Auto Magazine

Five Things You Should Really Be Worried About on Your Driving Test: Part II

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/12/31 in On the Road with Comments Off

On the day of your driver’s test, you may have jangled nerves and butterflies in your stomach. Feeling nervous is completely normal, and you will probably do just fine, as long as you are thoroughly prepared. Here are some pointers for the day of the test, and what you should focus most your studies on.

Know the Manual

Seems obvious, right? But you would be surprised at how many people only leaf through the testing manual once, or don’t read it at all. Study for ten minutes per day from the first day you know you have a driving test scheduled. It helps to have a family member or friend quiz you from the test booklet. When you are a passenger, pay attention to real life examples of things you have learned from your studying.

Take it Easy

Take the time you need to parallel park. Don’t rush through anything during the test. It’s not a race after all. While driving, when you need to step on the brake, be confident. Don’t stomp on the brake unless it is an emergency. Anticipate stops in advance, and gently stop the car. Slow down for curves as well. You don’t want the instructor seeing you make a sloppy curve. When accelerating from a stop, start slowly by applying gentle pressure to the gas pedal.

Intersections

Never change lanes in the middle of an intersection. Not only is this dangerous, but in some states it is illegal. While it may be tempting to do a lane switch in an intersection, your instructor will frown on this, and may use it against you during test scoring.

Obey the Rules of the Road, with Confidence

Always follow other cars at a safe distance. If somebody is following you too closely, and you are concerned for your safety and the safety of your driver, it’s advisable to gently slow down to allow more space between you and the car ahead of you. North Shore Driving School Ltd says it’s always better to use turn signals too much, rather than too little. Make sure you’re using your turn signal for turns, changing lanes, and parallel parking. Also, never ask your instructor for advice. The instructor needs to know that you will be competent to handle the open road on your own. Stay calm, and confident, and only ask questions you know might not be in the manual.

Passing your drivers’ exam can be a nerve-wracking, but ultimately rewarding experience. The excitement of driving on your own can be exhilarating. Creating a good foundation of driving habits at a good Burnaby driving school will help keep you and other drivers safe now, and for a lifetime.

Car Accident? Five Things You Should Do if You Or A Loved One Suffered Serious Injuries

by Anita Ginsburg on 2014/12/29 in Auto Accident with Comments Off

After the dust has settled from a serious car accident, a lot of questions can be lingering as well. You might be wondering whether or not your insurance company will cover the accident, or if you’re going to get legal compensation for the injuries you’ve sustained. If you or a loved one have suffered serious injuries from a car accident, these are five things you should immediately do.

Take Photos of Your Injuries

From the moment you realize you’ve sustained serious injuries from your car accident, you should begin taking photos of them. It’s harder for to acquire compensation for your physical traumas if the wounds have already healed by the time you’re prepared to get it. Use a camera that takes high resolution photos, and take many of them.

Document as Many Details About the Accident as Possible

Even though it may be hours or even days since the wreck took place, you should document as many details about the accident as you can. Likewise, get a copy of the police report for your own records. If you’ve been seeing a physician to treat your injuries, keep copies of all medical bills and receipts for OTC and prescription medication.

Be Honest with Your Insurance Company

After the wreck, you should contact your auto insurance company as soon as possible to ensure that they’re on the same page. This is the only way that you will receive proper coverage for what’s taken place. Avoid lying about the details of the accident. If you are caught in trying to deceive the insurance company, you could face legal repercussions or even be denied coverage for your claim.

Contact Witnesses

If you can, gather the names and phone numbers of everyone that was present at the scene of your wreck. Record detailed accounts of what they saw, and ask for their signatures on these documents. Witnesses are some of the strongest forms of evidence when plaintiffs present their cases in a court of law.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

Lastly, get in contact with a reputable and experienced personal injury lawyer. The truth is that you’re going to need professional representation by your side if you wish to receive compensation for the physical injuries you sustained in your car accident. Be sure to check reviews and get local opinions on the lawyer in question before making a decision to work with them.

An auto accident can be stressful and scary, but taking these steps is important to get back on track again. Health and finances are important, and being prepared can help protect both in the event of an accident.

Informational credit to Owen Law Firm.

