Roadside Assistance Program

With the high cost of gas and trend for green living, people are looking to carpooling as an option. This way of commuting is good for the pocketbook, the environment, and perhaps even people’s social lives.

People who ride in carpools find each other through websites, word of mouth, employers, and the state Executive Office of Transportation. Some people use their own cars, while others form a vanpool. This is when a group of people decides to lease a van together with the intention of using it for commuting. Members then share the costs, such as maintenance, gas, insurance, and a road service program.

At this particular time in history, carpooling makes sense. According to traffic planners and environmentalists, this is one of the cheapest and easiest ways that cities can decrease congestion and pollution. In addition, carpooling allows people to reduce their transportation costs, which according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumed around 15% of the American budget in 2006. And not like public transit, being in a carpool doesn’t require much money in the way of maintenance or infrastructure that is taxpayer-funded.

Although Americans crave their independence and freedom, they are realizing it is beneficial to join a carpooling group. And in the end, commuting with a group of people is safer anyway. After all, who wants to experience a breakdown alone calling for roadside assistance?

The rising gas prices are forcing consumers to consider purchasing pre-owned vehicles, even if they bought a brand new vehicle recently.

Many motorists are leaving their SUVs at home in the garage and purchasing cars that are fuel-efficient from the 80s or 90s.  Also, consumers are protecting themselves with a road service program.

Pulling out of the lot used to mean a big money loss, but now, motorists are buying used vehicles intentionally.  They’re trying to find older models that have already depreciated, to avoid paying a lot upfront and save them money on gas.

Honda Civics and Accords, as well as Toyota Corollas are flying off of the lot.  In fact, some consumers are even facing an eight-week waiting period for a pre-owned Civic, and eight months for a new model.

Consumers are changing what they want.  Instead of finding the best financing on a trendy 2009 car, motorists are paying cash for a vehicle over five years old.

This trend makes sense because drivers will get the same mpg on a used car, as they will on a $20,000 hybrid.  However, with used models drivers should have a roadside assistance program just in case of breakdowns.

Ford Motor Company has been researching two new designs for seat belts.  This could be an important step in reducing injuries and deaths as a result of car accidents.

One possibility for a safety belt is a design that has four-points, which would incorporate a lap belt and suspenders.  This design is in lieu of the seat belt that motorists are familiar with that has three-points.  The other safety belt that Ford is looking into has incorporated an air bag right into it.

There are still some technical challenges that need to be worked through for these safety belts to be useable, however this is a great start to what will someday be enhanced safety features.

In recent research by Ford, many customers indicated that they were more comfortable and felt safer in four-point safety belts, than three-point belts.  Motorists are becoming increasingly concerned with safety issues, and are even protecting themselves by signing up for a roadside assistance program.

People often try to choose a repair shop that is close to their homes and that they believe to be trustworthy. However, the time may be coming when motorists aren’t going to have the freedom to pick whichever repair shop they want.

Cars today are operated through computers, therefore to determine what repairs need to be done the computer codes are needed. Carmakers don’t like to release these codes, which means that independent service shops may not be able to repair cars properly. This means that motorists are being forced to take their vehicles into dealerships for repairs. This makes having an auto warranty even more essential because dealerships usually charge more for repairs.

Congress has realized that this is a problem because independent repair shops may be put out of business. In response to this they are trying to get the Motor Vehicle Owners Right To Repair Act passed. This bill would make it mandatory for automakers to disclose information with independent repair shops.

Motorists need to be able to have the option of where to get their cars repaired, otherwise people may avoid having repairs done and end up calling for roadside assistance.

Motorists today are more distracted than ever. Drivers are making phone calls, adjusting dashboard gadgets, playing with the radio, etc. If you’re driving behind a vehicle that is speeding up and slowing down randomly, there’s a good chance that the driver is preoccupied. The best thing that you can do in this instance is drive defensively.

The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety says that it is a full-time job to drive. In a survey, they found that 94% of drivers admitted to performing distracting activities at the wheel. For example, they tune the radio, tend to children in the backseat, and eat. Also, 39% of motorists were actually working at the wheel. That’s right, they are preparing for their jobs while driving. Also disturbing is the fact that 25-50% of car accidents happen because of distracted drivers.

Carmakers continue to add additional gadgets and entertainment systems to new cars, which results in drivers becoming more distracted than ever. People become concerned with DVDs and MP3 players, and navigation systems, which lead to accidents.

There will always be distracted motorists on the roads, so the best thing you can do to keep yourself safe is drive defensively and avoid being tempted by distractions. Also, make sure to have a roadside assistance program in case you do end up in an accident.

For the safety of you and your vehicle, you should maintain proper tire pressure. Approximately 650 motorists are killed, and 32,000 injured every year due to tire related problems. Yet, a recent survey showed that at least 84% of drivers don’t bother to check the pressure in their tires.

