that your headlights are aimed properly.  You should consult your service manual to determine the proper procedure.

Next, don’t focus on the headlights of oncoming cars.  This can blind you for five seconds until your eyes are able to adjust.

Don’t drive if you are feeling sleepy, instead pull off of the road and get some sleep.  Don’t substitute caffeine, loud music, or putting down the windows for sleep.  These tactics are unreliable and may result in an accident.

Finally, don’t allow yourself to stare at the centerline because it can cause “highway hypnosis,” in which your reaction time is impaired, instead, keep looking around and moving your eyes.

Follow these simple tips to keep yourself safe when driving at night.  Just like you protect yourself with an auto warranty and roadside assistance, you should protect yourself with safe driving habits.

Choosing a roadside assistance program that is right for you can be challenging.  Drivers should do their homework and find a company that they feel is reliable and trustworthy.  In addition, motorists should know what services they are paying for.

Recently, a Toyota customer purchased an extended warranty that has free roadside assistance with it.  This is supposed to give drivers help in the event of a breakdown or if they run out of gas.  Unfortunately, this customer ran out of gas on a freeway in Cleveland, but didn’t experience the emergency auto assistance desired.  The rescue driver didn’t even bring the gas initially, he had to run out and get it.  Then, he only put one gallon of gas in the car, when you are entitled to 3 gallons.  The one gallon wouldn’t even start the car, and when asked if he would go get more gas, the driver said, “No. They don’t pay me enough for that.”  Then the driver drove off!

This is a prime example of why people need to feel good about their emergency roadside assistance service company.  Make sure you know what services you are entitled to, and search the Internet for blogs about various companies.  You can learn a lot by customer comments.

Forbes has assessed all of the cars out there to conclude that the Honda Accord is the best used car.  In addition, this means that the Accord is the best certified pre-owned car on the market.

According to Forbes, there are many certified pre-owned vehicles, however, the Honda Accord deserves to be acknowledged because of several outstanding qualities.  In order to come to a decision, Forbes looked at data on reliability from Consumer Reports Magazine.  In addition, they considered safety, as well as the availability of used car warranties.

Coming in second and third on the list were the Saturn Relay and Jeep Grand Cherokee.  Then, came the Pontiac G6, Mercedes Benz E-class and the VW new Beetle.

Certified pre-owned vehicles go through rigorous testing to make sure they are in sound condition.  Then, auto dealers refurbish them if needed, and give them a limited auto warranty and roadside assistance.  This has become a booming practice, and consumers are reaping the benefits.

Some people think of used cars as being dirty, junky and old.  But a different market is making savvy buyers who are looking for updated vehicles pay attention.  The bonus is that these cars don’t have the sticker price of new cars.

Certified pre-owned cars have undergone rigid inspections and been refurbished by their manufacturer.  Also enticing is that they are backed with an extended auto warranty.  Automakers are realizing that they can’t ignore the certified vehicle market.

A recent study shows that certified pre-owned car sales have gone up 46% since the year 2000.  It is estimated that 1.5 million certified used vehicles are sold yearly, which is equivalent to approximately 10 % of the sales of new cars.

So what are the best and worst certified pre-owned cars to purchase?  Forbes.com has put out a list to help consumers make a good purchase.

At the top of the list of the best CPO cars are Honda Accord and Toyota 4Runner.  Following is the Acura TL, and Subaru Impreza.  Also, the Lexus GS tops the list.

Cars on the worst list are the Saturn Relay, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.  Also, the Volkswagen New Beetle, Pontiac G6, and Mercedes Benz E Class make the list.

Certified pre-owned can be a great way to purchase an updated vehicle without the updated cost.  Another perk is that they come with an extended auto warranty.  Just remember to keep in mind the best and worst CPO car lists when considering a purchase and sign up for roadside assistance.

After the presentation of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 there is a version of the luxury sedan 7 Series that is a hybrid.  This vehicle will go on sale in 2010 in the spring complete with a good auto warranty and roadside assistance.  Although the X6 has a full hybrid setup, there will only be a mild hybrid system in the ActiveHybrid 7.  Of course, that means the gains in efficiency will not be as great, however BMW says that there will be a gain in fuel economy of at least 15%. The 750i currently gets about 17 mg, so the hybrid version should up that to about 19 or 20 mpg.

Also, an auto start-stop feature will be added, which will shut off the engine during standing stops.  BMW will offer a version that is standard, as well as a model of the ActiveHybrid 7 with a long-wheelbase.  In addition, there will be wheels that are specially designed to add some efficiency.

Of course people who are buying the 750i most likely aren’t worried about how efficient the ActiveHybrid is because its starting MSRP is $80,300.  The ActiveHybrid X6 is going to be the single most powerful hybrid out there and is designed to please driving enthusiasts, however the 7 doesn’t present the same package.  Of course, BMW claims that it will have 455 hp with 516 pounds per feet of torque, however no one is thrashing the 7 Series with regularity.  It is likely that the ActiveHybrid 7’s price will be at the top of the lineup and will end up being mostly a status symbol.

