Auto Roadside Assistance Blog

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.

A big alteration in the auto industry is on the way.  Electric cars and plug-in hybrids are coming, and we have been asking for a while: When will they arrive?  However, now a question more appropriate would be: Is America ready?

At the Institute of Transportation Studies, located within the University of California, this question has been the topic of research.

What they have found is cause for concern.  First, they discovered that a large obstacle to acceptance of these cars is a lack in consumer education.  Motorists just don’t have a lot of knowledge about plug-ins, or they get the information confused with already available hybrids.  Car shoppers may not even understand what the benefits are of having plug-in vehicles, including the gas savings that they will receive.

Next, approximately half of households in the U.S. don’t have the infrastructure that will support plug-in cars.  For example, look at Chicago residents.  A citizen who lives in an apartment could really benefit from a car that could drive 40 miles without needing any gas.  However, a person such as this wouldn’t have any garage access, which would mean they wouldn’t have a way to recharge the vehicle.

According to the study, only one-third of households wanting to buy a new car had the infrastructure necessary and an interest in hybrid or plug-in cars.  This is definitely an obstacle for the mainstream success of plug-ins and electric cars.  After all, a lot of people would be making calls for roadside assistance without an infrastructure to be able to recharge their cars.

Apparently, car thieves aren’t all that concerned about steeling vehicles that are fuel-efficient.

In fact, SUVs and large pickup trucks are the majority on the top-10 most stolen vehicles list, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute, which is affiliated with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Number one on the list is the Cadillac Escalade ESV, probably because it is a highly desirable and high profile vehicle.  Big time athletes and celebrities drive the Escalade, making it a status symbol.  Also, people who drive this vehicle often include options and add-ons that are expensive, such as fancy rims and top-notch stereo equipment.  There are 11.3 stolen vehicle claims for the Escalade for every 1,000 vehicles.  The average claim is approximately $14,657 loss payment, whereas it is typically $9,396 average for all cars.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, a vehicle is stolen approximately every 24 seconds in America.  Just make sure you protect yourself with an auto warranty and a good roadside assistance program.

When buying a car for a teen driver it is important to consider safety and reliability.  After all, teens don’t have a lot of experience.  When car shopping for a young driver, cars should be considered that have good crash-test results and advanced safety features.  This will hopefully keep your teen from avoiding roadside assistance calls.

For the most part big, heavy vehicles perform the best in crash tests.  However, large cars can be hard to handle and often have lousy fuel economy.  SUVs and large pickup trucks aren’t recommended for teens because they are more prone to roll over in an accident than other cars.

The best bet for teens is a mid-size sedan with good safety and crash ratings.  Some cars that have these features are the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Sonata, Ford Focus, Mazda 3, Acura RSX and Subaru Impreza.

The best thing to do when buying a car for a teenager is to get the newest model possible that is reliable.  Consult the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to see crash results for cars that you are considering.  These simple considerations will keep your teen from needing emergency roadside assistance.

With the poor economy 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?

There’s no way to get around the fact that vehicles experience damage, often irrevocably, everyday in America.  According to recent data, in the early part of 2009, approximately 1.3 million cars were tagged as damaged, either because of accidents or severe weather.  When damage such as this occurs, it is required that the car’s official title be “branded” as Lemon, Salvaged, Flood, etc, in order for used car shoppers to be protected from buying a poor product.

However, it is predicted that at least 15% of the 2009 damaged cars, or a total of 185,000, have gotten new titles in other states that don’t include the offending “brand”.  This sort of “title-washing” leaves buyers in the dark, and causes them to purchase vehicles that they otherwise wouldn’t have considered.  This is leading to a high level of unsafe vehicles on the road that often requires emergency roadside assistance.

Of course it is no secret that there can be pitfalls to purchasing a pre-owned car.  Unfortunately, consumers can inherit other people’s car problems.  This is why it is important to do your homework before buying a used car and always access vehicle records online.  In addition, you should purchase used car warranties to protect your wallet.

