Roadside Assistance Program

If you’re thinking of purchasing a new car it’s important to consider safety.  Crash test results, rollover resistance, and electronic stability control are all important considerations.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety performs frontal and side impact crashes on cars in order to give them a safety rating.  It is important to consider these results when making a choice about a vehicle purchase.

Tall vehicles, such as pickups and SUVs are more likely to roll over because of their high center of gravity.  To find out what a car’s rollover inclination is, the NHTSA  has a five star rating.

Electronic stability control is a beneficial safety feature that is highly recommended.  This feature helps you keep control of your vehicle when you are cornering.  Skidding and sliding can be avoided with electronic stability control because brakes are applied automatically to the wheels that need it.

Motorists are more concerned than ever about protecting themselves.  They are signing up for roadside assistance programs and purchasing cars with additional safety features to stay safe on the road.

We’ve all been there.  You encounter another driver who loses his temper and elicits road rage directed at you.  And the result is that you yourself become enraged.  Road rage has become a sort of cultural phenomenon that occurs all over the nation. Sometimes road rage even results in accidents that require roadside assistance.

People living in major metropolitan areas on the east or west coast elicit the worst road rage.  Drivers in the Northwest or Midwest tend to be more laid back and don’t experience as much road rage.  According to a study conducted nationwide, the city with the most aggressive driving is Miami, for the second year in a row.  The next worse was New York, followed by Boston, Los Angeles and Washington.  These cities experience the most traffic, and therefore, aggressive driving.

Data also shows that it isn’t just the increase in the number of drivers that is responsible for road rage; it is the increase in the age of drivers.  The senior population is the fastest growing demographic in the nation, which means seniors need to be able to adjust to aggressive drivers and crowded roadways.

There are several things that all drivers can do to avoid road rage.  First of all, people shouldn’t offend other drivers.  This includes tailgating, cutting people off, and making gestures.  In addition, drivers who are at risk for rage should take a minute to adjust their attitudes and put themselves in the shoes of other drivers.

According to federal data, approximately 19 teenagers die every day from crashes.  Safeco Insurance has taken measures to reduce that number.  They now have a driving package for teens that will notify parents if their adolescent breaks their curfew, speeds, or drives outside of the area that was predetermined.  In addition, parents can access the Internet and satellites to locate their vehicle at any moment.

“Teensurance,” is available in the 44 states in which Safeco offers auto insurance.  This is the first effort by a major insurance company to combine safety programs in one package so that teenage deaths can be prevented.  This company, based out of Seattle, has approximately 4.4 million customers.

According to Jim Havens, who is the vice president of consumer solutions, teenagers and parents who used this package, costing only $25 per month, discovered that new drivers were able to earn trust quickly.

Included in “Teensurance” is roadside assistance and parents can use a remote to unlock car doors in the instance that keys are locked inside the car; inexperienced drivers often make this mistake.

Since research shows that teenagers are in the most danger the first months that they are driving alone, it is beneficial to use “Teensurance” and have parental influence during this time.  After all, it could save a person’s life.

There’s nothing worse than being stuck on the side of the road with car problems; however, being stuck with a flat tire shouldn’t be a big deal if you know how to change your tire yourself. Follow these few simple steps to change your tire quickly and get you back on the road.

First of all, there are a few things that you will need to do this job. Usually, car manufacturers put these tools, as well as a spare tire under the trunk floor. There you should find a diamond jack, tire iron and spare tire.

Next, you should begin to loosen the lug nuts before jacking the car up. To do this put the tire iron on a lug nut and put your foot on top of the iron. This way you can use the weight of your body to loosen the nut. Make sure you don’t strip the nuts because then you won’t be able to complete the job yourself, and you’ll need to call for roadside assistance.

Now it’s time to jack up your car. It’s important to put the jack in the right location. The jack needs to push the frame of the car up for it to work correctly. Usually, frames have slots by each tire to fit the jack. Put the jack underneath that notch and twist the lever in order to open the jack. The car should begin rising.

Use your hands to finish loosening the lug nuts, and pull off your old tire. Now, place the new tire on. Go ahead and tighten the lug nuts with your hands, lower the car, and continue tightening with the tire iron. Now you’re good to go!

There are many car problems that will leave you stranded and calling your road service program. However, a flat tire is something you can take care of yourself. Just follow these simple tips and you’ll be back on the road in no time.

Maintaining your vehicle will help you avoid road service calls. Yet, many drivers fail to maintain their cars, and a lot of them find themselves stranded on the road calling for emergency roadside assistance. Follow these simple tips to avoid being stranded.

Don’t drive with low tire pressure. In years past, service stations would check your tire pressure when filling up your tank, yet those days are gone. Under inflated tires cause added wear to tires and make your car get bad gas mileage. Consult your owner’s manual to determine your correct tire pressure.

Also, be aware of problems with your alignment. If your steering feels different, you should take your car in to be aligned. Often times you will see a symbol on the steering wheel that should remain completely straight. Avoiding potholes will help your alignment.

The number one thing that you can do for your vehicle is to change your oil regularly. You should do this every 3,000 miles. However, using synthetic oil will allow you to wait longer in between oil changes.

To avoid being stranded follow these simple tips. Of course, always have a number for your emergency roadside assistance on hand in case of emergencies.

There is nothing more inconvenient than trying to start your car and realizing that it isn’t going to happen.  This occurs daily for drivers, so it’s essential to know how to deal with the situation.  In addition to purchasing an emergency roadside assistance program, there are certain things that you can do.

A weak battery won’t provide enough current to turn the motor at a high enough speed.  This is why it is essential to know how to jump-start your vehicle.  The red cable on your battery is the positive and the black is the negative.  You don’t want to reverse the connections because your battery could explode.  This could result in severe burns or even blindness.

If, when you turn the ignition you have full power, but the car won’t start, there is most likely a problem with the park neutral switch.  This is the safety switch for the clutch.  If this happens in an automatic vehicle, double check that your car is in “park”.  In a manual vehicle, press the clutch to the floor firmly and try to turn the ignition again.

There are many things that can cause a car not to start.  To handle matters yourself, follow these simple tips.  However, if you still can’t get your car to start, call your road service program.  Then, have your vehicle looked at by a professional.

Talking on a cell phone impairs drivers to the same extent of a drunk driver with a blood alcohol level of .08. This is one distraction that teenagers deal with while behind the wheel. They often like to multi-task while driving, which is very risky for themselves and other people.

And in modern times, teens have even more to deal with. They switch CDs, play with iPods, and have the distraction of all of the modern gadgets on dashboards. Also dangerous is the temptation to send text messages while at the wheel. One out of five teens have admitted to doing this. With statistics like these, it is necessary that teens be covered by a roadside assistance program.

Experts say that our brains aren’t capable of driving and multi-tasking because of the unpredictability of driving. For instance, a deer could jump in front of your vehicle, or a cyclist could swerve on the road. These are dangerous events, and especially if the driver isn’t paying attention to the road.

With all of the modern distractions, we need to keep our teen drivers safe. Parents can help their teens by purchasing roadside assistance, and making strict driving rules.

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 program that will suit your needs, and find a company that can provide you with a lot of options.

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.

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.