Roadside Assistance Program

A recent study by Ford shows that its Sync entertainment system causes drivers to be less distracted than with other entertainment systems, according to the carmaker.

Ford claims that this assessment is due to the fact that voice commands are used with Sync, which causes drivers to look away from the road about two seconds during a commute, as opposed to around 25 seconds for a driver using a phone or standard MP3 player.

Ford studied 25 drivers by asking them to do simple tasks, such as dialing a number consisting of ten digits, finding a person in a digital phone book, text messaging and finding a certain song.  The researchers examined time with eyes off of the road, speed changes, swerving out of a lane, and differences in the amount of attentiveness while doing a task.

While, Ford’s report may be true, there is room to be skeptical.  After all, it has been reported that it is just as dangerous to talk on the phone hands-free, as it is to hold a cell phone while driving.  So, whether you’re using Sync or not, make sure to be careful not to end up off of the road somewhere calling for roadside assistance.

As the economy declines, more motorists are trying to save money by abandoning their car insurance.

According to the Insurance Research Council, the uninsured rate and the unemployment rate are directly correlated.  When unemployment increases 1%, uninsured drivers increase a half-percent.  As of November, unemployment was up 2% since last year.

In a study that is coming out next month, the council claims there have been several hundred thousand drivers that have let their insurance lapse, or dropped it in the last year.

What this means is that your odds of getting hit by a driver that is uninsured have gone up drastically, and usually people who are uninsured don’t have very many assets if you plan to sue for damages.

For people who have the funds, coverage for being hit by underinsured or uninsured drivers has become a necessary protection even though it raises your premium 7% to 9%.  And, you don’t want to let your insurance lapse because you will be charged a 25% to 50% surcharge for a new policy.  Also, drivers should protect themselves with a roadside assistance program.

An emergency on the road can occur at any time, whether you have an old or new car. Any number of problems could cause it, from a flat tire or breakdown, to running out of gas. There are several things you can do to prepare yourself for a situation such as this. First, you should sign up for a roadside assistance program. Also, you should have a basic emergency kit in order to increase your safety and help get you back on the road.

Even with a road service program, you need access to a phone in order to contact them. You could be on the side of the road waiting for a while, so it is essential to have a few items in a basic emergency kit.

Your emergency kit should first and foremost have a cell phone to call for emergency auto assistance. Also, you should have flares to warn other drivers that your car is broken down. A fire extinguisher will keep your vehicle from undergoing a great amount of damage should it catch on fire. In addition, you need foam tire sealant, a jack and a lug wrench in the event that you have tire punctures. Finally, jumper cables are a must in case of a dead battery

According to research, more commuters than ever are experiencing rush hour breakdowns.  These breakdowns occur between 7-9 am and are leaving employees and carpool moms stranded.  Motorists should have a roadside assistance program to protect themselves in this case.

Breakdowns leave drivers stranded and expose them to road dangers.  In a recent survey of motorists who have had a breakdown in the last two years, 15% had children in the car, 20% were in a situation that they felt wasn’t safe to leave their car, and 5% had a passenger who was elderly.  Also, 30% of the women surveyed felt stressed about finding help.

The survey also revealed that there are five main locations for vehicles to breakdown.  The first location is at home.  This means that drivers aren’t even getting out of their driveways.  The second and third locations are on the way to work, and when going to visit family and friends.  The fourth typical breakdown spot is at shops, and work comes in fifth.

To avoid dangerous breakdown situations, make sure you have a roadside assistance program.  Road service will keep you from waiting a long time.  Also, emergency roadside assistance will allow you to get back on the road faster.

Colorado has a new system that will help prevent road kill along one of the busiest highways in the state.  The system works by using an underground cable running parallel to the highway that is able to sense if an animal is around through an electromagnetic field.  If an animal trips the system, drivers are alerted through electronic road signs.

The system is going to be tested in Colorado on US-160, and radar detectors will be deployed to observe if motorists slow down after receiving the warning.  If it is obvious that the system is working it will most likely proliferate on roadways that have seen a large amount of collisions between cars and animals.

You may think this is a strange idea, or that it’s a waste of money.  And, people have even asked, “Why not just put up a fence?”  Well, if you’ve ever seen a deer jump a fence you would understand why that wouldn’t help the problem.

About seventy percent of collisions on Colorado’s highways involve animals.  With those high numbers something needs to be done about the problem.  The underground cable is a good start, but drivers need to drive more defensively.  In addition, all motorists should have a roadside assistance program in case of an emergency so they don’t end up stranded.