Since your car carries precious cargo, you need to be aware of its safety features.  One aspect of safety that people often ignore is the brake system.  That is, until a major problem arises.  Don’t find yourself stuck on the side of the road calling your road service program, look out for the following brake problems.

If you hear grinding or squealing you need to have your brakes looked at.  This often indicates that brake pads are worn or glazed.  Unfortunately, many motorists wait until the grinding sound is heard, which means the brakes have already worn into the rotors.  If you wait for the grinding noise there will be financial consequences.

The cause of the brake pedal pulsating is heat and wear.  Heat and wear will make the brake rotor or drum thin out.  Usually, this means that brakes need to be replaced.

If you hear clicking while braking your brake pads are loose and need to be replaced.  The factory puts “anti-rattle” devices to stop the clicking noise, but they break over time.

Brakes are an important safety feature in your vehicle and shouldn’t be ignored.  Look for these warning signs so that you don’t end up on the side of the road calling for emergency auto assistance.

Sometimes roads seem like war-zones.  We encounter potholes, icy streets and ruts that can imperil motorists and vehicles.  Being aware of poor road conditions can help you protect your vehicle.  Besides having roadside assistance, there are a few things that you can do when driving that could save you from an accident.

Keep your eyes open for bad potholes.  It is important to go slow and keep your hand on the wheel when you encounter one.  If you hit a pothole too hard your car’s alignment will go out.  Also, steel-belted tires can be damaged by potholes, which could cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle.

Ruts in the road will do minimal damage to a car.  However, drivers need to be careful when going over ruts because it easy to lose control of the car.  If this happens damage to a vehicle could be great.

A sheet of ice can be extremely dangerous for motorists.  Many accidents occur from drivers slipping on ice.  Of course, the best thing you can do in this situation is to stay home.  However, if you must drive watch your speed and keep your distance from the vehicle in front of you.

Sometimes it is impossible to foresee poor road conditions.  All you can do is be careful and make sure you have road service that can help you in the case of an emergency.

Automakers have been redesigning vehicles so that they are stronger than ever.  They have achieved this by using lightweight materials, allowing cars to be more fuel-efficient. This technology makes vehicles more durable, cutting down on road service calls.  Also, it is saving numerous lives.

The only disadvantage to these new, stronger materials is that rescue workers are having a difficult time cutting into vehicles that are mangled from wrecks.

According to experts and rescue officials around the nation, vehicles designed with safety measures, such as reinforced steel, are creating a challenge for rescue workers to get motorists out of cars.

One answer to this problem is investing in rescue equipment that is better.  Heavy-duty cutters are necessary to release motorists.  A cutter such as this from Hurst costs approximately $25,000.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it is well worth the tradeoff of tougher cars because many lives are saved.  In fact, the rate of fatalities for passenger cars is lower than it has ever been in history.

A driver’s worst nightmare is to turn the key and have their car not start.  Sometimes your engine will turn over but for some reason the car just won’t start.  Do you know what to do if this happens to you? Of course you could call a mechanic or roadside assistance. However, there are three things you could check on your own first.  A car relies on air, fire and fuel.  If a car doesn’t get one or two of these vital ingredients, it won’t start.

The first thing that you should check is to make sure the car has gasoline.  If there is an adequate amount, the engine might have been flooded.  You can floor the gas pedal for around ten seconds, but be careful not to pump it while you are turning the ignition.  If the engine is still not starting, tap the carburetor close to the gas line.  This can free the line if the needle valve is stuck.

It is also important to check for broken or loose spark plug wires.  Make sure to do this with the engine off.  The wires that go from the distributor cap to the spark plugs should be secured down on the ends.

Now that you have checked for fuel and fire, we move on to an air check.  If you own a car with a carburetor, take off the top of the air filter and look at the choke plate.  If it appears stuck, open or close it.  Then jiggle the plate in order for it to move freely.

Checking the three main ingredients, air, fire and fuel are a great place to start if your car won’t turn over.  However, you may need a mechanic if you can’t find anything wrong.  You never know when your car might breakdown, which makes it is a necessity to have an auto warranty to protect you from costly repairs.