All posts in On the Road

Adolescent Drivers: How to Prep Kids for the Road

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/03/27 in On the Road with Comments Off

Teenagers can certainly be naive and careless in life, and especially on the roads when first learning to drive. Before getting behind the wheel, young drivers need to understand some important tips and parents can help them prepare to be responsible, well-trained drivers.

Responding To A Car Accident

Inexperienced drivers need to be prepared to handle a car accident. Parents should start to teach their children about the importance of making specific phone calls immediately after a crash occurs. Calls should be made for help that’s provided by the police and emergency department. While waiting for help, it’s a good idea to gather some information from the other driver and passengers involved in an accident. A driver’s license, and auto insurance card provide enough information that can be later used for filing claims, lawsuits, and other investigations. Calls to an attorney and auto insurance agents should also be made after a car accident. A lawyer can file claims against the insurance companies in order for accident victims to receive a fair compensation for injuries.

Mobile Phones & Driving

Teenagers need to be taught about the dangers of driving and using a mobile phone or any electronic device. As any attorney will tell you, texting and driving is illegal in most states. Similarly, talking on a cell phone while driving is also illegal most parts of the United States. Even if it’s legal, talking on a mobile phone while driving is still dangerous because it creates major distractions. Wireless Bluetooth technology can be used by adolescents to answer phone calls without physically holding a phone. Otherwise, some mobile phones can set to driving mode in order to reject phone calls automatically while a teenager is in the driver’s seat.

Roadside Assistance

Teenagers can get into some serious trouble if their car stalls in the middle of a highway. Most teens probably can’t change a spare tire, or even jump start a car. It’s essential to have some sort of roadside assistance program that’s registered on a car driven by teenagers. The contact information for the roadside assistance service should be listed in the contact book of a mobile phone. Modern vehicles are equipped with digital technology that automatically calls for help. For example, the signature On Star system can be used to call for help anytime and anywhere in the United States. GPS technology automatically sends out roadside assistance to a car that’s in trouble and full of naive teenagers.

Avoiding Hazards on the Road

Parents should stress that it’s never worth it to drive in poor weather conditions. A car can get stuck in several of inches of snow. Additionally, there is a great risk of getting into accidents on snowy and icy roads. Heavy rain can also compromise the traction of a car, and lead to accidents. Teenagers need to develop good habits of judging the weather and road conditions. Rather than try to drive in challenging conditions, it’s better for teens to get picked up by someone.

Inexperienced adolescent drivers need plenty of advice, and practice for good road safety. In case of an accident or emergency, teenagers should know exactly what to do if they’ve had talks with their parents, and been certified by a licensed teacher.

“Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger from New Mexico. After graduating from college she moved to Los Lunas where she now writes and researches her articles when she isn’t outside gardening, hiking, running or biking. She used an accident lawyer in Alexandria as a resource for this article. Contact her via Twitter @BrookeChaplan.”

Kicking Asphalt: 5 Blazing Fast Motorcycles with Serious Tech

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/03/10 in Motorcycles with Comments Off

There’s nothing like a motorcycle with impressive speed and power. Speed enthusiasts are a breed of their own. Super bikes are some of the fastest on the planet. It can be hard to tell which brands and models are top sellers because they’re seldom owned by motorcycle-focused businesses. Below are five of the fastest motorcycles in the world.

Dodge Tomahawk

Only nine units of this bad boy have been produced, but it is the fastest motorcycle or quadricycle ever built. It uses a 500 HP V10 engine, and it’s worth every cent of the $555,000 asking price. The engine comes from the Dodge Viper and can reach 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, and it can accelerate to a mind blowing 300 mph. This bike is hard to match in terms of pure power.

Suzuki Hayabusa

The Suzuki Hayabusa’s faultless quality has gained icon status among sport bike lovers. It’s one of the sickest motorcycles the world has seen and can reach a top speed of 397 miles per hour. It offers precise handling and untamed speed with an ultra potent 1340cc in-line 4-cycliner fuel injected, DOHC, liquid-cooled engine with 16-valve Twin Swirl Combustion Chambers (TSCC).

