Road Service

Many drivers have experienced feeling drowsy behind the wheel. Either you have been with someone else feeling sleepy, or you’ve been the one trying to stay awake. Many car accidents and calls for road service are easily avoided by avoiding getting behind the wheel when you’re drowsy. Here are some warning signs that a driver is too drowsy to be on the road.

First, weaving is a good indication of drowsiness. Many times sleepy drivers don’t make as many steering corrections, which means the ones that are made are jerky and often severe.

A lot of times drowsy drivers rely on conversation to keep from falling asleep. If you notice that conversation isn’t making much sense, it is time to get off of the road.

If a motorist drives over rumble strips they need to pull over and rest. This often means that the driver actually fell asleep briefly, or that they can’t stay on the road because of fatigue.

The neck jerk is a tell tale sign of drowsiness. This is when the motorist falls asleep and their neck jerk causes them to wake up.

As a rule, don’t get in the car with a sleepy driver, or behind the wheel. Many emergency roadside assistance calls have been made due to sleepy drivers.

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.

Why is it OK for children 13 yrs of age to finally ride in the front seat of a vehicle?  Can they finally withstand an airbags impact?  Are they old enough to be able to behave in the front of the car?

Behavior is a big issue when it comes to safety.  When children are too young they play with the radio, and can’t sit still in the front seat.  This means that they aren’t in the proper position when an airbag deploys.  When it comes to injuries in deaths involved with airbags, the proximity to the front airbag is a big issue, but also the proper positioning.  By age 13, children are more able to remain in the right position.

At ages 11 and 12, kids are also physically bigger.  This is important for riding in the front seat because when children are too small they can’t have their backs properly against the back of the seat if their feet aren’t touching the floor correctly.  This means that they are in a bad position for an airbag to deploy because they are scrunched down.

Kids who aren’t 13 yet should be in the back seat for their well-being.  There is no reason to put your child in the front seat and risk them being injured from the airbag.  Road service calls should not have to be made because of a bad decision such as this.

Motorists who try to stretch out trips to the gas station may want to think about filling up their tank more often because it might cost them to run out of gas.

Running out of gas puts motorist at risk for getting into an auto accident, and it also may cause their cars damage that could have them paying for repairs down the road.

According to Allstate Motor Club, drivers are placing more roadside assistance calls than ever because they ran out of gas 68% more in the early months this year compared to the same period last year.

It seems that people are dreading paying the high gas prices; therefore they are putting off filling up their tanks.  These people run the risk of getting rear-ended by another vehicle and are causing mechanical problems to their cars.  For instance, the fuel pump can become damaged giving it a shorter lifespan.

It may be tempting to drive right on past the gas station instead of filling up, but you may end up calling for road service and doing damage to your vehicle.  People need to realize that they will be paying the same amount of money anyway, so why not fill up before ending up stranded on the side of the road.

Never buy a used car without having it scrutinized by an independent mechanic.  You never know the true state of a used vehicle until a professional has examined it.  Failure to do this could have you calling for emergency roadside assistance.

A dealer shouldn’t object to you having a private inspection if you leave a photo I.D.  If they tell you an inspection has already been done, insist that you would like the car looked at by a shop of your choice.

The mechanic should put the car on a lift to inspect the undercarriage.  The cost of a thorough diagnostic should run you about $100, but ask in advance.  You can request a written report that will give you details of the vehicle’s condition.  The negotiation may come in handy when you negotiate with the seller.

If you are unsure of a good repair shop, try to find a referral from someone you trust.  You could also go to your local auto-parts store to ask for a good mechanic.  Try not to just pick a name out of a phone book; it’s better to use someone you are familiar with.

Buying a used car is a great way to save money, however, you want to make sure you aren’t getting a lemon.  Putting in the extra time to take the car to a mechanic may save you numerous road service calls down the road.

Modern cars are being designed with more safety features than ever to keep passengers safe.  Almost all carmakers have factory installed emergency kits in their cars.  This is due to both government regulations, as well as competitive pressure.  These roadside kits often include jumper cables, reflective markers, and flashlights.  Typically, these kits allow motorists to deal with accident and mechanical breakdowns.

Today’s cars have to withstand unique conditions.  There are more and more natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, fires, hurricanes, etc.  Other major emergencies include snowstorms, accidents, and breakdowns that leave drivers stranded.

