Auto Roadside Assistance Blog

Many companies have offered ride-sharing sites on the Internet that help fill seats in people’s cars and conserve gas use and greenhouse gasses, however, Avego.com has the big advantage of being affiliated with iPhone.

This downloadable application lets motorists create a social network of vehicles and passengers who are traveling in the same direction.  In this way, its goal is to cut back on the safety concerns and anonymity of ride-sharing.  Rather than riding in a car with a complete stranger, this program tries to put people together and acquaint them in a more reliable way.

In addition, the program’s goal is to have an established network so that Avego users determine points for pickup and drop-off.  Yet, while the idea is certainly intriguing, it will need to be demonstrated in the real world before it will be determined if it is more successful than any other ride-sharing networks online.

Just keep in mind, it always feels safer to be in a car with passengers, but you still need a good roadside assistance program in case of breakdowns.  After all, you don’t want to be stranded on the side of the road, no matter how many people are there to help.

Modern vehicles are designed safer to survive accidents and keep passengers safe.  Virtually all automakers include emergency kits installed by the factory.  This is either due to competitive pressure or government regulations.  Most of the roadside kits include reflective markers, jumper cables, and flashlights.  These kits typically deal with mechanical and accident breakdowns.

Today’s automobiles endure unique conditions.  There is an increase in natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, etc.  Other emergencies include major accidents, snowstorms, and mechanical breakdowns, which all leave motorists stranded.

This is why it is necessary to be prepared in an emergency situation.  Motorists need to have emergency kits, first aid kits, and most importantly, a roadside assistance program.  In any emergency, drivers are left vulnerable, and knowing that help is only a phone call away leaves drivers with peace of mind.  It is simple to take these precautions, and they can literally save your life.

After a car accident, it is as important to find the right auto body shop, as it is to find the right contractor for home repairs.  You can have your road service program tow your vehicle directly to the repair shop that you choose.

There are over 34,000 auto body shops in the nation, which makes choosing the right one confusing.

Insurance companies will often make recommendations, yet drivers are ultimately responsible for choosing the auto body repair shop.  To get the best result, motorists need to find a shop that is trustworthy and does quality work.

The National Auto Body Council and the CBBB have joined to offer consumers some much needed tips on choosing the right auto body shop, finding a deal on a rental car, and settling disputes.

To find a trustworthy repair shop, first inquire about the shop’s qualifications.  You can do this by asking questions about advanced technician training.  There are national organizations that you can find this out from such as I-CAR or ASE certification.

The average vehicle will be worked on for about two weeks, so you will need to find a rental car.  Many times the shop will make arrangements for you if you ask them, or for a few dollars a month you can have a rental covered under your insurance.

Finally, make sure you get everything in writing.  You need an estimate of the price of the repairs to be performed.  Also, reputable shops might offer a warranty on their work.

Do you find that you are apprehensive about negotiating with an auto dealer?  Shopping for a vehicle doesn’t have to be nerve-racking, however, you need to be aware of a few things that you shouldn’t say to a dealer.

First, you shouldn’t start talking about monthly payments, instead focus on negotiating the purchase price.  It can become confusing when you’re discussing monthly payments because it might be unclear whether the payment is for 24 or 36 months.

Don’t tell the dealer right away if you’re willing to trade-in your car.  If the dealer is aware of this he will know that you want to get as much money for your car as possible.  The dealer might agree to give you a lot for your trade-in, but usually it’s a smokescreen because then they will fix the price of the new car.

Don’t tell the dealer if you’re planning on paying for the car in cash.  They count on making a lot of money in financing, and if they know that they won’t be able to count on that money, chances are they won’t negotiate on the sticker price.

Do your homework before showing up at a dealership.  Be prepared with information about new car warranties, roadside assistance, financing, and vehicle prices.  This will help you negotiate a successful deal on a car.

Every year there are more than 10,000 vehicle accidents in the nation and approximately 450 people die as a result of the collision.  Many of these accidents can be avoided by having routine maintenance performed on your car.

The vehicle is by far the most popular means of transportation in the U.S.  In fact, 91% of adults in our country own, or have owned a car.

Before you hit the road again, check the following parts of your car to make sure that they are operating properly.

First, take a look at your tires.  Many people neglect to check their tires and end up with blowouts.  Make sure that your air levels are good.  You can reference your owner’s manual to find out what the right level should be.  Also, you want to make sure that there aren’t any leaks, low treads, or worn spots.

Next, change your windshield wipers about twice in a year.  Your windshield is actually one of the most important parts of your car because if you can’t see the road well you are in trouble.

Brakes should be monitored to make sure they are working correctly.  If your brake pedal is moving all the way down to the floor when you step on it, have your brakes looked at by a professional.  More recent cars have a warning system to let you know if your brakes aren’t operating correctly.

Maintenance can save you from a dangerous accident and calls for auto road service.  To save your wallet, make sure you have a good auto warranty that will keep you from paying unnecessary repair costs.  You don’t want to find yourself unprepared.