With modern vehicles, professional help is usually required for repairs. A roadside assistance program brings a great deal of reassurance in case of breakdowns. However, picking a road service program can be difficult. Here are some things to consider when trying choosing a program that works for you.

Price is a large factor to consider when shopping for roadside benefits. Yet, keep in mind that this shouldn’t be the only issue. Determine what aspect of the coverage you find most important, and then proceed with the search.

A lot of times you have the option to choose between auto road services that just help on the road, or those that will also assist you if your vehicle breaks down at home. It would be wise to purchase the latter. After all, you can’t choose where your car will breakdown.

Also, you should inquire if the coverage covers you, or the actual vehicle. The former is a good idea if you are going to drive more than just one car, and the latter is ideal if there are other family members that are going to drive the car. Also know that it is possible to get discounts for husband and wife policies.

It can be difficult to determine the roadside assistance program that is ideal for you. Just determine the kind of road service that will suit your needs, and find a company that can provide you with a lot of options.

There’s nothing more inconvenient than turning your ignition just to find that you have a dead battery. At that point the only thing you can do is get a jump-start or call for roadside assistance. However, there are some preventative measures that you can take to avoid getting stuck in this position.

Regardless of the type of battery you have, you need to check the terminal connections periodically. You want to make sure that there is no corrosion or tightness.

If you determine that there are corroded terminals, you can clean them off with a small brush and a mixture of water and baking soda.

Also, you can do a visual check of the battery to determine if there are any leaks, cracks, or damage. If any of these things are apparent, replace the battery immediately.

Of course, the time to save your battery is prior to the signs of wear and tear. Unfortunately, you can’t always predict when your battery will fail, which is why it is important to have a road service program. However, if your starter turns slow, your headlights brighten when you rev the engine, or your clock is noticeably slower, your engine should be examined.

More motorists are deciding to switch to hybrid cars for better fuel-efficiency, however, just like any car; hybrids need common maintenance and occasional repairs. A regular mechanic can do work that is routine, yet you will need hybrid-certified mechanics for jobs that are more extensive.

According to a Toyota service director in Tampa, hybrid work at the dealership has been small. There are some vehicles with issues, but for the most part repairs are the result of accidents. The most costly repair on hybrids is for battery replacement. In a vehicle that isn’t covered by an auto warranty, you will pay approximately $3,000 just on the part.

The best thing to do is to find a technician to repair your car before you really need it. This way you won’t have to make last minute decisions. Also, make sure that the technician is certified in hybrid repair.

Finally, most new car warranties for hybrids cover 100,000 miles or 8-10 years. Make sure you know if your auto warranty requires that you get service from a specific repair shop. In addition, make sure you sign up for a good roadside assistance program.

Everyone has heard of certified used cars, however, Toyota is going to introduce a certified used car program exclusive to hybrids. This will be the first program of its kind among carmakers.

Toyota is hoping that the added inspection and auto warranty will spike consumer confidence in pre-owned hybrid cars by guaranteeing that the cars receive a three-month/3,000 mile comprehensive auto warranty. In addition, the cars will have a limited powertrain warranty for seven-years/100,000 miles, a roadside assistance program and a detailed battery system inspection.

This will be huge for consumer confidence because some motorists fear that the battery life could become a big issue for hybrid vehicles. Toyota now provides an eight-year/100,000 mile warranty for its hybrid batteries.

Roads often seem like they are war-zones.  Motorists encounter ruts, potholes, and icy roads that can be dangerous.  Just being aware of bad road conditions can help drivers protect themselves.  Here are a few tips that can help you avoid accidents.

Be on the lookout for nasty potholes.  If you encounter a pothole, slow down and keep your hands on the wheel.  Hitting a pothole hard might put your vehicle out of alignment.  Also, it is common for steel-belted tires to endure damage, due to potholes, that could make the driver lose control.

Luckily, ruts do little damage to vehicles.  However, they do sometimes cause drivers to lose control of the car.  In this event, a car can experience a great deal of damage.

One of the most dangerous road conditions is a sheet of ice.  Many accidents are the result of cars slipping on ice.  If the roads are very icy, it is best to avoid driving.  However, in the event that you must drive, go slow and allow enough distance in between you and the car in front of you.

Sometimes drivers can’t foresee bad road conditions.  All motorists can do is drive defensively and make sure you have a road service program that can assist you in case of an emergency.