Auto Magazine

The Worst Mistakes to Make on the Road

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/08/15 in On the Road with Comments Off

Did you know you have a 1 in 84 chance of dying in a car accident throughout your lifetime? The risk of just getting in an accident—one that is not fatal—is even higher. This risk isn’t usually the first thing on your mind when you hop in your car and head to work, but if it was, would it change the way you drive? Here are some mistakes drivers make that increase their risk of injury and death on the road.

Infractions

Some driving mistakes are actual driving infractions—things you do (or fail to do) that break the rules of the road. Teenage drivers are the most likely to make these mistakes, so it’s no surprise that teens are 3 times more likely to get in an accident than an adult. Some driving infractions that lead to accident and injury include the following:

having more people in the car than available seat belts
driving under the influence
not wearing a seat belt
following too closely
speeding
reckless driving
running stop signs

No matter how confidant you are in your driving experience, always observe little laws like head checking before a merge and coming to a complete stop at a stop sign to protect yourself, your passengers, and other drivers.

Distractions

The most dangerous type of mistake you can make is to let something distract you while you are behind the wheel. Here some common distraction and strategies for avoiding them.

Cell Phones.Now that smartphones are so prevalent, phones provide so many more distractions than just a phone call. Now phones distract drivers with texting, social media, GPS navigation systems, music, taking pictures, and more.

Make a commitment to never text and drive. Put your phone on silent if you have to. Invest in a hands-free device if you need to take phone calls on the road. You don’t have to cut yourself off from the digital world—pull over if something on your phone needs your immediate attention. If you are using your phone as a GPS system, make sure you are familiar with the route before you start driving so you won’t have to squint at the map on your screen.

Passengers. Friends can be a huge distraction, especially if you have a car full of them. Make sure your friends know that their safety and the safety of everyone else in the car is partly their responsibility. Ask them not to show you pictures or texts while you are driving. Save heated or emotional conversations for after you’ve arrived at your destination.

Make sure all your passengers are wearing a seat belt as well: in the event of an accident, one person not wearing their seatbelt could get thrown around inside the car and injure seat-belted passengers who would have otherwise been safe.

Food. Don’t eat while you are driving. Resist the temptation to open up the bag of food you just bought at the drive-up window. If you can’t wait, pull over and take a bite. Your safety is worth a few minutes of your time.

Personal Appearance. Put your makeup on before you drive to work. If you are running late, apply it in the office bathroom, not your car. Same goes for shaving, brushing your teeth, and so on.
Impairments

Not only should you avoid external distraction when you drive, but you also need to make sure your mental, emotional, or physical states don’t pose a threat to your safety on the road. Some impairments include driving while you are

under the influence of drugs
under the influence of alcohol
feeling drowsy
experiencing upsetting emotions like extreme anger or sadness
feeling sick or are otherwise affected by a medical condition

If you are suffering from any of the above conditions, call a friend, take public transportation, or make arrangements to stay where you are.

Mistakes with Legal Implications

Some mistakes not only increase your risk of injury or death, but also your risk of financial hardship; car accidents are bad enough without resulting in personal injury lawsuits. According to Bronson Jones & Co, car accident lawyers in Vancouver, there are certain driving mistakes that will make you more likely to be found at-fault in an accident, thus contributing to a personal injury lawsuit against you. Some of these driving mistakes are as follows:

running a red light
running a stop sign
cutting off another driver
not signaling when merging
not head checking when merging
driving under the influence
speeding
hitting a driver head-on in their lane
rear-ending another driver

Driving is such a normal, mundane part of our lives, it’s easy to take safety for granted. Pay attention to your own driving habits, and make sure you are always giving the road your undivided attention. Doing so will help keep you from physical injury, financial harm, and death.

Extend the Life of Your Vehicle: Tips to Keep Your Car in the Best Condition

by Anita Ginsburg on 2014/08/13 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

With the high cost of both new and used vehicles, you want your car to last as long as possible. Taking care of your vehicles not only makes them last longer but can also improve their retail and trade-in value. Here are some tips on how to extend the life of your vehicle.