Most people realize that hypermiling is not the safest practice; in fact it leads to car accidents. However, many people still do it.  Well now, AAA is weighing in with their view on the subject.

AAA has released a very strong warning saying that practices to save gas, in which illegal driving techniques are used, are dangerous, and therefore shouldn’t be used.  They are referring to practices like drafting off of other cars by tailgating, rolling stops, and turning off the car while driving.

Other gas saving practices toe the line of acceptability.  For example, motorists who have manual transmissions sometimes cruise in neutral to conserve fuel.  This practice is fairly common, yet safety advocates express concerns about motorists not having complete control of their cars.  Also controversial is the practice of utilizing neutral with automatic transmissions, however some drivers who do this say that they can do it safely.  AAA also doesn’t bring up the fact that there are numerous local laws having to do with improper driving, like not keeping your vehicle in gear.

Although motorists are tempted to do anything possible to save money on gas, including skimping on an auto warranty, people need to realize the danger involved in illegal driving techniques.  Unfortunately, hypermiling has been known to lead to car accidents, which is why it is important to have roadside assistance. In addition, drivers should have good used car warranties to avoid unnecessary repair costs, should they arise.

It is an awful feeling when you go to start your car in the morning, just to discover that your battery is weak.  Luckily, many people have a road service program that can help them in this situation, but unfortunately, others don’t.  If a car isn’t getting sufficient power, it won’t start, however, help is now here.  The Intelligent Battery Sensor by Continental will warn you if your battery is running down due to age.  To do this, it determines your battery’s charge status.

Approximately one-third of car breakdowns are because of empty batteries.  The reason for this is that vehicle batteries today have to do more work than in years past.  For example, car electronics have taken on a huge responsibility.  They help passengers remain safe, orient the driver in traffic, and allow passengers more comfort.  Batteries are required to supply all of this power.  This is one reason that The Electronic Battery Sensor is beneficial.

The new battery sensor may be small, but it is a great technological advancement.  It gives drivers a good indication of when it is time to change their batteries.  This will cut down on breakdowns and stranded vehicles.  However, it is a good idea to have emergency auto assistance in case of unforeseen circumstances.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration created the new website safecar.org, where people can sign up and get emails that notify you about automotive recalls.  It’s a pretty good idea, right?  All you have to do is give your vehicle information to the NHTSA and you will get notifications by cell phone, PDA, email, or RSS feed if your car is affected by a recall.

Consumer advocate groups say not quite.  Groups, such as the Consumer Federation of America, and the Center for Auto Safety claim that the program is a “sham” and also counter-productive.

Approximately 600 recalls are issued by the NHTSA per year, and car owners, who usually receive notification letters by the car manufacturers, don’t usually take notice.  In fact, one out of four owners ignore these notifications, even in the case of a dangerous issue.

NHTSA electronic notifications were designed to help cut down that figure, however the recall notices wouldn’t be sent for specific cars according to the VIN number or model.  Instead, they are sent based on a car’s make and year.  For instance, if there were a recall for a 2008 Toyota Tundra, you would get a notification if you only own a Camry.

The argument by consumer groups is that vehicle owners will be more likely to ignore notices because they may get six emails per month.  In other words, motorists may find themselves calling for roadside assistance because they get bombarded by too many emails.

For you drivers out there who are determined to stick with your Bluetooth-less vehicle for a little longer, yet who would like to take advantage of that technology, there may be an easy solution that doesn’t attach to your sun visor.

The new Steering Wheel Bluetooth Adapter fastens to the steering wheel on the inside and adjusts for different fits and sizes.  This gadget comes with speakers and a microphone, as well as an SD port for MP3 players, an LCD display, a USB port and an FM-out that plays everything through your vehicle’s stereo.

The adapter requires a power source, which is why it utilizes the cigarette lighter.  You may think it would seem dangerous to have a wire that goes from the steering wheel to the dashboard.  It does work from a battery that is rechargeable, but when would you really recharge it except while driving?

Probably the best bet would be to charge the battery at home and bring it with you when you leave in the morning.  After all, there could be car accidents and road service calls from people trying to drive with a wire attached to their steering wheel.

Almost all light trucks and passenger cars for the 2010 model year are going to be equipped with standard side airbags, thanks to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and an agreement in 2003 that was signed by all of the main carmakers.

Except for fleet sales, all cars are going to have side airbags that are head-protecting and also structural components in the front of the vehicle that will help absorb crash energy.  This arrives before a federal mandate made by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that will require side-torso and side-curtain airbags in all cars for the model year 2013.  The deal that the carmakers made with the IIHS doesn’t contain side torso bags.

According to the NHTSA, in the event of a side-impact, 41% of deaths are the result of head injuries, which means the latest regulation will cause fatality risks to be reduced by 24%.  In the meantime, the IIHS has predicted that when all vehicles on the roads have side-impact airbags, fatalities on the roads could drop by around 2,000 per year.

These new safety measures will help drivers have peace of mind on the roads.  In addition, motorists should have a good roadside assistance program in case of an emergency.