What people don’t realize is that tires that aren’t maintained can put you in danger and even leave you stranded on the side of the road. Of course, you can always call for roadside assistance, but you can avoid this situation all together by following a few safety tips.

Be sure not to overload your tires because you don’t want overheating to occur. This could result in a car accident or blowout. Consult your owner’s manual for proper loading instructions.

Also risky, are underinflated tires. This happens naturally, and especially in cold weather. This can leave you feeling like you’re driving with a brake on.

You can avoid these situations simply by checking tire pressure regularly. Unfortunately, you don’t know if you will get a flat tire, so make sure you have a road service program that can help you in an emergency situation.

In the U.S. there are approximately 10,000 car accidents every year and around 450 motorists die in them. Simply by performing routine maintenance, a large amount of these accidents could be prevented. Before hitting the road, inspect the following car parts to determine that they are working correctly.

First, examine your tires. Many motorists make the mistake of neglecting their tires and end up stuck on the side of the road calling for roadside assistance. Consult your owner’s manual to determine proper air levels, and maintain them. In addition, make sure your tires aren’t leaking and don’t have worn spots or low treads.

Next, take a look at your windshield wipers. These should be changed about twice a year. Your windshield provides you with visibility while driving, so you don’t want to neglect your wipers and create visibility problems.

Are your brakes working correctly? Your brake pedal shouldn’t move all the way to the floor when you apply pressure, if it does, see a professional. Cars that are more recent will warn you if your brakes are faulty.

Routine maintenance can save you from getting into a dangerous accident. It will also help keep you from being stranded on the side of the road calling for road service.

Many Motorists are leery to purchase a used car because they don’t want to inherit past problems that a car may have. Unfortunately, sometimes this instinct is correct. If you’re thinking of purchasing a pre-owned vehicle you might want to call the Better Business Bureau first.

According to the Better Business Bureau, they get loads of complaints from motorists who have bought used vehicles, just to find that three weeks down the road their car breaks down.

The massive amount of complaints has led them to make a buyer beware packet, as well as a presentation that explains what you should know before purchasing a car. Included in the list are the rights that buyers have, what you should check out, and what you should ask for in writing. In addition, fuel-efficiency should be considered when buying a pre-owned car because of the high gas prices.

It’s unfortunate that people are experiencing breakdowns soon after they purchase a pre-owned vehicle. To protect themselves, motorists can contact the Better Business Bureau, and also sign up for a roadside assistance program.

Smart cars are becoming more and more popular because of the downsizing trend due to high fuel prices.  But many consumers have reservations about the safety of this car because of its 8 feet long, 5 feet tall dimensions.  So how does the Smart car measure up in safety?

According to crash tests conducted in May by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Smart car received the highest rating possible in side and front crashes and the second highest in rear crashes.  The Smart car comes standard with front-end airbags on the passenger and driver side.

Also, motorists can feel good knowing that the Smart Car is made by Mercedes.  The Mercedes name has earned consumers trust, and they have always had excellent safety.

In the Smart Car the passengers are essentially sitting on top of a roll cage.  This is an iron frame that surrounds the car and provides a buffer zone in crashes.

Although the Smart Car has excellent safety features, the IIHS reminds consumers that cars are ranked in their class, determined by the size and weight of the vehicle.  This means that the Smart Car is in the top of its class, but this doesn’t mean that the car is as safe as vehicles in other classes.

Consumers are taking safety into their own hands by purchasing safe cars and signing up for roadside assistance programs.  The Smart Car is a great choice for its class based on its safety features.

For 2008, Consumer Reports has chosen four new car models for its Top Picks list.  These are the Chevrolet Silverado for top pickup truck, Lexus LS 460L for luxury sedan, and Hyudai Santa Fe and Hyundai Elantra SE for midsized SUVs and small sedans.

This is the first time a South Korean carmaker – Hyundai- is on the list, and the only time since 2005 in which a model from the U.S. – the Chevrolet Silverado- has been represented.  Usually, Consumer Reports picks a mix of European, Japanese, and domestic car models, yet the last two years have been represented just by Japanese carmakers.

For the “green” vehicle category, the Toyota Prius won for the fifth year.  In fuel-efficiency tests for the real world, the Prius got an impressive 44mpg overall.  This is the best rating by any five-passenger cars that CR tested.

The Top Picks by Consumer Reports demonstrate the vehicle models that are the most well-rounded in their categories.  They must excel in reliability, road tests, and safety requirements.

Consumers are protecting themselves on the road more than ever by choosing safe, reliable vehicles and signing up for emergency roadside assistance.  The Top Picks List by Consumer Reports is a great way for motorists to find out about good, reliable cars.