5 Signs Your Vehicle Needs a New Engine

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/12/26 in Auto Restoration with Comments Off

The engine is the heart of your vehicle. It is what gives your car or truck life. Most drivers are confident that they know their vehicle inside and out. With technology now in days you’re not as likely to have engine trouble, but it is still possible that it could happen. However, even if you’re at one with your car, it can be difficult to know when something changes. This is especially true when it comes to your car’s engine. Luckily, though, there are 5 signs that you can keep an eye out for which will let you know that your vehicle needs a new engine.

1. Gas is Gone in an Instant

One way to tell that your engine is breaking down is by how fast the gas in your tank empties out. If there is something wrong with your vehicle’s engine, there will be a quick decrease in the gas mileage. For instance, if you notice that you usually get 20 mpg on the road but are now limited to 15, it may be time to bring your vehicle to the auto shop. This does not mean that you need a new engine, but it does show a possibility. You may just have something as simple as a leak in your gas line or a problem with you fuel injectors.

2. Recent Knocking Noise

Another way to tell that your vehicle may be experiencing engine trouble is that all of a sudden a knocking noise develops. This noise will usually be brought upon when the car speeds up. The noise can be the result of something as simple as a bad tank of gas, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. That’s because this noise could actually be due to small detonations in the engine that could cause irreversible damage if not taken care of.

3. Car Turns Over But Doesn’t Start

If the engine is malfunctioning, it may be difficult to start up the car. Remember, if the car turns over, you can rule out the issue stemming from the battery. The same goes for the starter and alternator, as long as the vehicle starts. According to Mike’s Auto Towing, when the car starts hard, all fingers should point to the engine.

4. Vehicle is Backfiring or Stalling

Of course there are times where this doesn’t indicate engine failure, but when a car backfires or stalls there is a possibility that it is due to an engine problem. If it’s not the engine itself, it could be a problem that could damage the engine.

5. Odor From the Exhaust

Nowadays, most vehicles run without giving off any smell. However, if you notice that all of a sudden your exhaust smells bad or different from before, you should bring your car straight to the mechanic to get it checked.

It’s clear that if you experience any of the signs listed above in your vehicle, you need to get it looked at right away. After all, it’s better to be overcautious than not cautious enough. By getting your car inspected, you can avoid serious damage from occurring later on.

Why don’t you start your own car-washing business?

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/12/24 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

Starting capital is not only that matters when starting your own business. Ideas are more important. In addition, you have to consider many things from the very start. However, there’s no place for fear. Replace it with enthusiasm and you’ll get more energy to achieve your goals.

So, what kind of business do you want to start? Do you want to sell products or services? What do you think is more profitable in the long run? If you still cannot decide, car washing business might be great investment for you. It may require more money in the beginning, but as time goes there’s pretty much nothing to think about.

Machines are durable, and there’re plenty of places where you can build it. You also have a choice when it comes to employing people. You can build a self-service car wash or you can hire employees to run your business. Of course, whatever you do, take your abilities and possibilities into account. It’s very important to carefully calculate and plan all your investments.

Do some research

You’re not first and only one who came up with this idea. Nevertheless, this should not discourage you. On the contrary, there are many high traffic areas out there, with no competition. All you need to do is to find the right spot by doing some research first. Your potential target are highways or any other high traffic roads with circuits of more than twenty thousand cars per day, with no other car wash service in a range of, at least, a mile. This might be your perfect location.

Paperwork and legal regulations

You’re going to need a working license, that’s for sure. Check what the requirements of local services are; what kind of insurance will you need. Although, in some countries you can do it online, we’re strongly advise you to go and check it personally because you’ll probably need to fill some applications at your area or country department.

Fit in the city plans

Arrange a meeting with city planners in order to get both planning and building approval. You’ll probably have to present your plans, and it will eventually end with verbal agreement like: “Yes, this is going to work.” or “No, something just isn’t right here.” Our advice is to avoid old boring car washes. You have to do something which will differentiate you from others, whether you choose to make it “shiny” or to go retro. It’s important to convince those people that you really mean it, and that your car wash will be unique in their city.

Create good business plan

Now, this is one of the most important things in modern business. The more detailed business plan you have the more attractive you’ll become to investors. There are highly educated professional who do this for a living, so if you’re not sure in how exactly should it looks like, maybe it’s wiser to pay them to make it for you. No matter you’re making a short or the long term business plan, if it looks good to the banks, they will approve you additional credit to develop your business. As you can see, you can only win in the end.

