Auto Magazine

7 Ways to Eliminate Distractions Behind the Wheel

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/08/06 in On the Road with Comments Off

Reducing distractions while you are driving is the single most important thing you can do to minimize your likelihood of causing or being involved in an accident. Of course, most people don’t believe they are distracted while they are driving, in fact, people generally believe they are better at multitasking than they are. So, how to eliminate distractions behind the wheel?

Consider Driving School

Consider going back to a driving school to help sharpen your skills behind the wheel. This is a great way to ensure that you stay focused when you are operating a motor vehicle. Driving school also teaches you defensive driving skills, which help keep you safe from other distracted drivers.

Prepare Before Leaving the House

Perhaps the most important step you can take in preventing distracted driving is to set your alarm clock a little earlier in the morning. Make time to eat breakfast, apply makeup, and do whatever else you need to do before leaving the house.

Organize Your Car

Take a minute before you start driving to make sure the car is clutter free, your mirror and radio are where you want them, and, if traveling somewhere you’re unfamiliar with, that you know where you are going, and have driving directions available.

Have a Seat For Everyone

This means children young enough to go in car seats are properly secured, but it also means older kids and adults are wearing seatbelts, and, if traveling with your pet, it is secured either in a travel kennel or a harness that attaches to the seat belt.

Plan For Stops

When you’re on a road trip, it can be easy to get into travel mode and eat behind the wheel. Eating while driving is a distraction, and stopping for a meal, to walk around and get some fresh air will invigorate you and make it easier to focus on driving when you get back in the car.

Have a No Electronics Rule

Decide upfront that you will not use electronics while you are driving. Even hands-free devices cause distraction. Turn your phone to silent and stick it in your purse or glove box so you aren’t tempted.

Make a Choice To Focus

Humans are not meant to multitask, and anything that requires the slightest amount of your attention will distract you on some level from driving. Some things are unavoidable, but if you make the conscious choice that you aren’t going to drive distracted, it is much easier to decide how to handle problems as they arise. Children need attention? Need to check your directions? Want to make a call? Pull over in a safe location and do so.

As you can see, the steps necessary to eliminate distracted driving are not complicated, expensive or time consuming. They do, however, need to be seen as a priority in order to save lives. Although you cannot ensure that other drivers are not driving distracted, by staying focused when you are behind the wheel, you are putting yourself in the best position to handle any unexpected incidences that may occur.

Road Rage: Defensive Driving Tips Everyone Needs to Know

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/08/04 in On the Road with Comments Off

You probably learned about defensive driving in your driver’s education course back in high school, but it never hurts to brush up on the finer details. Here are a few tips for being a responsible, defensive driver.

Eliminate Distractions

You might need to make a few sacrifices if you’re going to eliminate all external distractions from your driving. Wake up a few minute earlier so you have time eat breakfast before you leave for work instead of on the go. Put the phone away—don’t text or even talk on the phone while you’re driving. If music distracts you, or you’re a habitual radio surfer, turn it off.

Expand Your Focus

Don’t focus on the car directly in front of you. The narrower your focus, the more likely you’ll be to miss crucial warning signs three, or four, or ten cars ahead of you. Keep your eyes scanning the horizon instead, and you’ll have more time to react to potentially dangerous situations.

Don’t Be a Lane Changer

As often as possible, choose a lane on the highway and stick to it. Don’t weave in and out of traffic—you’ll only increase your and other drivers’ risk of collision. You’ll also avoid sending other drivers into a road rage if you share the road, and keep to yourself instead of invading others’ personal driving space.

Check Blind Spots Faithfully

They teach you about blind spots in Drivers’ Ed, but don’t think it’s a principle for beginning drivers only. Even if you’re pretty sure there’s no one in your blind spot, check it anyway, every time you change lanes. The one time you neglect to check your blind spot, could mean a nasty accident that might cost you and another driver mechanical repairs and hospital bills.

On another note, be careful to stay out of others’ blind spots as much as possible. You never know when someone is going to change lanes without looking, and you want to be well out of the way if that happens.

Look Both Ways

Whether you’ve been stopped at a red light, or are coming up to an intersection with the right of way, look both ways before you blaze through. If another driver runs a red light, you need to be on the defensive to avoid a collision. Be aware of other drivers’ potential mistakes at all times.

Avoid Bad Drivers

Don’t succumb to road rage. Sharing the road with aggressive drivers can be frustrating, but instead of trying to keep your temper in check, just distance yourself from a bad driver whenever possible. Change lanes, take a different route, or let them pull ahead of you when it’s convenient.