BMW K 1200S

Next, comes the style and quality that only BMW can deliver. BMW makes one of the best and fastest motorcycles around. The BMW K 1200 is set to make headlines in 2014. It has a 1711 cc liquid cooled engine and can reach speeds of 278 miles per hour. This bike is easy to handle and snugly hugs the sharpest corners. It’s love at first site. BMW motorcycles in Virginia, or anywhere for that matter, are fast, furious and come with some serious tech.

MTT Turbine Super-bike Y2K

The MTT Turbine Superbike U2K is the first motorcycle to be turbine powered. This baby runs on a Rolls Royce Allison engine and has 320 hp and generates 52000 rpm. So, it’s no surprise that the MTT is one of the fastest bikes in the world. It can effortlessly reach a top speed of 227 miles per hour.

Ducati 10985

Last but not least, the Ducati 10985. It has an L twin cylinder, four valves in each cylinder and a liquid cooled engine. The Ducati Desmodromic Valve (Desmo) control system can produce 160 horsepower at 90.4rpm. Depending on who you ask, it offer the highest torque in relation to its weight. It offers smooth control and can reach 169 miles per hour.

Why Driving School Is The Best Place To Start Your Learning

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/02/24 in On the Road with Comments Off

Though a person new to driving can always try to learn to drive from a loved one, there are reasons why it’s better to learn at a driving school. Relationships, efficiency and other factors improve when the student chooses a driving school. Here are a few reasons why:

To Have Good Relationships

Taking lessons at a driving school fosters good relationships. If a parent or a spouse uses harsh words during lessons, anger and hurt feelings may result. Driving school teachers are professionals. They know how to relate to students of different abilities and personalities.

Efficiency and Success Thrive

Reputable driving schools join a professional organization. This membership helps keep them on top of the most effective teaching methods. For instance, the North Shore Driving School Ltd., one of the driving schools in Vancouver B.C., not only operates a driving school but also trains driving instructors. It’s a member of the Driving School Association of the Americas (DSAA), an international association of driving school owners.

More Freedom For Everyone

Help loved ones conserve their energy. Why have them do driving instruction on their day off? Furthermore, driving schools will pick up and drop off the student at home, which gives the student independence. And driving schools have flexible hours.

Vehicles For Loan

If the student needs a vehicle to take the driving test, the school will lend one. Before the test, the school will let the student drive the vehicle to become familiar with its handling. In cases where the student needs a specially equipped vehicle for every lesson, driving schools have them. Driving schools have vehicles to serve the needs of all students.

Instruction For All People

Driving schools teach the elderly. They have teachers who can teach amputees, paraplegics and people with other special needs. For instance, specially trained driving instructors know how and can teach the student how to load, manage and store a wheelchair in a vehicle. They have knowledge of visual impairments, hearing impairments, a variety of other medical conditions and learning disabilities.

Instruction For Prospective Professional Drivers

Driving schools teach candidates for commercial driver’s licenses (CDL). The requirements for the written and hands-on tests for the CDL may be complicated. Though there are federal requirements, different states have different requirements. A local driving school is a must for this category of driving student.

5 Tips To Driving Safer During The Winter Months

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/02/19 in On the Road with Comments Off

The winter months bring beautiful scenery to otherwise boring landscapes, but that means it also comes along with dangerous driving conditions. These are five ways in which you can more safely and easily get to your destination while driving.

Drive 10-20 MPH Slower than Usual

If the driving conditions in your area are exceptionally bad, take notice of the speed limit for that area and subtract 10-20 miles per hour from it. This is especially true if your vehicle is not equipped to handle rough winter conditions that leave ice and snow all around.

Take a Course from a Driving School

If you are unsure of how to handle winter conditions while driving, it may be useful to take a refresher course from a driving school. Driving schools can equip you with all the knowledge you need to make informed decisions while on the road and keep your travel experience safer overall.

