February 19th, 2007 by admin
Preparation for Wintery Driving Conditions Prevents Accidents
Winter weather accidents happen when drivers are unprepared and overconfident in their vehicle’s ability to handle icy or snowy weather. When the temperatures drop and there is precipitation in the air, roadway hazards heighten and the chances for being in an accident or ending up in a ditch do as well. There are many preventative measures a driver can take to increase their vehicle’s handle on a slick road.
The best option for steering clear of a winter traffic accident, of course, is to watch the weather and stay at home. But many commuters have no choice when work calls despite the weather conditions, so keep the following tools handy so that you can see clearly and maintain traction when the forecast is dim;
Putting a de-ice spray can in your car’s glove compartment will help tremendously when a windshield requires some chipping. It can immediately get rid of icy residue and allow drivers clear vision almost instantly when used properly. It also prevents drivers from compromising on their ability to have clear sight due to clearing a small space barely sufficient for driving and then hoping in the car because they’re running late.
Another item to place somewhere in the vehicle is a bag of salt, kitty litter, or sand. This can give your tires traction assistance if you find yourself on an extra slick spot.
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February 16th, 2007 by admin
The Safe Driving Test for Dashboard Navigators
The rise of the satellite navigation device is rampant. New manufactured vehicles are coming standard with the passenger-side drivers and many satellite navigation distributors are installing the systems right into any car’s dashboard. In fact, the technology was a huge seller over the most recent holiday season.
In the midst of all of the excitement over the feature, there is one lingering suspicion. It would seem that satellite navigation systems might be subject to cause the same type of distraction to drivers that cellular phones are often accused of in the automotive world. After all, talking on a cell phone is supposedly distracting, and any device that requires the momentary attention of the driver is deemed a dangerous thing, right?
Apparently, the satellite navigation system is in fact increasing driver alertness and accident avoidance on the roadways. This finding is according to a study commissioned by Aon, Athlon Car Lease, Delta Lloyd (part of Aviva Plc) and TomTom. The finding even suggests that;
Drivers who do NOT have the use of a satellite navigation solution have 12% more damage claims to their vehicles.
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February 14th, 2007 by admin
Vehicle Safety Components to Consider
There are many varieties of automobiles that a buyer can choose from, but there are basic needs that every family will measure acutely when deciding what make and model is the most suitable for their traveling needs. The first priority of a car buyer should be the safety capacity. There are several safety features that you should insist upon when looking for a vehicle to purchase.
Most larger vehicles are coming equipped with sensors and cameras to assist a driver when backing up. Everyone has seen or heard a report of a child being put in danger behind a car in reverse and manufacturers have chosen to utilize sensors that sound off when the rear of the car is too close to an object. Some automobiles also come with the option of putting a camera angled to project the area behind the car onto a screen the driver can monitor while in reverse.
A very valuable tool incase of an emergency that drivers should inquire about is automatic crash notification. Should the inhabitants of a vehicle experience a collision, the crash notification system can let your roadside assistance operator know immediately. This is a component that can save lives incase victims of an accident cannot reach a roadside assistance button, dial a phone number, or are unconscious and unaware of their state.
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February 12th, 2007 by admin
Vehicle Safety Components to Consider
A common priority for car buyers is the safety capacity of a vehicle. There are several safety features that you should insist upon when looking for a vehicle to purchase.
A common feature found in most newer vehicle models is ABS, or anti-lock breaking system. ABS has been proven to give a driver more control when there’s cause for hard breaking due to bad weather conditions or avoiding traffic accidents. ABS is a function that has been through years of developing and should be considered a standard safety feature for the new car you purchase. Research other breaking safety options like BreakAssist and Electronic Breakforce Distribution that increase breaking control.
Stability control is another safety benefit of more recently manufactured automobiles on the car lot. Stability control works across the breaking system in a car to apply pressure to particular breaks to help avoid skidding, especially with vehicles that have a higher center of gravity.
If you have to consider child passengers, it’s always a good idea to test the child seat you will be using in the vehicle before purchasing to ensure its suitability for good fit.
Check to see that there’s enough clearance for rear facing seats and that the seat bottom is deep enough and flat enough to hold bulkier seats securely.
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February 10th, 2007 by admin
Vehicle Safety Components to Consider
A common priority for car buyers is the safety capacity of a vehicle. There are several safety features that you should insist upon when looking for a vehicle to purchase.
Side-impact airbags can offer protection for adult-sized riders in the front seats of a vehicle and in some models can be requested for the back passenger doors as well. They are not recommended for locations where children of a certain size will be riding. If an automobile is equipped with side-impact airbags, the driver or passenger can be protected in the case of a side collision.
Side-curtain airbags are another safety component you may feel is absolutely necessary for your new vehicle. Side-curtain means the car is equipped with airbags along the side intended to protect a passenger’s head and prevent ejection incase of a rollover.