Although General Motors has been busy planning a lineup of electric cars and subcompacts, it doesn’t mean that they have forgotten how to have a little fun.

The 2010 Camaro is based on the 2007 model.  It has a design that is modern, but has an influence of the Camaros in the late Sixties.  Chevrolet is trying to use the retro influence that has made the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger successful.

The new Camaro isn’t exactly an economy car.  It is offered in a 3.6-liter V-6 with 296 hp, or a 6.2-liter V-8 with 416 hp.  However, the V-8 has the ability to make itself a four-cylinder while cruising on the highway.  According to Chevrolet, the car can get more than 30 mpg in this mode.

Although consumers are demanding small, fuel-efficient cars, and protecting themselves by purchasing new car warranties and roadside assistance, it doesn’t mean they don’t get excited about fun cars.  The Chevrolet Camaro is the prime example of this.

Many motorists neglect to put enough effort into shopping for car insurance.  Often, people just grab the first price they encounter or accept rate increases that are routine without shopping around the market for the best deal.  Consumers need to compare the coverage in addition to the price of the policy.  It’s disappointing when you file a claim and then realize that your policy doesn’t have a specific type of coverage that you need.

According to studies by Progressive Insurance, six-month rates for auto insurance vary a great deal depending on the company, with the average low being $481 and the average high being $586 across the nation.  What this means is that a driver could be quoted $1,256 for an insurance policy from one company, and $775 from another, both with identical policies.  Another study by Progressive showed that just 20% of respondents had shopped for better insurance prices in the last six months.

Motorists often make the mistake of not spending enough time on their car issues.  This includes shopping around for auto insurance, roadside assistance, an auto warranty, and maintenance.  Just making a few extra phone calls can save consumers a lot of money in the end.

A new rating system for roof-strength has been launched by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and has conducted its first tests on small SUVs.  Unfortunately, only four out of the twelve vehicles tested managed to get a Good rating, which is the top rating.

The SUVs that scored the Good rating were the Honda Element, Subaru Forester, Volkswagen Tiguan and the Jeep Patriot.  SUVs that scored Acceptable were the Chevrolet Equinox, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, and Mitsubishi Outlander.  Ranking Marginal, were the Ford Escape, and Honda CR-V, while the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage were the only vehicles to rate Poor.

This new standard for roof-strength is intended to combat rollover deaths, which account for about a quarter of all deaths having to do with traffic.  For vehicles to be an IIHS Top Safety Pick, they have to now withstand four times their own weight before the car’s roof will collapse 5 inches.  The IIHS’s strength to weight ratio is a much higher standard than the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s, which says that roofs should bear 2.5 times the car’s weight.

Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with vehicle safety, which is why more people are purchasing roadside assistance and an auto warranty.  With used car warranties, people can rest-assured that they won’t be paying unnecessary repair costs.

Many commuters find themselves experiencing a break down at one point or another.  These are breakdowns that happen between 7-9 am and leave people stranded on the side of the road.  A roadside assistance program is the best way for commuters to protect themselves in this event.

Breakdowns are scary because they leave drivers feeling vulnerable and expose them to road dangers.  For instance, a recent survey showed that out of drivers who had experienced a breakdown in the past two years, 15% were with their children in the vehicle, 20% felt they were in a situation in which they shouldn’t leave their car, and 5% had an elderly person in the car.  In addition, 30% of women drivers were stressed about how to get out of the situation.

Also revealed in the survey was that there are five places people typically breakdown.  First of all, people breakdown at their homes before ever getting out of the driveway.  Next, people have vehicle problems going to work, and on their way to visit friends and family.  Fourth, people breakdown while shopping, and lastly, people get stuck at work.

An auto road service program will help you feel at ease in the event of a breakdown.  You can rest assured that road service is on the way, and that you will be back on the road in no time.

Many companies have offered ride-sharing sites on the Internet that help fill seats in people’s cars and conserve gas use and greenhouse gasses, however, Avego.com has the big advantage of being affiliated with iPhone.

This downloadable application lets motorists create a social network of vehicles and passengers who are traveling in the same direction.  In this way, its goal is to cut back on the safety concerns and anonymity of ride sharing.  Rather than riding in a car with a complete stranger, this program tries to put people together and acquaint them in a more reliable way.

In addition, the program’s goal is to have an established network so that Avego users determine points for pickup and drop-off.  Yet, while the idea is certainly intriguing, it will need to be demonstrated in the real world before it will be determined if it is more successful than any other ride-sharing networks online.

Just keep in mind, it always feels safer to be in a car with passengers, but you still need a good roadside assistance program in case of breakdowns.  After all, you don’t want to be stranded on the side of the road, no matter how many people are there to help.