Give Yourself Double the Distance to Stop

Whenever coming to a stop, always make sure that you give yourself quite a bit of distance between your vehicle and the stop to slow your vehicle. Just because you can’t see ice on the roads between your vehicle and the stop point doesn’t mean that it’s not there, so be extra slow and cautious when bring your car to a stop.

Always Use Your Headlights

When driving in snowy and foggy conditions, be sure to use your headlights at all times. Even if it is day time in the area that you are driving, it doesn’t mean that other drivers will have an easy time seeing your vehicle. This is especially true if your vehicle is neutral in color, such as gray. Keep your headlights on at all times.

Don’t Assume Your Vehicle Can Handle All Winter Conditions

Many people make the mistake of flooring their vehicles in icy conditions using the "my truck has four wheel drive" logic. Although four wheel drive will help tread icy and snowy conditions more easily, that doesn’t mean that it is a perfect mechanism or that other drivers on the road will have time to react to your aggressive driving. To stay on the safe side, always drive as though your vehicle is not equipped to handle winter conditions.

Above all, use common sense while treading the roads during the colder months. Take your time with getting from point A to point B, and always make sure your vehicle is up to operating in winter conditions by checking your tire tread, examining the battery terminals for corrosion, etc.

Customize your Ride: The Five Best Ways to Personalize Your Vehicle

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/02/14 in On the Road with Comments Off

When you hit the highway, it’s all too easy to get lost in the crowd. The streaming mass of cars heading down the roads can become a blur of monotony if you don’t distinguish yourself. Regardless of what type of car, truck, or SUV you drive, these five customization tips will set you apart from the many plain, unadorned vehicles on the roads.

Chrome Emblems for a Personal Touch

Chrome car emblems are an excellent way to proclaim your individuality on the road. These come in all types and shapes, from the common minimalist fish symbol to pop culture references, team logos, and national flags—so you can choose whatever emblem best represents you!

Decals Are An Inexpensive Option

Decals and bumper stickers are one of the easiest ways to personalize your ride. There are thousands upon thousands of creative and affordable options out there. There is no limit as to where you put it on your car; windshields, hitch, doors, hood. You can apply racing stripe decals across your hood or hot rod flames across the sides, the possibilities are endless!

Ditch the Standard License Plate

One surefire way to make your car different is to swap out the boring, standard state-issued numbered license plate for a customized one. Are you “The Boss”? Let everyone know. A speed demon? Say, “XLR8” to those behind you. If you would rather keep the standard license plate, consider a license plate frame. You can pick whichever phrases, colors and bling suits you. Lots of tourist shops sell custom plate frames, so next time you’re on vacation somewhere and want something to remember your time by, check those out!

Air Fresheners do Double Duty

A double whammy – air fresheners come in all kinds of shapes and fragrances. Choose the classic tree-shaped “fresh pine” scent or opt for a bolder aroma like coffee or gardenia. There are even fresheners that smell like bacon or corn dogs, if you’re into having your vehicle smell like meat. Not all air fresheners have to dangle from your rear view mirror—lots of auto shops and home stores now sell scent diffusers that plug into your cigarette lighter/outlet. These are even more customizable, as you can fill them with the your own oil blends or keep a variety on hand to change up the aroma more often.

Customizable Floor Mats

Floor mats not only protect the floor of your vehicle, they can also be used to jazz up the space. Go the classy route with a fancy calligraphy monogram or show off your wild side with animal print mats. You can choose a feminine floral theme or the emblem of your favorite automobile maker. Custom Floor mats will change the entire look of the inside of your vehicle and impress those you deem worthy enough to take for a ride.

It’s always a good time to set yourself apart from the crowd. Doing so through vehicle customization not only proclaims a sense of individuality, it gives others on the road a fun sight during an otherwise boring commute or long road trip.

About the Author: Emma is a freelance writer living in Boston. When not writing, she enjoys rock climbing and board games. Informational credit to www.chromeautoemblems.com

Image credit: http://pixabay.com/en/corvette-racing-car-roadster-171419/