Inquire about the variety of airbags offered in the car you’re looking for. Airbags can make all the difference incase of an accident.
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February 9th, 2007 by admin
Vehicle Safety Components to Consider
A common priority for car buyers is the safety capacity of a vehicle. Most consumers interested in purchasing a new or used vehicle will show up on the car lot and ask the dealer about the safety components and protective potential of the car in question, but it’s important that the customer not leave the safety qualities of the car totally up to the bias of the dealer.
There are several safety features that you should insist upon when looking for a vehicle to purchase.
Begin doing your homework about a car’s safety capacity online. There are a variety of websites, including the manufacturer’s own site, that can offer valuable information about an automobile’s crash test ratings. Edmunds.com offers insight into what a car buyer should look for:
Specifically, look for a four- or five-star crash test rating (for both front- and side-impact tests) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and a "Good" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for 40-mph frontal offset and side-impact tests.
Cars have come a long way in the advancement of added safety features. Even airbags manufactured in newer vehicles are much safer than those of our parent’s automobiles.
Advanced frontal airbags are designed to be better than current airbags when it comes to saving lives…
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February 5th, 2007 by admin
Driving Programs Allow Teens to Develop Safe Driving Skills
Among the millions of drivers, there are specific demographics that are more of a threat behind the wheel than others. Hazardous driving can be caused by inexperience, the likelihood for distraction, losing control, slow reflexes, and ignorance of a vehicle’s capabilities. Teenagers are widely considered prone to most of these threats to driving safety.
So what if driving instruction were raised a notch or two to challenge young teenage drivers to learn better maneuvering skills and hazardous conditions driving? Would it decrease the threat of inexperienced teen drivers taking the roads by storm?
That’s what Ford Motor Companies thinks and the premise behind a program that does exactly that. Ford puts teen drivers behind the wheel of one of their vehicles and allows the student to experience driving in various hazardous conditions, as well as the consequences of poor driving skills. Learning the effect of different driving reactions on a practice course is producing teen drivers that are actually more prepared for realistic driving conditions than many of the drivers on the roads.
Traffic accidents are among the leading cause of death to teenagers. Ford’s “Driving Skills for Life” program is a successful method of confronting a preventable source of fatality on the roadways.
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February 2nd, 2007 by admin
Revising Rules for Basic Vehicle Maintenance
Some of the unquestioned methods for being a careful car owner are, in fact, proven to be myths. The following are examples of old car care rules that deserve a second look.
Can a couple of pumps of the gas pedal before starting the engine really help in cold temperatures? Not for fuel-injected engines. If your car has difficulty starting in the cold, it most likely is not due to failure to pump the pedal.
Changing the oil in a car is more beneficial than drivers used to think. It’s been said that an oil change every couple of months or three thousand miles is really not necessary. Most mechanics would disagree with this theory – a fresh change of oil prevents build-up and renews oil additives.
There is a difference in tires. Vehicles that are driven in mild temperatures year-round may not need a lot of fuss over tires, but wintry conditions can be improved with certain tires built to increase traction on snowy, slushy roads.
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January 31st, 2007 by admin
Revising Rules for Basic Vehicle Maintenance
Some of the unquestioned methods for being a careful car owner are, in fact, proven to be myths. The following are examples of old car care rules that deserve a second look.
- Pemium gasoline is not necessarily a gas tank scrubber. Using premium gasoline over regular grade fuel does not always provide enough benefits to be worth the extra cost. If you’re a premium gasoline believer, it may be more of a mental fix than a practical gain for your car’s engine.
- If you drive a front wheel drive vehicle, forget the need for extra weight in the rear of the car for improving transportation on a slippery road or messy driveway. Front wheel drive is already in affect in those roadway conditions and heaving the pounds into a truck bed or car trunk may actually cause damage to the vehicle.
- Do not put straight antifreeze into a radiator. Instead, use coolants that are a mix of glycol and water to protect gaskets and decrease the likelihood that the coolant will freeze in cold temperatures.
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January 31st, 2007 by admin
Keeping your tires in top condition for a safer ride.Though tire pressure is in the news from time to time, there are a few more items that ought to be put on the checklist where tires are concerned. Improper pressure does cause its fair share of accidents, and up to 50% of consumers neglect to check them.
However, total tire care requires more. The list below can serve as a handy reminder.
- Approximately every 5000 miles, your tires should be rotated.
- Make sure your spare tire is in good condition – and don’t forget about the jack!
- Tire pressure is as easy to forget as it is important. Check at least once a month.
- When you check your tires, look also for cuts and nicks to the sidewall.
- In a general tire check, you’ll also want to look for uneven wearing, cupping and tread life.
- If your car pulls to one side, or you find that your tread wear is uneven, it’s likely time for the alignment to be checked as well.
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