Maintain the Paint Job

You’d be surprised how many people turn their backs on reliable vehicles because they have some rust. Weather can do a lot of damage to your car’s paint job, especially if you don’t keep it in a garage. Keep your vehicle washed and clean during inclement weather, particularly if you live in states with salt on wintry roads. Wax your car when needed to protect the pain and keep your car looking great.

Keep the Interior Clean

Although the interior of your car has little to do with how it operates, it can affect retail or trade-in value significantly. Many people do judge how a car has been maintained under the hood with how it looks inside. In addition, keeping your interior clean can keep the upholstery and carpeting looking better and prevent tears and stains.

Get Regular Maintenance Checkups

Unless you’re a professional mechanic, you’re probably not going to be able to recognize a problem with the same swiftness as a mechanic. Regular checkups and tune-ups not only help repair damaged parts, but act as a preventative measure towards potential problems in the future, say the professionals at Minit-Tune International Corp. When you go to sell your car, having slips designated regular maintenance checks is a good selling point.

Maintain Your Tires

Keeping your tires properly inflated and in good working condition can prevent uneven wear and tear and can also prevent other parts from becoming damaged, which can result in higher repair costs. You’ll also get better mileage and a smoother ride.

Have Professionals Repair Your Vehicle

As much as we all like to repair things ourselves to save money, sometimes it’s just better to leave it to the professionals, especially if you don’t have time. There are several benefits to having professionals repair your vehicle. The main benefit is that they have diagnostic tools to help them determine the problem rather than doing a lot of unnecessary repairs just as a method of “process of elimination”. Also, when you have the repairs done professionally, they’re warranted.

Take Care of Problems in Their Early Stages

Early repairs usually mean smaller bills. In addition, if you fail to fix a problem in its early stages, it can develop into a large problem and a higher repair cost.

Maintaining your vehicle is important for many reasons but mostly to extend the life as long as possible. It’s a lot easier than you might thing if you make it a good habit.

Five Of The Many Benefits To Owning A Truck

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/08/08 in Trucks with Comments Off

Trucks are one of the most popular types of vehicles to own for drivers and have evolved into a car that offers both luxury and unique features. Although the inside of the cabin was once cramped, trucks now offer spacious interiors that feel cozy. Due to their size and powerful engines, there are a number of other benefits to owning a truck that drivers can enjoy.

Transport Large Items

One of the main benefits to owning a truck is the ability to transport cargo and large items with ease. The bed of the truck is spacious enough to carry appliances, furniture, or tools without intruding on space of the cab.

Travel on Rough Terrain

Trucks are a viable car to use when driving on rough terrain or in bad weather. It can easily handle wet roads or plow through snow, making it a great car to have for those who want to drive in the mountains or in the desert. By having the four-wheel drive system and the right tires, there are few limitations on where trucks can travel.

The Ability to Tow

Pickup trucks come with a hitch, which offers the ability to tow and haul large items. This can make it easy to transport a second vehicle or trailer for a convenient way of making use of the vehicle. It also makes it easy to tow other toys, whether wanting to bring a boat to the river or a pair of four-wheelers to the desert. The six-speed engines work well with hauling and can pull a higher amount of towing capacity of up to 7,000 pounds.

Repairs are Easier to Diagnose

Trucks are built to last and commonly drive up to 300,000 miles for a vehicle that can continue to haul and climb tough terrain for several years. According to 99 Truck Parts & Industrial Equipment Ltd, which provides transmission repair in Langley, they can also be easier to diagnose due to the simple mechanics of the vehicle for a car that needs few repairs during its lifetime.

Better Views of the Road

The cabins of pickup trucks sit higher up than typical sedans or SUVs, making it easy for the driver and passengers to have better views of the road. This can make it easier to spot items in the road or see upcoming traffic while traveling.

Whether wanting to feel in charge on the road or simply get a better view from behind the wheel, pickup trucks offer a number of benefits that have made them a popular choice among consumers. Between their vast size to their ability to tow, it makes for an option that offers more features to their owners.

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.