Don’t Tailgate

The most important part of being a defensive driver is, rather obviously, not being aggressive. Stay a respectful distance behind the car you’re following. Keep an eye out for tailgaters of your own, too—if the car behind you is riding your bumper, do your best to open up a way to let them pass you.

Pedestrian Safety

Drive defensively, yes, but take extra precautions as a pedestrian as well. Pedestrians are most often injured as a result of the following incidents:

Drivers failing to observe posted speed limits
Bad weather conditions
Drivers who ignore traffic signals
Drivers failing to yield right of way at marked crosswalks
A driver’s failure to stop before turning right at a red light
Drunk driving

The best thing you can do to keep yourself safe as a pedestrian is to be aware of the drivers on the road. Before you step out onto the crosswalk, look both ways and make eye contact with any oncoming cars. Don’t wear dark clothing when you’re out walking at night, keep a close eye on children around busy streets, and always face oncoming traffic if you are forced to walk in the street.

Firms like Cummings Andrews Mackay LLP, accident lawyers in Edmonton, covers cases ranging from car and motorcycle accidents to pedestrian incidents. If you’ve been injured either as a pedestrian or driver, contact a local office and start discussing your options. If you were not at fault, you will be eligible for compensation for your injuries.

The road is a dangerous place, and you’ll need to be on your guard if you’re going to avoid accidents. Drive responsibly, and avoid aggression both in yourself and other drivers as much as possible. Be aware of what is going on around you, and you’ll be much more likely to make it to and from your destinations safely.

Fact or Fiction: What Really Shows Up on Your Driving Record

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/07/30 in Auto Insurance with Comments Off

If you’ve been in an accident or are just wondering how to cut back on insurance expenses, you need to know what is reported on your driving record. Insurance companies are interested in what is in your record for many reasons. Your driving record can negatively impact your insurance rates, and you can even be denied insurance. Like with any big payment, some "urban legends" about what does and doesn’t affect you exist. Be sure you know which is really fact or fiction. See how knowledgeable you are in the examples below.

Fact or Fiction 1: Your Credit Score and Food Stamp Eligibility Affect Your Driving Record

Do you believe that your credit score and assistance program status affect your driving record? Then you are one of many people who would be wrong in this case. Your credit score may affect the type of vehicle you can purchase, but does not affect your privilege to drive any vehicle. This "urban legend" has been around at least since the 1970’s, when many employers began using formal hiring processes. These processes are now commonplace, and include your permission to check your background, driving record, credit report, and ask questions regarding your assistance program(s) eligibility and benefits status.

Fact or Fiction 2: A No-Fault Accident Will Not Be on Your Driving Record

A tree falls into the road while you are driving, and you cannot reasonably avoid it. It hits your car, causing considerable damage. This is not your fault, so it won’t go into your driving record.
Most states require that all accidents, regardless of fault, are recorded in your driving record. The time the accident remains on your record may be less than an at-fault accident. Be sure to check your specific state laws regarding accident reporting and your driving record requirements.

Fact or Fiction 3: Taking a Defensive Driving Course can Expunge My Driving Record

Hitting a light pole, or running over the neighbor’s mailbox may not be the highlight of your day. In these cases, many lesser infractions can be removed from your record by taking a defensive driving course. Halifax auto insurance recommends you take the course in person rather than online to show your dedication. Check with your state regarding removing traffic violations, and how to pay for the class plus any tickets you may have.

Know your driving facts, so you are not caught off-guard by urban fictions! Always check with your state public safety office to find out the exact information that can be retained in your driving record and for how long.

5 Common Car Noises and What They Mean

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/07/28 in Brakes with Comments Off

If you’ve ever tuned into an episode of “Car Talk,” you know your family car is capable of a wide range of noises, from the boom of a backfire to the squeak of a loose belt. Here are a few common noises and what they mean for your car (and your wallet).

Rattling

Rattling and rumbling noises from under your car may indicate a hole or loose joint somewhere in your exhaust system. Exhaust problems can be minor, and many can go a long time without being repaired, but it’s better to have them looked at early on.

If you ignore the problem for too long, you may lose part of your exhaust system. This may cause you to lose control of the car if it happens while the car is in motion. Leaking exhaust fumes may also enter the cabin of your car, exposing you and your passengers to chemicals that can cause:

drowsiness
slowed response time
brain damage

Simple exhaust repairs, such as replacing a pipe or patching a hole, may cost as little as $100. More complex repairs, like installing a new catalytic converter, may run anywhere from $150 to $1500 depending on the make, model, and year of your car.