This is why drivers need to be prepared for all types of emergency situations.  Things that motorists can do to protect themselves are having first aid kits, emergency kits, and an emergency roadside assistance program.  Drivers are very vulnerable in any emergency, and being able to call road service allows drivers some peace of mind.  Taking these precautions are simple and can save your life.

Drivers traveling alone are fearful that at some point their car might breakdown.  This comes as no surprise since motorists are spending more time than ever in their vehicles.  Drivers have long commutes to work, and spend a lot of time running around doing errands, so it is inevitable that motorists will have their cars breakdown at some point.  Both male and female drivers fear the occurrence of a breakdown.

Britannia Rescue recently performed a survey showing that around two-thirds of drivers who were questioned admit to having breakdown fears.

Specifically, 45% of men and 93% of women were fearful.  Also revealed in the survey was that people have an even greater fear of having another car stop for help.  In fact, 70% of the women interviewed admitted that they wouldn’t want a male driver to stop and offer help.

Having your car breakdown is a scary situation.  However, having an emergency roadside assistance program that you can depend on in case of an emergency can alleviate this fear.  After all, it isn’t always safe to accept help from a stranger.

Auto accidents are always surprising and seem to happen when you least expect them.  An accident leaves drivers stunned and shocked, and often people aren’t sure what to do first.  What steps should you take right after an accident, when your adrenaline is pumping?  Read on.

Obviously, the first thing to do in the case of an accident is make sure everyone is OK.  A 911 call should be placed immediately if help is needed.  In addition, call the police regardless of if any one is injured.  Also, place a call to your road service program.

The next thing to do is to call your insurance agent.  They will give you advice about exchanging information with the other motorist and making a survey of the scene.  Be careful not to admit fault at the accident, it is up to the insurance companies to decide who is at fault.

Also, you should take notes of details at the scene of the accident that you might forget later.  It can help to take pictures of the scene.  Many cell phones these days are picture phones, which make it convenient to snap a few quick pictures.

Read your insurance policy to file your claim within any time limits.  Many times if damage exceeds $750 you have to file a SR1 form, which you can find on your state DMV website.

Of course nobody wants to be involved in a car accident, but it happens to all of us.  Knowing what to do is essential.  Make sure you have the numbers of your insurance company and emergency roadside assistance program on hand so you aren’t searching for information at the scene of the accident.  This will alleviate some unnecessary stress.

It’s familiar to us all. You’re 10 minutes late, driving to work, and you need to make up for lost time. So, suddenly you find yourself with a lead foot and you begin multi tasking by catching up on phone calls. Doesn’t sound very safe, huh? We all make common driving mistakes, but we need to be aware that these mistakes could leave us calling for road service.

Pushing buttons on your dashboard while driving can be very dangerous. In fact, car companies find themselves jumping through the hoops of lawyers when they develop consoles equipped with climate gauges, satellite navigation and stereos. Playing with these devices is the #1 cause of accidents.

In approximately 56% of fatal car crashes, aggressive driving is a factor. Aggressive driving includes tailgating, speeding, making improper lane changes, and running red lights and stop signs. Most motorists admit that they make the same mistakes that they hate to see other motorists make.

Mobile devices are a big temptation for everyone on the road, but especially teenagers. These include cell phones, Blackberries, and iPods. It is best to place phone calls, text, and set up your music before putting your gear in “drive”. These simple devices can prove fatal in a car.

We are all guilty of making common driving mistakes, but being aware of them will help us avoid calls for emergency auto assistance. Safety should be your first concern on the road.

Many people believe that pickup trucks and SUVs cause extreme damage to cars in a collision because they are heavier and bigger. And although size is a factor, the main culprit in collisions involving low speeds is the mismatch of bumper heights.

In the United States, SUVs, minivans, and pickup trucks aren’t required to have any bumpers. While some car manufacturers do put bumpers on these vehicles, they usually don’t match up with car bumpers, which are required to have bumpers 16-20 inches above the ground.

In addition, pickup truck and SUV bumpers are typically flimsy. In fact, bumpers on most of these vehicles are purely decorative.

The result of bumper mismatch is a hefty repair bill resulting from even the most minor accidents. Without a bumper, there isn’t anything to protect a vehicle’s expensive sheet metal.

People wouldn’t expect a 10-mph collision to completely disable a vehicle, yet often times when bumper mismatch is involved, one or both vehicles are undrivable. To deal with this problem, motorists should make sure that their vehicle has a bumper and they should practice defensive driving. In addition, you should always have a road service program in case of an emergency.