Building the facility

Here comes the interesting part. There are certain alternatives in which you can save lot of money. For instance, if you install a dome shelter instead of facility made of classic materials, not only it will be much cheaper and made of eco-friendly materials, but you’ll also be able to easily settle in the new location if required.

Financials

As we mentioned it before, running a car washing business is great solution for those who have starting capital, because we’re talking about an elaborate job in which you provide service which people do need all the time. This business does not require much additional investment, so once you set everything up, the rest is going to flow. If you’re not to invest all off the money, you can get the rest by getting a loan for entrepreneurs. This might be challenging part, but if carefully prepared your business plan, we’re sure it won’t be a problem at all.

Follow the example of others

Although you don’t want to imitate others, there are certain things which you need to follow in order to become successful as well as they are. This again requires some additional research in terms of their prices and services which will help you to become competitive neighbor.

BIO
Melissa Stevens is a professional blogger from Brisbane, mother of one, interested in eco friendly topics. Her family recently started their own car washing business, and instead of classical building they installed a dome shelter facility which reduced starting costs and carbon footprint.

Safe and Sound – Exciting New Vehicle Safety Features Coming in 2015

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/12/22 in Auto Design with Comments Off

Exciting new technology abounds in the world of automotive safety, and if you’re buying a new car in 2015, it could save your life. ‘Passive’ safety technology – engineering that mitigates potential injury in an accident – is always essential, but new, ‘active’ systems are now working to prevent collisions from even occurring. Here’s a look at four of the best car safety features coming up in 2015.

Lane Keeping Assist

Lane departure warnings aren’t new in 2015, but they’re quickly improving and fast becoming an industry standard in safety technology. In these systems, a camera (or multiple cameras) keep virtual eyes on the lines of the lanes on the road. If the onboard computer perceives a potentially dangerous drift, the driver receives a warning. The warning begins in the form of an audible noise, a simulated ‘rumble’ in the steering wheel, or both. In the latest versions, that warning is followed by an automated correction – the car keeps itself in the lane. As described in this article by Motor Review, these systems vary in their techniques, and only a few get real style points, but we can all think of a time when we wish the car next to us had one.

Forward Collision Mitigation

Just like lane keeping assist, forward collision mitigation systems track the situation outside of the car and can progress to taking matters into their own ‘hands.’ They, too, use front-mounted cameras or similar radar systems to detect the presence of cars ahead, keeping a close virtual eye on their distance.
When the systems deem that the distance between you and the car ahead is closing too quickly, they’ll move through increasingly urgent warnings. In the latest systems, they’ll (subtly) begin the breaking process for you, and if you don’t react in time, apply break pressure to stop the car (or at least to reduce the force of the impact).

Adaptive Cruise Control

Cruise control used to be a slightly awkward combination of automatic throttling and coasting, but that’s simply no longer the case. Working with both of the technologies described above, adaptive cruise control does exactly what its name implies, making it safer than ever to take your foot off the pedal.
Adaptive cruise control technology works much like forward collision mitigation. As described in this ExtremeTech article, the car uses a radar system to monitor and control its position in traffic, smoothly adjusting its speed based on the driver’s preferred maximum speed and safe driving distance. This means, finally, an end to fiddling with the cruise control wand whilst trying to maintain the precise speed of the car ahead.

Blind-Spot Detection & Monitoring

It’s all too easy to find yourself stuck in the blind spot of the car next to you, and just as easy to miss the car stuck in yours. Blind spot monitoring now comes in a couple of flavors, with the most common systems using a simple sensor system to flash a warning light when a car is present in your blind spot.
The newest models, though, now come equipped with advanced systems like Honda’s Side Minder blind spot ‘eraser’ that provide the driver with live video of the blind spot when the turn signal is activated. As systems like these find their way into more new vehicles, they’ll undoubtedly go on to turn everyday "close calls" into easily avoided non-events.

As with most new automotive technology, many of the systems described here have been available in high-end models well before the 2015 model year. This year, though, anyone buying a new car will likely enjoy any or all of these systems in at least their most basic forms. As time goes on and security standards advance with the technology they represent, this trend will only continue to save lives.

The information for this article was provided by the legal professionals of Howard Yegendorf & Associates, who are motor vehicle accident lawyers in Ottawa.