Hissing

Hissing noises under your hood while your engine is idling may indicate a cracked or loose hose. Depending on which hoses are affected, this can be a minor problem that does not need to be addressed immediately. However, if the hissing is accompanied by rising engine temperature or steam or smoke coming from under your hood, take your car in to the shop immediately.

Replacing a radiator or coolant hose can run anywhere from $75 to $200 (if you have to replace both at the same time). For some heavy-duty SUVs or off-roading vehicles, pieces of the engine may need to be removed to access the hoses. This will increase the labor costs of the repair.

Squealing

Squealing brakes usually means your brake hardware is worn out. The squealing is caused by your brake pads scraping the discs. Have a service professional take a look. Minor wear may not require replacing your braking components. You can also try using adhesive to hold the pads closer to the pistons.

However, if you want to get rid of the squeal or if your brake pads are worn to the point that they cause excess heat or no longer brake effectively, you will need to have them replaced. You can expect to pay about $150 per axle, but the repair could cost $400 or more per axle if your rotors are warped or need to be resurfaced.

Thumping

A thumping noise from your tires may be telling you that there is flat-spotting on your tire tread. Permanent flat-spotting can be caused by locking your wheels, grinding down the rubber in places. If the noise continues, check your tire pressure and tread. You may either need to live with the thumping or replace your tires with new, steel-belted tires.

However, if the thumping is loudest in the morning and goes away as you drive throughout the day, there’s no need to take your car to the mechanic. Overnight, especially in cold weather, your tires may develop minor flat-spots which will thump when you drive the car. This thumping will go away as the tires warm up.

Speedy Apollo Auto Service Centres, which provide vehicle diagnostic services in Calgary, recommend having any noise that is accompanied with the appearance of any maintenance light checked out as soon as possible. Before you take your car in for maintenance, you can use your owner’s manual to identify why the light turned on—it might be a quick fix you feel comfortable taking care of yourself.

Some noises won’t have a quick solution (or won’t need to be fixed), but you should listen for any changes in the noises your car makes as they may indicate serious problems.

Motorcycle Safety: Tips To Help You Stay Safe On The Road And Avoid Disaster

by Anita Ginsburg on 2014/07/25 in Motorcycles with Comments Off

When you are on the road riding a motorcycle, you are at a disadvantage against other motorized vehicles such as cars and trucks. Safety should be your number one priority when driving your motorcycle to avoid accidents that could potentially be fatal. With these few motorcycle safety tips, you can be a step ahead when it comes to safety.

Buy The Proper Motorcycle Clothing

When riding a motorcycle, it is essential to have all the proper gear. A motorcycle offers no protection during a crash, so flip flops and shorts are not proper attire to be riding a motorcycle. Leather clothing can help protect motorcycle drivers in the case that their bike were to lay down and slide. Leather is a strong material that can help protect riders from road rash, bugs, cigarette butts and even small rocks.

Wear The Proper Shoes

The proper shoes for riding a motorcycle are sturdy shoes. To change gears on a motorcycle, the driver must pull up on the lever, which requires closed toe shoes. Soles on shoes should not be smooth because it makes it very easy to slip off the pegs on the motorcycle or to slip when coming to a stop and stabilizing the bike. The shoes should also be weather-proof in case you get stuck in a rainstorm.

Avoid Unnecessary Distractions

Any type of distracted driving is bad, but on a motorcycle it can be fatal. It is important to stay very aware of all of your surroundings when riding a motorcycle. Since motorcycles are difficult for some drivers of bigger vehicles to see, you must proactively be aware of these vehicles and stay out of their way to stay safe. While driving a motorcycle, your hands must also always stay on the handlebars to ensure proper balance and maneuvering.

Be Weather Aware

Motorcycles are a bit more unstable than a car in generally dry conditions, and wet weather can greatly increase the instability of the motorcycle. You should stay weather aware and avoid riding in heavy rain, ice or snow.

Get Advanced Motorcycle Training

Getting more advanced motorcycle training can help protect yourself and others from accidents on the roadway. A driving school can help everyone from beginners to advanced riders improve their techniques and skills while on their motorcycle, say the experts at Valley Driving School. Driving schools are able to train and assess a driver’s skills to ensure proper knowledge before getting on the road.

Always Wear A Helmet

Helmets protect motorcycle driver’s heads in any type of accident. Head injuries are the leading cause of death when it comes to motorcycle accidents, so it is that much more important to wear the proper motorcycle helmet anytime you are riding your motorcycle. The helmet should not fit too tightly or too loosely, and it should never obstruct your vision.

Motorcycle safety is easy when tips such as these are taken into consideration each and every time you ride your motorcycle. Any time you are on your motorcycle, you should strive to always put safety first.